Astoria; Or, Anecdotes of an Enterprise Beyond the Rocky Mountains
Washington Irving
Read by Carol Pelster
"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 (18 hr 13 min)
Chapters
Author's Introduction | 7:13 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 1 | 28:27 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 2 | 12:27 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 3 | 27:20 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 4 | 17:56 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 5 | 27:04 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 6 | 28:38 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 7 | 18:11 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 8 | 13:34 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 9 | 9:16 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 10 | 22:41 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 11 | 22:47 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 12 | 14:08 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 13 | 20:12 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 14 | 13:23 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 15 | 30:25 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 16 | 27:29 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 17 | 18:59 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 18 | 21:26 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 19 | 16:33 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 20 | 20:18 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 21 | 22:38 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 22 | 11:16 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 23 | 11:40 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 24 | 7:29 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 25 | 10:43 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 26 | 17:26 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 27 | 10:33 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 28 | 12:45 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 29 | 15:16 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 30 | 7:22 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 31 | 14:54 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 32 | 15:01 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 33 | 13:41 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 34 | 24:13 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 35 | 10:41 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 36 | 14:52 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 37 | 24:09 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 38 | 16:38 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 39 | 11:45 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 40 | 17:27 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 41 | 22:54 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 42 | 9:43 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 43 | 16:42 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 44 | 28:50 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 45 | 17:42 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 46 | 17:10 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 47 | 20:41 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 48 | 13:13 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 49 | 17:57 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 50 | 16:39 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 51 | 10:11 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 52 | 15:36 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 53 | 25:24 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 54 | 9:05 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 55 | 5:44 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 56 | 8:01 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 57 | 20:39 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 58 | 15:59 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 59 | 11:54 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 60 | 10:39 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Chapter 61 | 24:28 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Appendix | 45:23 | Read by Carol Pelster |
Reviews
amazing tale of true history, well told and read
elm
a