Astoria is the thrilling, true-adventure tale of the 1810 Astor Expedition, an epic, now forgotten, three-year journey to forge an American empire on the Pacific Coast, spearheaded by John Jacob Astor (from the same family that brought you Astor Place in Harlem), with support from Thomas Jefferson (another Harlem visitor).Author Peter Stark offers a gripping saga in which a band of explorers battled nature, starvation, treachery and madness to establish the first American settlement in the Pacific Northwest and opened up what would become the Oregon Trail, permanently altering the nation’s landscape and its global standing. Critical acclaim for the book includes: “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.” (The New York Times Book Review) and “In Astoria, Peter Stark recounts the colony’s history as a fast-paced, enjoyable adventure tale.” (Wall Street Journal). During the program Mr. Stark will discuss the process of publishing the book and provide additional background on his research and the expeditions. Peter Stark is an adventure and exploration writer. Born in Wisconsin, he studied English and anthropology at Dartmouth College, obtained a Master’s in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin, and headed off to the remote spots of the world writing magazine articles and books. A long-time correspondent for Outside magazine, Stark’s articles and essays have also appeared in Smithsonian, The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, Men’s Journal, and many others. His best-known book, Last Breath: Cautionary Tales from the Limits of Human Endurance, was translated into seven languages and named Amazon.com’s No. 1 Sports/Outdoor Book.
Reception to follow. Advance registration is suggested.
Free Admission
To register please contact the General Society at: 212.840.1840 or email: karin.taylor@generalsociety.org
The lectures start at 6:30pm in The General Society Library, 20 West 44th Street, (Between 5th and 6th Avenues) New York City.
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