The Company

Stephen R. Bown’s, The Company: The Rise and Fall of the Hudson’s Bay Empire, recounts the fulsome history of the Hudson’s Bay Company beginning with the establishment of its charter by the British government in 1670 through the end of the legal monopoly in 1870. Through these two centuries of history, the author interweaves memoires of company factors, voyageurs and natives that shaped the development of Company trade and led to the growth of British and American colonies in North America. Bown’s insights on the trade makes this an interesting read for those who want to learn more about the fur trade and the development of some of the largest modern-day Canadian and Northwest American cities.

Historical Comprehension

The author utilizes a lengthy mix of primary and secondary sources to compile the fulsome history of Hudson’s Bay Company. The primary sources support the analysis on why individuals made decisions that impacted the Company’s actions. The author also includes critical data to support major points. For example, to emphasize the vastness of the Company’s domain after the 1821 merger with the North West Company, the author notes that the head of the Company effectively oversaw territory equivalent to 8% of the earth’s surface. In addition, to illustrate the adverse impacts of smallpox and other European diseases on native populations, the author points to instances of massive population loss across various geographies. These stats and facts greatly advance the narrative to support the author’s analysis of the Company’s domain.

Modern Readability

The author does a strong job of contextualizing the thinking of complex characters such as Pierre-Esprit Radisson, Matonabbee, James Douglas, John McLoughlin and George Simpson. Bown’s critical thinking around why certain characters made particular decisions is especially interesting. While the author’s storytelling is comprehensive, the geographic nuances are challenging to follow for an average reader. I’m hopeful that in future editions, the author will include maps as aids to the narrative. This is especially critical to keep track of the nomadic tribes in each geography.

Unique and Balanced Perspective

In the acknowledgements section, the author notes that “statistics and numbers and facts” present a fundamental background to understanding history, but the people are the most fascinating element. This book does an excellent job of framing how the cultural and geographic conditions impacted the choices of key decision-makers in the trade, and this perspective is particularly novel.

There are many perspectives that view the colonization of modern-day Canada as an attempt by European powers (named British and French) to ruthlessly expand their empires within the context of broader imperialism. However, up until the start of the 19^th century, the Hudson Bay Company was more of a harmonious trading partner with indigenous communities. Throughout the narrative, Bown reinforces the varying behaviors and views of individuals to dispel common, absolutist viewpoints on the trade.