The Doomed Journey of Francisco Coronado with Peter Stark

In 'Astoria,' Peter Stark tells the story of John Jacob Astor's ambitious expedition (1810–1813) to establish a fur-trading empire on the North American Pacific coast and the hardships faced by its participants. Stark follows the planners and the two-pronged expedition—overland and maritime—charting disaster, survival, and the geopolitical stakes between the United States, Britain, and Native peoples. Drawing on journals and firsthand accounts, the book recreates the experience of exploration and the often brutal conditions that shaped its outcomes. Stark emphasizes how ambition, miscalculation, and the wilderness itself altered the expedition's plans and legacies. The narrative situates the endeavor within early American expansionism and the global fur trade, offering readers a dramatic account of exploration and survival.

Peter Stark's 'The Lost Cities of El Norte' reconstructs Francisco Vázquez de Coronado's 1540s expedition into the American Southwest, blending vivid narrative with archival research. The book traces the motivations, logistics, and psychological toll of the campaign, while foregrounding Puebloan strategies that thwarted Spanish conquest. Stark argues the expedition's failure marked an early and consequential moment in Native American resistance against European colonization. He interweaves individual stories—explorers, friars, and indigenous leaders—to illuminate cultural misunderstandings and brutal encounters. The work situates Coronado's journey within broader imperial ambitions and the long-term effects on settlement patterns in the U.S. West.

Peter Stark's 'The Last Empty Places' investigates four of the darkest spots on nighttime satellite maps of the continental U.S. , traveling through northern Maine, western Pennsylvania, southeastern Oregon, and New Mexico. Combining travel writing, regional history, and natural observation, Stark examines how these sparsely populated landscapes shaped local cultures, settlement patterns, and American ideas about wilderness. He interweaves interviews with residents, historical context, and reflections on conservation and identity to illuminate the depth and diversity found off the well-worn tourist routes. The book argues that these 'empty' places hold significant cultural and ecological value often overlooked by mainstream narratives. Through vivid description and research, Stark celebrates the solitude, resilience, and distinct communities of America's remote regions.

Ian Frazier's *Paradise Bronx* is a detailed and loving exploration of the Bronx's history, from colonial times to the present. The book delves into the borough's diverse cultural heritage, including its role in the Revolutionary War, waves of immigration, and the birth of hip-hop. Frazier also examines the challenges faced by the Bronx, such as the Cross Bronx Expressway and gentrification, highlighting the resilience of its communities.