Subject
Astoria (Or.) Books
Best books
Washington Irving
Astoria; Or, Anecdotes of an Enterprise Beyond the Rocky Mountains
"Astoria; Or, Anecdotes of an Enterprise Beyond the Rocky Mountains" by Washington Irving is a historical account published in 1836. The book chronicles John Jacob Astor's ambitious 1810–1813 expedition to establish an American trading post at the mouth of the Columbia River. Financed to compete with British interests, the venture involved perilous sea voyages and overland journeys that blazed the future Oregon Trail. The enterprise ultimately failed due to the War of 1812, conflicts with indigenous peoples, and harsh conditions, costing sixty lives and ending with the sale of all assets to rivals.
H. M. (Henry Marie) Brackenridge
Brackenridge's Journal of a voyage up the river Missouri, 1811; Franchère's Voyage to Northwest Coast, 1811-1814
Brackenridge's Journal of a voyage up the river Missouri, 1811; Franchère's… by H. M. Brackenridge and Gabriel Franchère is a collection of historical travel narratives written in the early 20th century. It reprints firsthand accounts of early 19th-century exploration and the fur trade, from a voyage up the Missouri with Manuel Lisa to the Astorian venture on the Northwest Coast, highlighting river navigation, frontier settlements, encounters with Indigenous nations, and the emerging American West. The opening of the volume frames the texts with an editor’s preface that sketches both writers’ careers and the significance of their narratives, then begins with Brackenridge’s own preface and journal. He explains the Missouri Fur Company’s aims and setbacks, Manuel Lisa’s leadership, and his plan to overtake Wilson Hunt’s party for safer passage through Sioux country. The narrative then launches from St. Charles, detailing difficult river work, storms, islands and tributaries, hunters’ camps, wildlife encounters, and scattered settlements, culminating in a stop at Fort Osage with observations of the Osage people and the factory before pushing onward, still intent on catching Hunt upriver.
Gabriel Franchère
Narrative of a Voyage to the Northwest Coast of America in the years 1811, 1812, 1813, and 1814 or the First American Settlement on the Pacific
"Narrative of a Voyage to the Northwest Coast of America" by Gabriel Franchere is a historical account written in the mid-19th century. The book recounts the author's experiences during an expedition led by the merchant John Jacob Astor to establish the first American settlement on the Pacific coast. The narration provides insights into early 19th-century exploration, trade, and interactions with indigenous peoples, highlighting the hopes, struggles, and perils faced by those involved in the venture. The opening of the narrative introduces Franchere's journey, beginning with the departure from Montreal and the subsequent arrival in New York. He describes his emotional farewells, the transition to a vastly different environment in the bustling city, and the preparations made for the voyage ahead. The text serves as a personal reflection on the challenges of leaving one's homeland, the dynamics aboard the ship, and the interactions among the crew and passengers as they embark on their expedition toward the unknown wilderness of the Northwest Coast. As Franchere recounts the early stages of the voyage, he sets the stage for the complex journey that will unfold in the chapters to come, filled with adventure, discovery, and cultural encounters.
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