What do you think?
The Adventures of Captain Bonneville, U.S.A, in the Rocky Mountains and the Far West
Drawing on Bonneville's own journals, Washington Irving chronicles the exploits and adventures of Captain James Bonneville, one of the earliest explorers of the American West, detailing his various journeys with mountain man Joseph Rutherford Walker; their discovery of Yosemite, Walker Pass, and the Bonneville Salt Flats; and life among the Native Americans and trappers of the West. Reprint.
416 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1837
About the author
Washington Irving
5,991 books1,101 followersPeople remember American writer Washington Irving for the stories "
Rip Van Winkle
" and "
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
," contained in
The Sketch Book
(1820).
This author, essayist, biographer and historian of the early 19th century wrote newspaper articles under the pseudonym Jonathan Oldstyle to begin his literary career at the age of nineteen years.
In 1809, he published The History of New York under his most popular public persona, Diedrich Knickerbocker.
Historical works of Irving include a five volume biography of George Washington (after whom he was named) as well as biographies of Oliver Goldsmith, Muhammad, and several histories, dealing with subjects, such as Christopher Columbus, the Moors, and the Alhambra, of 15th-century Spain. John Tyler, president, appointed Irving to serve as the first Spanish speaking United States minister to Spain from 1842 to 1846.
This author, essayist, biographer and historian of the early 19th century wrote newspaper articles under the pseudonym Jonathan Oldstyle to begin his literary career at the age of nineteen years.
In 1809, he published The History of New York under his most popular public persona, Diedrich Knickerbocker.
Historical works of Irving include a five volume biography of George Washington (after whom he was named) as well as biographies of Oliver Goldsmith, Muhammad, and several histories, dealing with subjects, such as Christopher Columbus, the Moors, and the Alhambra, of 15th-century Spain. John Tyler, president, appointed Irving to serve as the first Spanish speaking United States minister to Spain from 1842 to 1846.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 12, 2020
A travelogue and adventure diary written by Washington Irving on behalf of Captain Bonneville. Bonneville’s expedition across the continent in 1832-1834 to Oregon was largely in the name of fur trapping. He started out with 120 men and nearly all the men returned east some two years later. He was a revered leader.
There are constant interactions with Native Americans and first hand reports detailed in the book. The Nez Perce were revered by the trappers. The Blackfeet were scorned. Despite the death of famed trapper Jedidiah Smith at the hands of the Comanche just a year earlier, it is extraordinary how intertwined the trappers were with many Native American tribes of the American West.
Much better written history than I was anticipating. It is said that by 1830 there were already more than 3,000 trappers in the American West. Many Native American tribes also were trapping for trade purposes. Beaver pelts were the primary focus. Not surprisingly the beaver trade was finished a few decades later. In large part because the beaver was now near extinction and in small part because beaver pelts were no longer fashionable.
4 stars.
There are constant interactions with Native Americans and first hand reports detailed in the book. The Nez Perce were revered by the trappers. The Blackfeet were scorned. Despite the death of famed trapper Jedidiah Smith at the hands of the Comanche just a year earlier, it is extraordinary how intertwined the trappers were with many Native American tribes of the American West.
Much better written history than I was anticipating. It is said that by 1830 there were already more than 3,000 trappers in the American West. Many Native American tribes also were trapping for trade purposes. Beaver pelts were the primary focus. Not surprisingly the beaver trade was finished a few decades later. In large part because the beaver was now near extinction and in small part because beaver pelts were no longer fashionable.
4 stars.
March 13, 2014
I read this and totally missed that Captain Bonneville and a Rutherford were the first white men to visit Yosemite as is mentioned in the summary.
Bonneville was pretty decent though his men became brutal in Cali to the natives to his shame and shock.
Bonneville experienced the beauty of the West in the rawest sort if way, but still took time out to observe the beaver from behind a bush to see for himself if their legendary intelligence was true.
This is a nice look at the early west though I doubt any reader would not feel a bit of shame over what we lost so quickly with mans carelessness and lack of foresight.
I chose to read this book because L. Ron Hubbard mentioned in a personal remark that Washington Irving wrote well because he wrote what he saw, admiring objective observation.
This title I chose due to having enjoyed other writings of mountain men and the fur trading days, such as AB Guthrie"s The Big Sky.
Mr Hubbard wrote his own first novel, Buckskin Brigades during this era, a story spun off an entry in Lewis and Clark's diary where a Blackfoot was killing with no provocation.
Irving also mentions this incident in the Lewis and Clark's journal, but passes it over really without writing that it might have been the injustice done which created the Blackfoot hostility.
Capt Bonneville crossed a lot of harsh territory, waterless in areas, Utah & Nevada, and weathered snowy mountain passes with provisions depleted.
Wagon wheels bursting apart due to all the moisture being sucked out of them in arid deserts was but one of the difficulties to be solved on his scouting trip of the west in which he had hoped to discover how to reestablish the US fur market which has been taken over by the Canadians.
There is an extraordinary scene of a Blackfoot shooting arrows while riding a horse and insight as to attitudes of other native nations in their relations with the white Americans heading west.
Two Years Before The Mast by Dana has interesting portraits of early California as well.
Bonneville was pretty decent though his men became brutal in Cali to the natives to his shame and shock.
Bonneville experienced the beauty of the West in the rawest sort if way, but still took time out to observe the beaver from behind a bush to see for himself if their legendary intelligence was true.
This is a nice look at the early west though I doubt any reader would not feel a bit of shame over what we lost so quickly with mans carelessness and lack of foresight.
I chose to read this book because L. Ron Hubbard mentioned in a personal remark that Washington Irving wrote well because he wrote what he saw, admiring objective observation.
This title I chose due to having enjoyed other writings of mountain men and the fur trading days, such as AB Guthrie"s The Big Sky.
Mr Hubbard wrote his own first novel, Buckskin Brigades during this era, a story spun off an entry in Lewis and Clark's diary where a Blackfoot was killing with no provocation.
Irving also mentions this incident in the Lewis and Clark's journal, but passes it over really without writing that it might have been the injustice done which created the Blackfoot hostility.
Capt Bonneville crossed a lot of harsh territory, waterless in areas, Utah & Nevada, and weathered snowy mountain passes with provisions depleted.
Wagon wheels bursting apart due to all the moisture being sucked out of them in arid deserts was but one of the difficulties to be solved on his scouting trip of the west in which he had hoped to discover how to reestablish the US fur market which has been taken over by the Canadians.
There is an extraordinary scene of a Blackfoot shooting arrows while riding a horse and insight as to attitudes of other native nations in their relations with the white Americans heading west.
Two Years Before The Mast by Dana has interesting portraits of early California as well.
May 3, 2018
This book is Called The Adventures of Captain Bonneville translated and published by Washington Irving. This book is not a part of a series and a true story. This book is a translation of the journal of Benjamin Louis Eulalie de Bonneville. In this book Captain Bonneville, François, Marc and Awena who was a native american woman that he bought to help translate with the population. The team travels west and hopes to explore and find riches.
I enjoyed this book because of its length and its detail into everyday life during the time. I think this book was worth reading even though it was translated in 1800s english which makes it at times difficult to understand its interesting story and detail are worth the read. For example the more popular quote “There is a sacredness in tears. They are not a mark of weakness, but of power. They speak much more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the angels of overwhelming grief, of deep confession and of unspeakable love.” I think this book simply because of its more complex english is much more suited for relatively advanced readers. This book has sometimes slightly difficult to follow but meaningful plot and that is why I enjoyed this read.
The Adventures of Captain Bonneville, U.S.A, in the Rocky Mountains and the Far WestThe Adventures of Captain Bonneville
December 10, 2024
An very educational and honest telling of what the West United States were like during Captain Bonneville's exploration. It shows interactions with Native American tribes, other packers and hunters, as well as the difficult life it was to lead in and around the Rocky Mountains. Listened to on Librivox.org
July 27, 2018
What fireside tales these men must have told.
June 26, 2022
Lots of good frontier firsthand accounts of early trapping, hunting and trading expeditions. A bit of a slog despite Irving's best attempts to make a harrowing narrative.
June 19, 2025
As someone who lives in the West, it was fascinating to hear how things were in the 1830s!
October 2, 2026
1830s Exploration of the West
Well written story to fill in the details of the fur trade that created the wealthiest man in Manhattan New York
Well written story to fill in the details of the fur trade that created the wealthiest man in Manhattan New York
April 11, 2016
"The History of New York" and "The Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus" induced me to read another work of Washington Irving's and I'm happy that I did.
John Jacob Astor introduced Washington Irving to Benjamin Bonneville, a captain in the United States Army, who had been assigned the exploration of the western extremes of the Louisiana Territory and what lay beyond, the area that Astor and his trappers had briefly "colonized" and then abandoned, by President Jackson in the 1830's. Irving wrote down the stories that Bonneville told him.
This is both non-fiction and escapist. One may want to read it with Wikipedia and Google Earth opened to get a more substantive feel for what Irving was writing about and to "be there" albeit 180 years after the fact.
Enjoy!
John Jacob Astor introduced Washington Irving to Benjamin Bonneville, a captain in the United States Army, who had been assigned the exploration of the western extremes of the Louisiana Territory and what lay beyond, the area that Astor and his trappers had briefly "colonized" and then abandoned, by President Jackson in the 1830's. Irving wrote down the stories that Bonneville told him.
This is both non-fiction and escapist. One may want to read it with Wikipedia and Google Earth opened to get a more substantive feel for what Irving was writing about and to "be there" albeit 180 years after the fact.
Enjoy!
Read
June 29, 2009It is interesting to read, but a little dry. I am part way through right now and having a hard time picking it up again. I do enjoy visualizing the parts of the country that I have been seen.
July 22, 2011
On National Geographic's list of 100 Greatest Adventure Books. Interesting history. Dry writing.
November 25, 2014
Very ensightful as to the early men in encountering The Wild West. Maybe it was me but found the work redundant.
March 6, 2015
Review is here. Excellent research material for two books I'm working on at the moment.
http://misterfweem.blogspot.com/2015/...
http://misterfweem.blogspot.com/2015/...
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews