The explorations of Pierre Esprit Radisson

the long version

"In some unknown manner, the original manuscript of Radisson's writings fell into the possession of Samuel Pepys, the noted English naval official, diarist and book collector. Upon his death in 1703, the manuscript was regarded as having no value, and but for the intervention of a better informed friend, would have been destroyed, and one of the most gripping narratives of contact with the American Indian would have been lost to us. Radisson's travels were extensive, and his account of affairs between the whites and the Indians of his day as related in his " Captivity Voyage" is one of the most brutal narratives of human torture recorded. Radisson's accomplishments cannot be covered by the term "discoverer" for though his voyages were accomplished in the middle and late 1600's, many of his routes had been previously traversed. Perhaps his most enduring fame will rest upon his founding of the Hudson's Bay Company, for without the continued resourceful efforts of Pierre Esprit Radisson, the English would have never granted the Charter to the Company who later accomplished so much in trade with the Indians and in the opening of vast areas to the white man." -- Publisher's description