Michener served on the advisory council to nasa and the international broadcast board, which oversees the voice of america. It is historical fiction rather than fact and i know that those who have studied hawaiis history do not agree with the author that the original settlers came from bora bora. A spellbinding portrait of a human community fighting to establish its place in the world, alaska traces a bold and majestic saga of the enduring spirit of a land and its people. James a michener biography james albert michener february 3, 1907 october 16, 1997 was an american author of more than 40 books, most of which were fictional, lengthy family sagas covering the lives of many generations in particular geographic locales and incorporating solid history.
Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 1104 pages and is available in paperback format. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. He authored more than forty books of fiction and nonfiction, including the pulitzer prizewinning tales of the south pacific, the bestselling novels the source, hawaii, alaska, chesapeake, centennial, texas, caribbean, and caravans, and the memoir the world is my home. Feb 22, 2017 the formation of the land is fascinating. Michener has conceived and written an epic novel about the land we now know as alaska. He is wellknown for the amount of research that went into his work in addition to the length of his novels 900 pages was a short novel for him. The first edition of the novel was published in 1978, and was written by james a. He authored more than forty books of fiction and nonfiction, including the pulitzer prizewinning tales of the south pacific, the bestselling novels the source, hawaii, alaska, chesapeake, centennial, texas, caribbean, and caravans. Michener served on the advisory council to nasa and the. Michener was one of the worlds most popular writers, the author of more than forty books of fiction and nonfiction, including the pulitzer prizewinning tales of the south pacific, the bestselling novels the source, hawaii, alaska, chesapeake, centennial, more.
Michener, as he is popularly known as, is a well known novelist, philanthropist and story writer from pennsylvania, united states. James was born on february 3, 1907 in new york, united states. Nearly all of james michener s books follow the same format. Get cozy and expand your home library with a large online selection of books at. Michener seller rare book cellar published 1993 edition first edition. Micheners numerous bestselling novels also included the source, centennial, texas, hawaii, and chesapeake. Alaska book by james a michener 11 available editions. James a michener alaska part 1 only read by peter graves cassette audio book. The first edition of the novel was published in 1965, and was written by james a. He wrote more than 40 books, most of which were lengthy, fictional family sagas covering the lives of many generations in particular geographic locales and incorporating solid history. The main characters of this fiction, historical story are.
Michener had numerous bestsellers and works selected for book of the month. The only hightech note anywhere is an expensive stereo cd system, which enables him to play music appropriate to the writing at hand. He is most famous for writing the multigeneration historical and fictional stories. Michener was born in new york in 1907 and grew up in doylestown, pennsylvania, which he left at fourteen to bum his way crosscountry. In this sweeping epic of the northernmost american frontier, james a. Michener describes how animal and plant life occurred in the area and how the three basic groups of natives arrived. May 12, 1988 spanning almost 30,000 years, this book is the definition of epic historical fiction.
Withal, however, alaska clops forward at a satisfying pace, the breathtaking landscape is a constant presence, and if the prose doesnt sing, it seldom gets in the way. I have been a fan of james a michener for years and this book is well on a par with his other classics such as alaska and texas. James a michener books biography and list of works author. Free download or read online the source pdf epub book. February 3, 1907 october 16, 1997 was an american author. Its first characters are the mastadon and the woolly mammoth, followed by such other settlers as the eskimos, athapaskans, and russians. Free download or read online chesapeake pdf epub book.
First, the geological history of an area is explored. Michener 19071997 was one of the worlds most popular writers. I have never visited alaska but i believe i have seen it through his eyes. His books are about pages long intimidating for me but after reading chesapeake and hawaii, i am hooked on michener. Follow four english aristocrats and their irish servant as they misguidedly haul their dreams across cruel canadian terrain toward the klondike gold fields. Spanning almost 30,000 years, this book is the definition of epic historical fiction. The bestselling book was adapted into the popular musical and film, south pacific.
Micheners numerous bestselling novels also included the. The dig goes deeper and deeper until it reaches bedrock and then the story of the genesis of religion begins with huntergatherer cave dwellers at the very dawn of the domestication of grain crops. Founded in 1997, has become a leading book price comparison site. Uncommonly good collectible and rare books from uncommonly good booksellers. Milwaukee journal gold fever swept the world in 1897. Michener seller farmer jim enterprises published 1. Master storyteller james michener reveals alaska in all its awesome, sweeping majesty. Doctorow, umberto eco, and other contributors published by publicaffairs, new york 2003 isbn 10. Albert michener, born around 1907, won the pulitzer prize for his first fiction, tales of the south pacific. Another toldfromthebeginningoftime michener saga, this one featuring alaska. Alaska audio cd published august 3rd 2004 by books on tape audio cd authors. Written in the typical michener style, the book begins with the geological formation of the alaskan land mass.
He not only describes the location but the personalities that lived through the ages in the location of each book. See all 43 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Michener 19071997 was an american author of historical fiction and nonfiction. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 1024 pages and is available in paperback format. Joyce carol oates, susan minot, muriel spark, james michener, e. The years that followed, with their great variety of odd jobs and experience, were an important part of his early education.
This is the third michener book in a row i read adn i am not much of a reader. Michener creates epics about countries and states and their human and wildlife inhabitants, and makes speculations. Michener was one of the worlds most popular writers, the author of more than forty books of fiction and nonfiction, including the pulitzer prizewinning tales of the south pacific, the bestselling novels the source, hawaii, alaska, chesapeake, centennial, texas, caribbean, and caravans, and the memoir the world is my home. The high points in the story of alaska since the american acquisition are brought vividly to life through more than 100 characters, real and fictional. James michener is very descriptive in all of his books. Conditions were harsh but the people survived, as did the animals. Praise for alaska few will escape the allure of the land and people michener describes. Michener captures a frenzied time when sane men and women risked their very lives in a forbidding arctic land to win a dazzling and elusive prize. Along with the reading, michener provides a table of contents, a list of acknowledgements, and a fact and fiction section. Find alaska and hawaii by michener, james a at biblio. From the nearforgotten past, to the highly technological present, from selfdefense to selfdetermination, here are the men and women who tried to tame the land, seize its bounty, and lay claim to the elusive spirit that holds native and visitor spellbound. The main characters of this historical, historical fiction story are.
The chance for untold riches sent thousands of dreamers on a perilous trek toward their fortunes, failures, or deaths. Alaska book by james a michener half price books marketplace. February 3, 1907 october 16, 1997 was an american author of more than 40 books, the majority of which were fictional, lengthy family sagas covering the lives of many generations in particular geographic locales and incorporating solid history. Michener tells the story of the development of religion through a literary device of an archaeological dig in israel. Using his characteristic writing style of starting at the very beginning in this case, with native people living on the coastland we now know of as eastern russia and then developing the story generation after generation through his rich and interesting characters, michener tells the. Michener was one of the worlds most popular writers, the author of more than forty books of fiction and nonfiction, including the pulitzer prizewinning tales of the south pacific, the bestselling novels the source, hawaii, alaska, chesa. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. See more ideas about james a michener, my books and books. The individual lives of the people he mentions is very thorough. Beginning with the migration of mastodon and sabertoothed tigers from siberia to alaska across the bering land bridge and continuing forward to the signing of the alaska statehood act that made alaska the 49th state in 1959, the history of the nations largest state is laid out in surprisingly readable fashion. One of the premier novelists of the twentieth century, james a. His research is incredibly detailed and his writing style is compelling. James a michener biography and list of works james a michener books. Michener was one of the worlds most popular writers, the author of more than forty books of fiction and nonfiction, including the pulitzer prizewinning tales of the south pacific, the bestselling novels the source, hawaii, alaska, chesapeake, centennial, more about james a.
His books are easy to read, so not exactly literary fiction, but i have always learned from and enjoyed them. Michener 1988 posted on 20108 by thelittleman alaska did not produce supermen, but in its formative periods it was served by men of character and determination, and it is a fortunate land which knows such public servants. Whatever its flaws, its michener, and the 750,000 first printing leaves no doubt about anything but the cast of the miniseries. Like other michener titles, alaska spans a considerable amount of time, traced through the gradual interlinking of several families. Browse author series lists, sequels, pseudonyms, synopses, book covers, ratings and awards. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read alaska.
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