Michener proved time and again that his understanding of and love for his country was unparalleled. Michener served on the advisory council to nasa and the. This novel tells of explorers, russian and american, struggling through an icebound world, contesting the colonization of an increasingly precious territory, exploiting alaska s valuable resources. 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. Alaska a story of man against the elements, struggling to survive. Original unclipped dust jacket protected by archival br.
Even though alaska did escape being submerged by these vast weights of frozen water, it was attacked by isolated glaciers which formed in its own mountains, and some were of substantial size. I have never visited alaska but i believe i have seen it through his eyes. Michener, entertainment, books, literature fiction, literary fiction, historical novel. With his trademark brand of pedagogy, michener steers his characters through. Michener creates epics about countries and states and their human an. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library. Michener guides us through alaska s fierce terrain and history, f.
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. Michener born february 3, 1907 died october 16, 1997 was an american author of more than 40 books, most of which were fictional, lengthy family. 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. The individual lives of the people he mentions is very thorough. Mic hener hawaii novel wikipedia, the free encyclopedia hawaii is a novel by james michener published in 1959. First, the geological history of an area is explored. Michener even though alaska did escape being submerged by these vast weights of frozen water, it was attacked by isolated glaciers which formed. His books are easy to read, so not exactly literary fiction, but i have always learned from and enjoyed them. He not only describes the location but the personalities that lived through the ages in the location of each book. Michener, who survived a dickensian childhood to win the pulitzer prize with his very first book, published when he was about 40, and then became one of americas favorite storytellers. 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 detailed history. Class convenes with plate tectonics and, before the final bell is rung, michener doles out nearly 900 pages of alaskan history in candycoated, bitesized vignettes.
James a michener as major norman starr is about to appear before a congressional committee to publicly account for his covert actions, he recalls the heritage of his ancestors and the role they played in the true. The exciting high points of alaska s story, from its brutal prehistory. 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. Michener s novel journey 1989 was expanded from a section originally cut from alaska. As his characters struggle for survival, michener weaves together the exciting high points of alaskas story. About a billion years ago, long before the continents had separated to define the ancient oceans, or their own outlines had been determined, a small protuberance jutted out from the northwest corner of what would later become north america. Michener s books include tales of the south pacific for which he won the pulitzer prize for fiction in 1948, hawaii, the d. The third item offers the reader an insight into what occurred in real life and what the author invented.
Mic hener book download james michener download hawaii james a. Publisher random house, new york, copyright 1988 by james a. 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 photograph of james michener, on the back cover, was taken in 1986 when michener was working on alaska. James michener, author of novels that sweep through the. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet and ios and android devices. He spoke from the james michener pavilion at the 2017 gaithersburg book festival, held on the grounds of city hall in gaithersburg, maryland.
Michener guides us through alaskas fierce terrain and history, from the longforgotten past to the bustling present. This noble land is micheners most personal statement about america, an examination of the issues that threaten to fragment and undermine the nationracial conflict, the widening gulf between rich and poor, the decline of education, the inadequacies of our health care systemas well as a. Craig shirley talked about his book, reagan rising. Ross had not been at the meeting when this was first proposed, but as soon as members of his committee brought the suggestion to his bedside, he had grasped its significance. The native peoples of alaska have spent millions of lifetimes confronting the most fearsome elements of destruction the bitter winds of mother nature, the unlimited might of the great armies of the world. See more ideas about historical fiction, books, james a michener. In this sweeping epic of the northernmost american frontier, james a. Praise for alaska few will escape the allure of the land and people michener describes. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Alaska, history, fiction, first edition stated, number line 24689753.
In the northern areas during one of the lesser ice ages, an icy finger covered the brooks range, carving and readjusting those mountains and building beautiful valleys. Michener s numerous bestselling novels also included the. Nearly all of james michener s books follow the same format. Written in the typical michener style, the book begins with the geological formation of the alaskan land mass. 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. Michener describes how animal and plant life occurred in the area and how the three basic groups of natives arrived. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Michener guides us across alaska s fierce terrain, from the longforgotten past to the bustling technological present, as his characters struggle for survival. Get cozy and expand your home library with a large online selection of books at. Alaska book by james a michener 11 available editions. As his characters struggle for survival, michener weaves together the exciting high points of alaska s story. Conditions were harsh but the people survived, as did the animals. If you love adventure, the outdoors, strong souls and just plain getting lost in a book, i would highly recommend james a. Recently there has been some followers of this kind of books, like edward rutherfurd, who is a good author, but not like michener.
Nov 17, 2020 in alaska, michener creates compelling characters struggling and thriving in early and then later alaska, their struggles serving as a lens through which we learn about the broad scope of alaskan history, with an emphasis on the last 200 years, which included russian ownership and exploitation, the purchase of sewards folly, the two major. Michener had numerous bestsellers and works selected by the book of the month club, and was known for his meticulous research behind the books. Dec 26, 2015 james michener one of the greatest authors ever. Michener, the extravagant storyteller who delivered whole states, whole nationsindeed, whole epochsto an adoring international audience by wrapping historical fact in sweeping fiction. Michener had numerous bestsellers and works selected by the book of the. Lewis of the sheldon jackson college in sitka, alaska. See more ideas about james a michener, james, books. Alaska by james michener, hardcover, first edition, 1988. He is the best when it comes to tell a story of a place, not of a person. James michener is very descriptive in all of his books. Michener just who it was who had the clever idea of enlisting labor in the fight to keep alaska a colony was not recorded.
Another toldfromthebeginningoftime michener saga, this one featuring alaska. In such modern classics as chesapeake, centennial, hawaii, alaska, and texas, james a. The fires of spring by james michener 1949 hc 1st ed. The scoundrel and the lady lords of vice the wright one. Shop for centennial uk dvd starting from choose from the 6 best option.
The bestselling book was adapted into the popular musical and film, south pacific. From the javaborn van doorn family tree springs two great branches. Like other michener titles, alaska spans a considerable amount of time, traced through the gradual. Master storyteller james michener reveals alaska in all its awesome, sweeping majesty. Michener 19071997 was one of the worlds most popular writers. Along with the reading, michener provides a table of contents, a list of acknowledgements, and a fact and fiction section.
February 3, 1907 october 16, 1997 was an american author. Michener guides us through alaskas fierce terrain and history, from the. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Favorite add to texas, historical novel by james a michener, first edition 1985, decorative book, book for shelves, texas history theoldbookshelf. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read alaska. Caribbean is a very long book, telling almost a millenium of history of one of the most enchanting places on earth. Michener s masterly chronicle of south africa is an epic tale of adventurers, scoundrels, and ministers, the best and worst of two continents, who carve an empire out of a vast wilderness. Michener guides us through alaskas fierce terrain and history, from the longforgotten past. Albert michener, born around 1907, won the pulitzer prize for his first fiction, tales of the south pacific.
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