John Jacob Astor and Thomas Jefferson's Lost Pacific Empire

This exciting expedition to form the first Northwestern post to deal with furs here in the states and foreign lands thereafter was conducted on land and sea.
The gruelling land adventures led to starvation death and betrayal.
On sea,again led destruction of the sea adventure.
You can almost feel the depth of w hat these early explorers felt.
This is a good and historical read.

Interesting account of Astor's early 19th century attempt to set up a world-wide trading network on the Pacific Northwest coast before any nation had laid official claim to the territory. A true story, but with so many people to follow through the narrative the author necessarily added a "cast of characters" to help keep all the names straight.

Great book about Astor's failed (on some levels) attempt to monetize the colonization of the northwest Pacific Coast. It's a gripping story of the land and sea exploration of the hitherto unknown western United States. Altho it ended a bit abruptly, I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it to any American history buff, or just a lover of a good tale.

As a history buff only tangentially familiar with the story, I found this book well researched and written, with much detail (but so much as to distract from the story itself). One relatively minor quibble: the opening scene was gripping, but its significance only became clear at the end of the book and, even then, the author himself did not clarify the point.

Having lived in the city of Astoria, Oregon from 1948 to 1964, I always wanted to know more about the Astor expedition to my part of the country, and the fur trading enterprise his people set up. My heart bled for Wilson Price Hunt's overland journey and was saddened by the trials they encountered due to snow, hostile Indian tribes (notably the Blackfeet), hunger, and the deaths along the way, but most of them lived through it and set up trading stations in Astoria, along the Columbia River, and in the Spokane and Willamette Valleys.

The volume is extensively researched, and includes information about the cast of characters, notes, and many maps.

Very enjoyable historical view of the move to colonize the West. Interesting portrayal of Astor, whose New York history is more well known than his involvement in the fur trade in the West. Very readable.

This a great history of an episode most people don't know about but should go down in the annals of American entrepreneurism. It chronicles the attempt of John Jacob Aster to establish a global trading network at the beginning of the 19th century, a bold vision to be sure given all the unknowns and dangers that this entailed. If you like a rip roaring tale of adventure, misfortune and exploration than you're going to like this one

I love novels based on historical events. Some readers may find the trip from St Louis to the West Coast somewhat tedious . For me it lt provided a context on how early explorers had to endure great hardship to reach their objectives. Despite the ultimate demise of MrAstor's dream it did show how private enterprise funded early exploration which helped the US grow and eventually opened avenues for future development. If your not student of history this book may not be for you.

This is an outstanding, well written account of the ill-fated attempt by John Jacob Astor to found the first American commercial enterprise at the mouth of the Columbia River following the Lewis and Clark expedition. A fascinating account of the hardships, egos and failed leadership of the founding of Astoria as a fur trading hub which was brought to an untimely end by the events of the War of 1812. A glimpse into the history of a time and place that few now remember. I highly recommend this book.

This was a very interesting book covering issues that I never knew. I have traveled out that way many times for business and I wish I had read Astoria sooner since the area would have been more meaningful.

A very complete account of John Jacob Astor and the fur trade. I never knew how many lives were lost in this venture and that Astor just provided money and supplies but never actually came to the Oregon Country himself. Really tells of the personalities of the people put in charge and how that and luck changed our history.

Since so many of the people involved in this adventure kept personal diaries, the amount of information available about both the sea voyage and the overland trip is extensive and personal. Peter Stark skillfully takes their stories and weaves it into a riveting, comprehensive chronicle of John Jacob Astor's dream of a fur trade monopoly. He not only gives a wonderful feeling for the trials faced by the men, but also of the conflicts between duty and care for human welfare. Being a big fan of Erik Larson and similar non-fiction, I found this book to be one of the best in the genre.

I have always been fascinated by the early American explorations, but had never heard of the Astoria one. An amazing story and very well recounted by Peter Stark. These men and one woman, went through terrible struggles to carry out their mission, both by land and sea.
The people involved covered all the human virtues and vices, but mostly their mental and physical toughness has to be admired.
The author has done an amazing amount of research and a very good job with his writing which is very accessible - pedantic types may regard it as too accessible, but I enjoyed the book.
Great story, well told and with a host of minor historical titbits - they met an elderly Daniel Boone on the Missouri River, on their way West!

This book enlightened us on John Jacob Astor's trying to establish an American town on the Pacific Coast. The trials and tribulations of his overland party and the other group that had to sail around the tip of South America to get to what is now Astoria was challenging to the members of each party. The groups had some in fighting and personality conflicts. In parts the book was a little long in details. Overall, my husband and I really enjoyed the book especially since we planned to visit Astoria.

If you like adventure, survival and surprises in a well told history, this book is for you. The bravery, perseverance and sheer idiocy of the players amazes. Stark focuses on details of the most humble participants in the venture, some of whom shine particularly when compared to the leaders and JJA himself. I still can hear the voyageurs song, the violent waters up against man made boats and the long stretches of silence in the northwest.

This informative story of a seemingly unknown event in our nation's history. Many of us are familiar with the history of the Lewis and Clark expedition. This story of John Jacob Astor's ambitious attempt to create a fur trading empire based near the city of Astoria, Oregon is equal to that of the Lewis and Clark expedition. An important read detailing how remote and unknown to western U.S. was to the "white" man two hundred years ago.

This is a well written, engrossing book about John Jacob Astor's early 19th century vision of a West Coast fur-based empire, and of how that dream disintegrated in its early stages due to the negative effects of nature and hubris. I had never heard the tale of Astoria and those who lived and died for its sake. I found the subject fascinating.

Great insight in Northwest history and Astor's vision that this part of the country could be a successful gateway to Asia and trade. It also gives you a glimpse into our first contact with the indigenous people of the Northwest and resultant conflicts.

Wonderful book on the history of the northwest corner of Oregon. As a native Oregonian the little city of Astoria was always our favorite to visit. Where did it get its name from? Here is the full history of John Jacob Astor from the little bakers son to one of the world's most powerful magnates. Not only is this book about him but the founding of the fur trade on the west coast including the blazing of the trails from the Midwest. At times it almost reads as a novel the way the author brings the reader up close and personal with the players.
Stop reading this now and buy the book, you won't be disappointed!

Phenomenal story, and so well written. I love stories about westward expansion/exploration. There are, of course, some incredibly good stories, and some incredibly bad ones. Read this one for the amazing story, immerse yourself in the settings, and reserve any judgement until you're completely finished. I've read a handful of books over the years that I had to forcibly pace myself because I just didn't want it to end. This certainly qualifies as one.

If you are at all interested in American history, read this book. Nearly everyone has heard about Lewis & Clark but others also faced incredible hardship while crossing a wild and sometimes hostile continent basically unknown to everyone but Native Americans and a handful of trappers. This was overtly a commercial enterprise, but is still a testament to what humans can endure. The author has a writing style that is both informative and entertaining.

Living in the area of Astoria, I found this interesting and it covers a subject of the Astor expedition to the Pacific Northwest I had not been aware of. 4 stars because I thought some of the writing was a little over drawn, but still a very enjoyable and informative book!

If you like history you will like this book. Gives alot if info on a little known period in American history . The courage but also the arrogance and ignorance of men who explored the country. Gets a little wordy and des riptide in parts but still a good read.

Fascinating history brought to life. Prepare yourself for an overland and a seagoing adventure to the Pacific NW in this historical retelling of JJ Astor's hatched plan to build a trading empire at the mouth of the Columbia River. Well written saga that seasaws between both expeditions, with a visit here and there back to bustling Manhattan and the lives of the Astors.

I like historical books and this one was well written. It is very detailed, therefore because it is about time when our country was quite young, some of the things that happened were quite horrific. Some events I found too gory to read and skipped over the details. The characters appeared real to me and I liked that the author took the at the end of the book th give a brief description of the rest of their lives. One of the characters, I even looked up online and read all I could find about him. There was a lot of research that went into this book.

A thrilling, historic adventure tale that will leave you breathless! I really enjoyed this book about a largely forgotten, but very significant piece of our history. Peter Stark does a great job of telling a spellbinding tale, while you get a glimpse into what these voyageurs experienced trailblazing their way through the wilderness.I highly recommend it!

Fascinating history brought to life. Prepare yourself for an overland and a seagoing adventure to the Pacific NW in this historical retelling of JJ Astor's hatched plan to build a trading empire at the mouth of the Columbia River. Well written saga that seasaws between both expeditions, with a visit here and there back to bustling Manhattan and the lives of the Astors.

I like historical books and this one was well written. It is very detailed, therefore because it is about time when our country was quite young, some of the things that happened were quite horrific. Some events I found too gory to read and skipped over the details. The characters appeared real to me and I liked that the author took the at the end of the book th give a brief description of the rest of their lives. One of the characters, I even looked up online and read all I could find about him. There was a lot of research that went into this book.

A thrilling, historic adventure tale that will leave you breathless! I really enjoyed this book about a largely forgotten, but very significant piece of our history. Peter Stark does a great job of telling a spellbinding tale, while you get a glimpse into what these voyageurs experienced trailblazing their way through the wilderness.I highly recommend it!

This is a very well researched book about a mostly forgotten but important commercial fur trading expedition to the Pacific Northwest not long after the Lewis and Clark expedition. This is a harrowing true adventure story. Anyone who has seen the places where the expedition took wrong turns will be astonished that anyone lived to tell the story--Hell's Canyon on the Snake River was a hell of a place to get lost.

This is just the type of historical nonfiction I love. It is exceptionally researched and detailed but more than that, it is very well written. The prose is swift and conversational and absorbs you in the story.

The author does a good job of bringing this episode alive. I thought the parts about the overland expedition where particularly well told. I agree with some of the others that say the narrative is a bit disjointed in spots. A little more about "what happened next" would have been good. So, not perfect, but interesting and worth reading if this is your sort of thing.

After retiring to the Oregon Coast from the Midwest, I became highly interested in local history. This is a thoroughly gripping book about an almost lost chapter of Northwest history. I couldn't put it down.

This is a compelling story describing the challenges of the men who blazed an overland route to the Pacific as well as how the Oregon Country was brought into the fold of the still new United States. It highlights the acumen of Mr Astor and the bravery of his explorers.

An amazing story of what explorers and pioneers went through to open up new opportunities. Think "The Revenant", but for about 120 people, some on land and some at sea. Also an interesting tale of a teen age immigrant who became one of the country's richest men.

Written in a manner that the reader finds as compelling as a great novel. One simply doesn't want to put it down, but one should do so periodically to marvel at the exploits of the adventurers of the history.

Book started and maintained interest through about 80% of the story line. Arriving at the conclusion, it seemed as if the author was in a hurry to finish. Early characters and story lines were well developed, however ending could have provided a little more substance.

Overall an interesting read and good insight to a relatively unknown chapter of American history

A harrowing tale—and though the two expeditions (one by land and one by sea) to the mouth of the Columbia didn’t succeed in the end, they were the beginning of the founding of the west coast becoming part of the U. S., not England, not Canada, not Russia.

I loved this historical perspective of the the discovery of the northwest passage, especially the personalities involved. However I was shocked by the marginalized life of Marie Dorion, the only one true hero of this book who was beyond reproach. Could it be because she was a she??? You betcha!

What remarkable and very true tale of the exploration and eventful settlement of the Pacific Northwest. The vision of one extraordinary man who anticipated the importance of Pacific Rim trade over 100 years before the rest of the world caught up and discovered the Oregon Trail.

Stark tells the story of Astoria by bringing several separate, interwoven story lines together in a way that works nicely. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and learned a lot about the early colonization of the Pacific Northwest.

I grew up in Oregon...graduated from high school and got two degrees at a university there. I did not know the extent of the Astor story until reading this book. I love a well-written history book and thoroughly enjoyed this one. Would recommend to anyone interested in the area and American west exploration. Bought on Kindle but will order hardback to put next to Undaunted Courage by Ambrose.