Fortune's a River recounts the late-18th and early-19th-century struggle for the Pacific Northwest, where imperial ambition, commerce and exploration collided. It follows how Russia, Spain, Britain and the United States jockeyed for control of what became British Columbia, Oregon, Washington and Alaska.

Historian Barry Gough brings to life the explorers, fur traders and entrepreneurs who carried the conflict forward: Alexander Mackenzie, Simon Fraser, David Thompson, the Lewis and Clark expedition and John Jacob Astor figure prominently. The narrative examines diplomatic crises, trade networks and the role of private enterprise in shaping borders and settlements.

The book is researched and readable, blending maritime and regional history with vivid episodes of exploration and rivalry. Winner of the John Lyman Book Award and shortlisted for multiple Canadian prizes, it will appeal to readers of North American, Canadian and maritime history.

• Imperial rivalry and diplomacy
• Fur trade routes and coastal exploration
• Profiles of key explorers and entrepreneurs

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