Company of Adventurers

Company of Adventurers #1

by Peter C. Newman

Shaping the destiny of Canada, the merchant founders of the Hudson's Bay Company tamed the wilderness as they built the world's largest private commerical empire. A brilliant story chronicling the unsung heroes of North American history.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Canada, Adventure, Nautical, Biography

565 pages, Paperback

First published November 25, 1985

About the author

Peter Charles Newman (born Peta Karel Neuman), CC, journalist, author, newspaper and magazine editor (born 10 May 1929 in Vienna, Austria; died 7 September 2023 in Belleville, ON). Peter C. Newman was one of Canada’s most prominent journalists, biographers and non-fiction authors. After starting out with the Financial Post, he became editor-in-chief of both the Toronto Star and Maclean’s. His 35 books, which have collectively sold more than two million copies, helped make political reporting and business journalism more personalized and evocative. His no-holds-barred, insiders-tell-all accounts of Canada’s business and political elites earned him a reputation as Canada’s “most cussed and discussed” journalist. A recipient of numerous awards and honorary degrees, Newman was elected to the Canadian News Hall of Fame in 1992. He was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1978 and a Companion in 1990.

Early Life and Education

Originally named Peta Karel Neuman by his secularized Jewish parents, Peter C. Newman grew up in the Czech town of Breclav, where his father ran a large sugar beet refinery. As Newman wrote in 2018, “I lived the charmed life of a little rich boy in Moravia, Czechoslovakia — until age nine, that is, when the world as I knew it vanished.” Fleeing the Nazis, his family came to Canada as refugees in 1940.

Newman initially attended Hillfield School in Hamilton, Ontario, a prep school for the Royal Military College of Canada. But, envisaging a business career for his son, Newman's father, Oscar, enrolled him as a “war guest” boarder at Upper Canada College in 1944. There he met future members of the Canadian establishment whose lives he would later document.

After graduating, Newman joined the Canadian Navy Reserves. He was a reservist for decades and eventually reached the rank of captain. For many years, he was rarely seen in public without his signature black sailor cap.


Career Highlights

Once he mastered English, Newman began writing, first for the University of Toronto newspaper, then for the Financial Post in 1951. By 1953, he was Montreal editor of the Post. He held the position for three years before returning to Toronto to be assistant editor, then Ottawa columnist, at Maclean's magazine. In 1959, he published Flame of Power: Intimate Profiles of Canada's Greatest Businessmen. It profiles 11 of the first generation of Canada's business magnates. In 1963, Newman published his masterly and popular political chronicle of John Diefenbaker, Renegade in Power: The Diefenbaker Years (1963). According to the Writers’ Trust of Canada, the book “revolutionized Canadian political reporting with its controversial ‘insiders-tell-all’ approach.” Five years later, Newman published a similar but less successful study of Lester Pearson, The Distemper of Our Times (1968).

In 1969, Newman became editor-in-chief at the Toronto Star. During this period, he published some of his best journalism in Home Country: People, Places and Power Politics (1973). He then published popular studies on the lives of those who wielded financial power in the Canadian business establishment. These included his two-volume The Canadian Establishment (1975, 1981), The Bronfman Dynasty (1978; see also Bronfman Family), and The Establishment Man: A Portrait of Power (1982). A third book called Titans: How the New Canadian Establishment Seized Power was added to this series in 1998.

Newman was also editor of Maclean's from 1971 to 1982. He transformed the magazine from a monthly to a weekly news magazine — the first of its kind in Canada — with a Canadian slant on international and national events. In 1982, he resigned to work on a three-volume history of the Hudson's Bay Company.

Honours

Peter C. Newman received the Canadian Journalism Foundation's Lifetime Achievement Award and the Toronto Star's Excellence in Journalism award in 1998. He received a National Newspaper Award and in 1992 he was elected to the Canadia

Reviews

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been interested in the North American fur trade since I took a history class about the American West and the Hudson's Bay Company plays a huge role in that. Unfortunately, there are very few books written in the last several decades that focus on the founding and early years of that company. This was the only book I could find and it ended up being pretty decent. There were a few parts that got a bit boring, but the chapters about the men from the Orkney Islands and the natives, in addition to the fabulous images every few pages, made up for the slow times. A few chapters read more like biographies of specific explorers or HBC men than focusing on the company itself and that's where I was the most bored. But after a few pages of skimming, things always picked back up. I'm planning on reading the sequel to this book soon.

[Richard Shepard · Rating 4 out of 5]

In many ways it is amazing that the Hudson's Bay Company survived. This book covers the HBC from its rather inauspicious beginnings in the mid 17th century to the threshold of modern times in the mid 19th century. It is difficult to imagine a more inhospitable geography, where trees were stunted if they grew at all, where brandy left in open air would turn to slush in 2 minutes and freeze solid in 5. Perhaps in a way that was a good thing, because for the most part the indigenous Indians helped the newcomers survive in exchange for such things as sewing needles, bronze cookpots and, of course, alcohol. But this is a story of more than the white man conquering a country. It is a story of survival and adventure, of learning to live with the land instead of on it, of the constant search for a mythical "Northwest Passage", of mapmaking and discovery. At once comprehensive and incomplete, this book presents an excellent introduction to the birth of what is now Canada.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great if you enjoy adventure, history, culture, and solid writing.

[Raimo Wirkkala · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the first of his 3-volume history Newman covers just under 200 years and does so in fine fashion. History, rigorously rendered, while, at the same time, well-written and accessible, is a joy to read.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lent this series by a neighbour, and though it took me a while to make my way through them, it was not for lack of interest, but for amount of information. I liked the first of the series the best, as it was the most interesting in terms of adventure, and how much of Canada's wilderness was mapped by the men who traded and worked for the Company, whose offices were all the way back in London. The historical aspect of the book took me in, the figures that I knew from history were brought to life, the hardships faced by the members of the Company, the life in the Trading Posts, and the ongoing wars between the English and the French, which also fought themselves out between members of the Company and those of the Nor'west Company. I managed to find copies of the series, one at a time, at a little bookshop where I hunt the shelves frequently, and now my set takes a nice healthy place in my own bookcases.

[Blaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read on Canadian history. There is a lot of information contained within the covers of this book and the series. This was one of my favourite books and warranted a re-read. The Hudson's Bay Company - our history is intertwined with the charter of this company and the people who were under its charge. Good read. :-) It has been over ten years, but I saw this book highlighted at the downtown library and decided to pick it up once more.

[Maria Morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best history books I have ever read. Not only did I learn a few things, but I enjoyed the style of writing for both its words and its content. I definitely think this is a book every Canadian should read.

[Heep · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best of the series. The title appropriately describes the book. It is a swash-buckling tale that is essential reading for all Canadians. This is absolutely fantastic stuff.

[Andrew · Rating 2 out of 5]

Serviceable history book to begin with... tedious collection of businessman biographies to finish off.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

You will think differently of HBC

[Tony Gallon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Company of Adventurers has been a pleasure to read. The author Peter Newman has a very engaging writing style,telling a critical tale of how Canada ( North America) became important to the crown of England. Peter Newman engrosses you into the story and then mixes in many very interesting "side facts" just to keep you intrigued.
The creation and growth of the HBC is an extremely interesting story, add to that , the length of time the company had endured since 1670 (sadly it is in its final closing status this year of 2026 having filed for bankruptcy in 2025).
Peter Newman weaves a great number of fantastical stories of key employees of the HBC over the centuries, each one worthy of a book in itself. As I read these accounts of many an Adventurer I found myself placing the story in the events of the world at large during the time frame of the various events in world history. It really makes you think of the world wide impact a fur trading company had in world events for 500 years.
This is a fun book to read and you will learn of some incredulous tales and events. The accomplishments of the HBC is a very important part of the North American history and something we should all take time to learn.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read. Lots of wit and interesting details. I thought it was well researched and really enjoyed the geographic details. I had read the book many years ago but had forgotten most of it so a reread was called for. I will soon start on the next book in the sequence. The history of the Northern Canada and the Hudsons Bay Company is not known to non Canadians (I was raised in Northern Canada so some of it was known to me). I think anyone interested in North American history and Geography would find this work fascinating. For most Americans it would mostly be completely new to them even though it occurred right next door.

[Kathryn Berko · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first in a two-part series comprehensive review of the history of exploration and the start of the fur trade in Canada. Well written, I appreciated the unbiased approach to what really went on with regard to the first interactions between the HBC's fur trade employees and the Indigenous people already on the land. Also covered the first 300 years of explorers mapping the North, and how it was all tied to the interests of the Hudson's Bay Company.

[litost · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comprehensive look at the formation of the Hudson's Bay Company and the first century of it's existence (1700's). Not much happened as the HBC policy was to "sleep at the edge of the frozen sea" and wait for the Cree to bring them furs. The HBC did not, during that period, explore Canada or search for the Northwest Passage. My favourite parts were the exceptions to this: Samuel Hearne and John Rae (Rae is 1800's but gets a chapter anyway, which is fine by me!).

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

An important book for understanding early Canadian history. Some of the passages didn’t age well from the 80s when it was written (assumptions about the motivations of indigenous peoples, for example) but all in all an enjoyable read. I appreciate that the author tried to share these old stories and personalities with colourful language that would help bring them to life, even if sometimes that comes across as presumptive or melodramatic. PCN is a good storyteller!

[Tim McDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Company of Adventurers is an extremely well written tomb of information on the founding of the Hudson's Bay Company. It is far and away the best book in the trilogy written by Newman on the HBC. It's hard to imagine a 500+ page book as a "page turner", but it is.
This is a must read for anyone that is interested in the history of Canada, North America. It reads as much more than a history, or document. It stands on its own as a well written book.

[Arran T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written. Both thorough and entertaining in its language. The inclusion of additional background on the HBC's founders, business results, prominent members and timelines is a testament to the author's determination to create a wholesome history. It also does not avoid the topic of European influence on, and destruction of, the native cultures and populations that interacted with the HBC.

[Leonel Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Page 288 – Having spent so much of his life outside of the money economy, (Samuel) Hearne tended to lend what modest funds he had with more generosity than discretion. Peter C. Newman

Not a lick of dialogue "other than those quoted", in the whole 400 page book but such an interesting read nonetheless.

[Mike Adamczyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, but I found the author to go into way too much detail about the royal Brits. Also, the economic stuff is unclear, and a better explanation is needed. Also very little detail about different voyages compared to other books covering similar timelines. Despite these, it’s an enjoyable read.

[Cliff-Jam · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the rare books in which the author has clearly immersed themselves in deep research while keeping a keen eye for a good story. Gripping from cover to cover, Company of Adventurers never fails to pull you into the hundreds of side plots in the Company's bumbling history.

[Lukas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was worried I would not make it through this book. While the author skips around in history, I was entertained the entire way. I learned about English commerce, stocks, and business dealings of the 16-17th Centuries. I hope his next books covers the fur trade in the 1820s.

[Thomas Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent chapter on the beaver.

[Tami Quiring · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very detailed historical account of the beginnings of the Hudson Bay Company. Easy read, now I have to find the sequels so I can finish the story.

[Paul D · Rating 2 out of 5]

Slow, pompously written

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peter Newman’s Company of Adventurers is the first of three ambitious volumes chronicling the history of the Hudson’s Bay Company. Given the scope of the project, Newman begins by providing us with a lot of context to his work. The reader is first treated to an overview of company fortunes, and then a brief history of the genesis of Arctic exploration in what is now Canada. This primarily focuses on the search for the elusive Northwest passage, which initiate contact with Natives, in turn beginning trade between Europeans. There is even a lovely little chapter all about beavers themselves. All of this provides the necessary context to understand the HBC and the world they originated in.

It is only with the context firmly established that we learn of the HBC itself. Newman details the court intrigue and business wranglings of 1600-1700s England that birthed the HBC, outlining who mattered, when, and why. There is a particular focus on the competition between Britain and France over the lucrative fur trade. Newman then tells us of how the HBC was established in practice, particularly in relation to the Orkney Islands and their role in the logistics and developing the workforce of the company. Newman also describes interactions between Natives and Europeans in greater detail. This includes wonderful rituals initiating fur trading between camps. Newman’s historiography is thorough and very reasonable, outlining that both parties had reason to believe they were gaining out of trading, and that many aspects of one’s culture was inconceivably alien to the other. Newman does, however, also point out instances of colonial exploitation and naturally condemns any such practice.

The story then moves into the 18th century. Here, the British competition with the French takes to the fore. Newman tells of how the efforts of the Europeans, combined with Native efforts to play the two against each other (along with the curious activism of Arthur Hobbs), spurred the HBC into becoming a more proactively imperial, expansionist, and assertive force across Rupert’s Land. Newman details many characters and events involved at the time, including French rivals and Native figures. These include the now-overlooked Thanadelthur, a Native slave girl who rose to great political prominence. It is far from a dry history due to detail; Newman’s work is a vivid and rich history because of it.

This competition drives the fascinating final section of the book. Half narrative, half description, Newman recalls tales of the early exploration of the Canadian wilderness. Foremost among these tales is that of Samuel Hearne’s epic 3,500 mile trek to the Arctic Ocean. Newman generously quotes from Hearne’s own journals in his retelling, but tastefully fills in with historical detail and context throughout. Newman then continues Hearne’s story founding Cumberland Bay, the first inland HBC post, and his promotion to Governor of Prince of Wales’ Fort. The climax of this section is the tale of the extraordinary John Rae, prolific cartographer and immensely capable expedition leader. Fittingly, the first volume concludes by exploring the role of Rae and the HBC at large in the renewed search for the Northwest passage.

Newman ends the book poignantly by retelling the harrowing tale of the lost Franklin expedition. This section is fascinatingly told entirely from the perspective of John Rae, with larger context fed in. Rae, of course, is most famous not for his talents in the Arctic, but for being the man who discovered the fate of the expedition. Indeed, it was he who first suggested the unthinkable – cannibalism amongst subjects of the Crown. The tale is told magnificently, and brilliantly ends the first of Newman’s epic volumes. I shall certainly be reading the others.

[Philippa Dowding · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like this country owes a huge debt to Peter C. Newman for writing this book. I can't imagine the hours (and hours and hours and hours) of research he (and his team?) put into this, evidenced by the 15 pages of bibliography, and the nine appendixes. (What book has NINE?)
It's interesting content, vibrant and humorous at times, bringing the incredible job of founding a nation to life, on the backs of Orkneymen and a strange, semi-aquatic rodent.
I most enjoyed the last two chapters, about Samuel Hearne and John Rae, who Newman rightly says would be folk heroes on the scale of Lawrence of Arabia or Davy Crockett, if they were employed by any business enterprise other than the dour, penny-pinching British Committeemen of the Hudson's Bay Company. Sadly, the HBC weren't particularly interested in the exploits of their employees, even if they did walk 100s of thousands of miles (mostly on snowshoes) to map the entire Northwest Passage, or live in one of the most inhospitable places on earth to build a mighty business empire, the world's oldest at 350 years. And, quite by accident, a nation too.
My only complaint about this book is that it DOES GO ON, to the extent of 500+ pages (and it's only book 1 of 3 in the voluminous effort). There are entire chapters, paragraphs and sentences in which you KNOW you're only reading it because Newman loves the sound of his fingers on the keyboard. But hey, I can forgive him that. Don't we all? ;)
A must-read if you're interested in Canadian history. It will remind you of Grade 10 history, but without the stultifyingly dull textbook. Someone needed to write this book, and tell Canada's story for those of us unwilling to sort through thousands of handwritten documents stored in the HBC archives in Winnipeg, so thank you Mr. Newman. If you're interested in Canada's early history, also read The Orenda, by Joseph Boyden, about the end of the Huron nation (but not so much about HBC). Here's my review of that work: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Larry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting, but too much of the same interesting stuff becomes tedious. It's interesting to hear of how the Hudson's Bay Company was built and worked, but the employees' lives in northern Canada were pretty much only selling pelts and staying warm. I got the idea very well -- after about 1/2 of the book.

[Val · Rating 5 out of 5]

J'ai lu la version traduite en français. Quel voyage dans l'histoire!!! Captivant!