Astoria; Or, Anecdotes of an Enterprise Beyond the Rocky Mountains

Washington Irving (1783 - 1859)

"Astoria" describes the many perilous adventures, discoveries, and disasters experienced by the brave Americans who joined the 1810-1813 Astor Expedition to Oregon. The wealthy New York fur magnate John Jacob Astor masterminded an extensive enterprise with the hope of setting up a fur trading center and outpost of American colonization at the mouth of the Columbia River. Journeying by land and by sea, the intrepid travelers endured incredible hardships, utter exhaustion, and near starvation. Especially interesting and harrowing were the odysseys of Wilson Price Hunt and Robert Stuart who crossed the continent in opposite directions. In spite of the difficulties described, the book was a catalyst that inspired a generation of pioneers to pursue their own way to the Northwest. Washington Irving, author of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and Rip Van Winkle, was a masterful writer who was especially good at conveying the vastness and dangers of the wilderness. But as the book was written at the behest of the tycoon Astor, it also includes much description of business dealings, discussion of good and bad management decisions, and even at times some rather fawning praise of Astor himself. Irving also includes some anthropology as he describes the encounters of the explorers and the members of various tribes, whom he synonymously calls Indians, aborigines, savages, or their tribal names. It is noteworthy that the member of the expedition who receives the most abundant and unreserved praise from Irving is an Indian woman who exhibits constant courage and virtue. - Summary by Carol Pelster

Genre(s): History

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 00 Author's Introduction Carol Pelster
00:07:13
Play 01 Chapter 1 Carol Pelster
00:28:27
Play 02 Chapter 2 Carol Pelster
00:12:27
Play 03 Chapter 3 Carol Pelster
00:27:20
Play 04 Chapter 4 Carol Pelster
00:17:56
Play 05 Chapter 5 Carol Pelster
00:27:04
Play 06 Chapter 6 Carol Pelster
00:28:38
Play 07 Chapter 7 Carol Pelster
00:18:11
Play 08 Chapter 8 Carol Pelster
00:13:34
Play 09 Chapter 9 Carol Pelster
00:09:16
Play 10 Chapter 10 Carol Pelster
00:22:41
Play 11 Chapter 11 Carol Pelster
00:22:47
Play 12 Chapter 12 Carol Pelster
00:14:08
Play 13 Chapter 13 Carol Pelster
00:20:12
Play 14 Chapter 14 Carol Pelster
00:13:23
Play 15 Chapter 15 Carol Pelster
00:30:25
Play 16 Chapter 16 Carol Pelster
00:27:29
Play 17 Chapter 17 Carol Pelster
00:18:59
Play 18 Chapter 18 Carol Pelster
00:21:26
Play 19 Chapter 19 Carol Pelster
00:16:33
Play 20 Chapter 20 Carol Pelster
00:20:18
Play 21 Chapter 21 Carol Pelster
00:22:38
Play 22 Chapter 22 Carol Pelster
00:11:16
Play 23 Chapter 23 Carol Pelster
00:11:40
Play 24 Chapter 24 Carol Pelster
00:07:29
Play 25 Chapter 25 Carol Pelster
00:10:43
Play 26 Chapter 26 Carol Pelster
00:17:26
Play 27 Chapter 27 Carol Pelster
00:10:33
Play 28 Chapter 28 Carol Pelster
00:12:45
Play 29 Chapter 29 Carol Pelster
00:15:16
Play 30 Chapter 30 Carol Pelster
00:07:22
Play 31 Chapter 31 Carol Pelster
00:14:54
Play 32 Chapter 32 Carol Pelster
00:15:01
Play 33 Chapter 33 Carol Pelster
00:13:41
Play 34 Chapter 34 Carol Pelster
00:24:13
Play 35 Chapter 35 Carol Pelster
00:10:41
Play 36 Chapter 36 Carol Pelster
00:14:52
Play 37 Chapter 37 Carol Pelster
00:24:09
Play 38 Chapter 38 Carol Pelster
00:16:38
Play 39 Chapter 39 Carol Pelster
00:11:45
Play 40 Chapter 40 Carol Pelster
00:17:27
Play 41 Chapter 41 Carol Pelster
00:22:54
Play 42 Chapter 42 Carol Pelster
00:09:43
Play 43 Chapter 43 Carol Pelster
00:16:42
Play 44 Chapter 44 Carol Pelster
00:28:50
Play 45 Chapter 45 Carol Pelster
00:17:42
Play 46 Chapter 46 Carol Pelster
00:17:10
Play 47 Chapter 47 Carol Pelster
00:20:41
Play 48 Chapter 48 Carol Pelster
00:13:13
Play 49 Chapter 49 Carol Pelster
00:17:57
Play 50 Chapter 50 Carol Pelster
00:16:39
Play 51 Chapter 51 Carol Pelster
00:10:11
Play 52 Chapter 52 Carol Pelster
00:15:36
Play 53 Chapter 53 Carol Pelster
00:25:24
Play 54 Chapter 54 Carol Pelster
00:09:05
Play 55 Chapter 55 Carol Pelster
00:05:44
Play 56 Chapter 56 Carol Pelster
00:08:01
Play 57 Chapter 57 Carol Pelster
00:20:39
Play 58 Chapter 58 Carol Pelster
00:15:59
Play 59 Chapter 59 Carol Pelster
00:11:54
Play 60 Chapter 60 Carol Pelster
00:10:39
Play 61 Chapter 61 Carol Pelster
00:24:28
Play 62 Appendix Carol Pelster
00:45:23