"Peter Stark''s Astoria picks up where the Lewis and Clark Expedition leaves off, providing a fascinating and sometimes terrifying window into the brutal and acquisitive essence of not only America but of the human condition. It''s also a great and . an ennobling tale of survival. Highly recommended." - Nathaniel Philbrick, author of Bunker Hill, and In the Heart of the Sea "A splendid account of the man and men who had the audacity, passion, and courage to dream of an American Empire. Peter Stark''s Astoria is a must read for anyone wanting to understand the power of leadership in its purest form." - Stephenie Ambrose-Tubbs, author of The Lewis and Clark Companion "A valuable book .but more importantly for my perspective, it''s really good reading.
" - Nancy Pearl on NPR''s "Morning Edition" "In his book Astoria, Peter Stark has written a riveting account of one of the most important, but largely forgotten, turning points in the history of the United States, and he does this with great skill, crafting the story from many sources. The book Astoria brings to life the people and circumstances of John Jacob Astor''s attempt to extend American control west of the Rocky Mountains. Stark keeps you reading, even though you think you already know how the story of Astoria ends. I recommend this to everyone who is interested in the development of the West and the Columbia River Basin in particular. Well researched and historically accurate, it reads much like an adventure novel, engaging you from start to finish." - Coast Weekend "Well researched and historically accurate, [Astoria] reads much like an adventure novel, engaging you from start to finish." - Coast Weekend "A truly great adventure story, filled with high drama and hardship that would put ''Survivor'' cast members into a tailspin of humility." - BookReporter.
com "Peter Stark does readers a very large service in reminding us about this extraordinary and important piece of North American history. I can''t recommend Astoria highly enough for anyone interested in the colonization of the American West." - BookBrowse.com "Astoria is ultimately worth reading not just because it''s about Oregon history, but because it contextualizes Oregon''s past within American history. Stark does a very good job of explaining exactly why Astor bothered with such a dangerous and expensive mission, why his employees had the problems that they did, and what it meant for the U.S. as a whole and Oregon in particular. The book is a welcome departure from romanticized tales of Lewis and Clark or of later pioneers.
Settling Oregon didn''t happen because Americans are self-starting pioneers. No, it happened because a rich man in New York had a lot of money, a lot of ambition and, most importantly, a whole lot of hubris." - Portland Mercury "Astoria is ultimately worth reading not just because it''s about Oregon history, but because it contextualizes Oregon''s past within American history. The book is a welcome departure from romanticized tales of Lewis and Clark or of later pioneers." - Portland Mercury "Stark''s delightful narrative is proof that even though Astor didn''t leave the legacy he intended, his grand failure certainly deserves its own place in history." - New York Times Book Review "For better or worse, the precedents set by Astor and his expeditions created a tangible American legacy of entrepreneurship, risk-taking, and manifest destiny. Carefully researched and splendidly written--an utterly spellbinding account." - Bellingham Herald "A great yarn set in our own corner of the continent.
" - Inlander "Stark vividly writes of fur trader John Jacob Astor''s capitalist quest . [a] fascinating account. that never loses its focus." - Library Journal.