Astoria (book)

Astoria (book) is a historical narrative written by Washington Irving, published in 1836 by Carey & Lea, which tells the story of the Pacific Fur Company and its founder, John Jacob Astor. The book is based on the accounts of Wilson Price Hunt, a key figure in the company, and explores the early history of the American West, including the Lewis and Clark Expedition and the Oregon Trail. Irving's work is considered a significant contribution to the literature of the United States, alongside other notable authors such as James Fenimore Cooper and Herman Melville. The book has been praised for its vivid descriptions of the Rocky Mountains, the Columbia River, and the Native American tribes of the region, including the Nez Perce and the Flathead.

Publication History

The publication of Astoria was a significant event in the literary world of the United States, with the book being released in 1836 by Carey & Lea, a prominent publisher of the time, which had also published works by Edgar Allan Poe and Ralph Waldo Emerson. The book was well-received by critics and the public, with many praising Irving's engaging writing style and his ability to bring the story of the Pacific Fur Company to life, much like Francis Parkman had done with his accounts of the Oregon Trail and the California Gold Rush. The success of Astoria helped establish Irving as a major literary figure, alongside other notable authors of the time, such as Nathaniel Hawthorne and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The book has since been reprinted numerous times, including editions published by Harper & Brothers and G.P. Putnam's Sons, and has been translated into several languages, including French, German, and Spanish.

Plot Summary

The plot of Astoria follows the story of the Pacific Fur Company, which was founded by John Jacob Astor in 1810, with the goal of establishing a fur trading post in the Oregon Country. The company's early years were marked by challenges and setbacks, including the War of 1812, which led to the British Navy seizing several of the company's ships, including the Tonquin, which was commanded by Jonathan Thorn. Despite these challenges, the company persevered, and in 1812, a group of traders led by Wilson Price Hunt set out on an overland journey to the Columbia River, where they established a trading post, Fort Astoria, which became a key hub for the company's operations in the region. The book also explores the interactions between the company's traders and the Native American tribes of the region, including the Nez Perce and the Flathead, who played a significant role in the company's success, much like the Iroquois had done for the French colonization of the Americas.

Historical Context

The historical context in which Astoria was written is significant, as it was a time of great change and expansion in the United States, with the country experiencing rapid growth and development, driven in part by the Industrial Revolution and the Transportation Revolution. The book reflects this context, with Irving exploring the themes of Manifest Destiny and the American West, which were central to the country's identity and sense of purpose, much like the California Gold Rush and the Mexican-American War had done. The book also touches on the complex relationships between the United States government, the Native American tribes, and the fur trade, which were all major factors in the development of the region, including the Louisiana Purchase and the Adams-Onís Treaty. Irving's work was influenced by other notable historians and writers of the time, including George Bancroft and William H. Prescott, who had written about the Spanish Empire and the Conquest of Mexico.

Reception and Impact

The reception of Astoria was overwhelmingly positive, with many critics praising Irving's engaging writing style and his ability to bring the story of the Pacific Fur Company to life, much like Alexis de Tocqueville had done with his accounts of Democracy in America. The book was a commercial success, and it helped establish Irving as a major literary figure, alongside other notable authors of the time, such as Harriet Beecher Stowe and Mark Twain. The book's impact was not limited to the literary world, as it also helped to shape the public's perception of the American West and the fur trade, much like the Oregon Trail and the California Gold Rush had done. The book has been praised by historians such as Francis Parkman and Theodore Roosevelt, who saw it as an important contribution to the literature of the United States, alongside other notable works such as The Oregon Trail and The Winning of the West.

Authorship and Style

The authorship of Astoria is attributed to Washington Irving, who was a prominent writer and historian of the time, known for his works such as The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle. Irving's style is characterized by his engaging and descriptive writing, which brings the story of the Pacific Fur Company to life, much like James Fenimore Cooper had done with his accounts of the American Revolution and the War of 1812. The book is written in a narrative style, with Irving using a variety of sources, including the accounts of Wilson Price Hunt and other members of the company, to tell the story of the Pacific Fur Company and its founder, John Jacob Astor. Irving's work has been praised for its historical accuracy and its ability to capture the spirit of the American West, much like the works of Herman Melville and Walt Whitman had done. The book has been recognized with several awards, including the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize, and has been translated into several languages, including French, German, and Spanish. Category:American literature