"Fur Trade & Exploration" by Theodore Karamanski focuses on the opening of the FAR northwest of Canada.  It describes the discoveries & explorations of the various remote river systems (beaver pelt highways), the troubles of maintaining an extended supply chain, and diplomatic relations with the various powers vying for economic control of the region.  

I would classify this book as more of a "rigorous" scholarly account versus a "popular" history, although I DID find it fairly readable (this guy doesn't quite have the flair of a Peter C. Newman for finding the human interest stuff).  However, it is still somewhat colorful and, to his credit, TK actually spent quite a bit of time researching the explorer routes he describes IN PERSON via canoe.  That raises his credibility considerably, IMHO.  This is a very solid "history".  When HE talks about a river encounter happening "on the banks of poplar and willow" or of various hazardous waterfalls, etc., he knows whereof he speaks!

There are some good pics & illustrations in the book, too.

This book is likely to appeal to the more die-hard historians and geographers among us.

Jimbo   8-)

I concur.  This book lists descriptions of some trips on rivers such as the Laird, via the Grand Canyon of the Laird, and also the route up and over MacDougall Pass (the lowest elevation pas of the Rocky Mountains, way up north of the Arctic circle), as well as some descriptions of what the conditions of the first expeditions were like.  I think it would tie in with Arthur Rays two works, "Indians in the Fur Trade," "The Canadian Fur Trade In The Industrial Age," and Eric Morse's work, "Fur Trade Canoe Routes of Canada: Then and Now."  

P.  S.  Should anyone here attempt to read A.  Ray, be prepared to do some serious and intense reading - he certainly wrote with the academic scholars in mind, not the popular readers.  Morse and Karamanski are definitly easier to digest and comprehend.  

Another two books I would add to this series are "North Of Athabasca: Slave Lake and Mackenzie River Documents of the North West Company, 1800-1821," edited by Lloyd Keith, and "The Fur Trade In Canada: An Introduction To Canadian Economic History," By Harold Innis.

The latter remains the standard by which other Canadian Fur Trade histories are judged, it is that good.  I have just begun to read the former.  

Thanks for mentioning these!  My "to be read" pile is running thin....


Jimbo   8-)

History that is very well written and a great read is "A Company of Adventurers" and "Caesers of the Wilderness" both by Peter C. Newmann. While on subject... "The Arctic Grail" by Pierre Breton is riveting.

Harold Innis used a lot of primary sources in the writing of "Fur Trade In Canada."  Reading that work, even decades later, is like hitting one of the mother lodes of primary sources.  If ever I wished to write something on the logistics of the canoe based fur trade, Innis' work would serve as an outstanding starting point.  Same with Karamanski.  It serves as a strong endorsement of quality when works that have been written years later refer back to a single work, again and again.  So many other  historians refer to Innis, even up to the present day.  Even Newman, quality work that he has done, refers to Innis.  Newman, however, also covers later periods of time than Innis did.  Newman covers the latter half of the 19th century, while Innis' emphasis is more on the earlier period.  Newman, for example, discusses the efforts to supply the Selkirk Settlement (present-day Winnipeg) via the railroad and Red River Carts, and Innis avoids this topic completely.    

Other works I like would include "The English River Book: A North West Company Journal and Account Book of 1786," which contains journals of Peter Pond, and is the complete record of Hudson's Bay Company Archive document F.2/1 .  In that way it is similar to "North Of Athabasca" in that it contains the actual source documents and first hand accounts of those who were in the fur trade.  Edited by Harry Duckworth.  

There is also "Emporium Of The North: Fort Chipewyan and The Fur Trade To 1835," by James Parker, and "The Most Respectable Place In The Territory: Everyday Life In Hudson's Bay Company Service, York Factory, 1788 to 1870," by Michael Payne.  These books can be difficult to get, though.  

Solus wrote on Jan 23^rd, 2009 at 4:50pm:

History that is very well written and a great read is "A Company of Adventurers" and "Caesers of the Wilderness" both by Peter C. Newmann. While on subject... "The Arctic Grail" by Pierre Breton is riveting.

Solus,

I've previously reviewed both Newman books elsewhere in this book forum.   I'll check out the "Arctic Grail" by Breton.  thx

Jimbo   8-)

Should have figured, or at the very least checked.


When I last lived in a town with a decent library I was able to read journals and translations of explorers/trappers. What I find stunning is the sheer volume of fur. Think of the ramifications for the ecosystem- probably still a factor. Has anyone read any articles concerning the long-term effects of the harvest --e a boreal version of the buffalo slaughter.

Well, Arthur Ray approaches the topic of declining returns in the Lake Superior basin in his work, so that could serve as a starting point.  

I also should mention that I enjoyed reading Dr. Karamanski's work as it has served to stimulate desire in looking for other places to canoe, beside just the Boundary Waters.  Imagine canoeing up and over MacDougall Pass, in the far northwest of the Yukon, and crossing the lowest height of land in the rockies, then paddling along the Rat and Porcupine rivers, as well as the Husky Channel.  
Also think of paddling the Yukon or the Laird rivers.  Wow.  

Solus "The Arctic Grail" by Pierre Breton is riveting.

I remember you mentioning this one before and found it in a used book store. It's a bit intimidating in size. But now that I've started, it's a good read.

There's been some great recommendations to read lately. I like the stuff that is original source or goes back to it. You find lots of stuff tied together. It's fun trying to find these in the used book stores. You never know what else is stocked nearby.

You might have fun checking out an independent book store I found in Yellowknife last summer.

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Che-Mun does some nice book reviews too.

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