Author james michener on alaska jane pauley, anchor. At first, i found his style to be sparse, which is odd, considering the book is like pages. Michener served on the advisory council to nasa and the. Michener was born in new york in 1907 and grew up in doylestown, pennsylvania, which he left at fourteen to bum his way crosscountry. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading alaska. Written in the typical michener style, the book begins with the geological formation of the alaskan land mass. February 3, 1907 october 16, 1997 was an american author of more than 40 books, the majority of which were. Now almost thirty years later, his subject is our fortyninth, which. The years that followed, with their great variety of odd jobs and experience, were an important part of his early education. Whatever its flaws, its michener, and the 750,000 first printing leaves no doubt about anything but the cast of the miniseries. May 12, 1988 alaska, by james michener is not just a long story. 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. Signed by michener on a special bookplate on the first blank page commenorating the north american inaguaral cruise of crown princess. Conditions were harsh but the people survived, as did the animals.
Boston herald michener is still, sentence for sentence, writing s fastest epub attention grabber. But once i got used to it, well, im totally enthralled by the book. 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. To the north lies alaska, the vast untamed land that master storyteller james michener now. 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. Brilliant 1st edition hardcover in glossy photoillustrated covers, signed by author on title page. Michener was born in 1907 and raised by a quaker woman in pennsylvania. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. This tireless writer, who has taken us from the south pacific to south africa, from the holy land to outer space and texas, takes us now to alaska. I have never visited alaska but i believe i have seen it through his eyes. 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.
He not only describes the location but the personalities that lived through the ages in the location of each book. From the javaborn van doorn family tree springs two great branches. Michener describes how animal and plant life occurred in the area and how the three basic groups of natives arrived. 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, ches. February 3, 1907 october 16, 1997 was an american author. Michener was known for the popularity of his works. Books including first edition alaska by james michener. Like other michener titles, alaska spans a considerable amount of time, traced through the gradual interlinking of several families. The characters that michener creates are bigger than life. 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.
In this sweeping epic of the northernmost american frontier, james a. As his characters struggle for survival, michener weaves together the exciting high points of alaskas story. James michener is very descriptive in all of his books. Rather, alaska is an epic in the original sense a story that is told over the course of epochs, involving generations of characters and genealogies. 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.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author. 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. 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 guides us through alaskas fierce terrain and history, from the long forgotten past to the bustling present. 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. Alaska takes the reader on a journey through one of the bleakest, richest, most foreboding, and highly inviting territories in our republic, if not the world. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read alaska. 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. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. Americas master epic storyteller is at it again, james michener at 81 will publish his 34th book next week.
In structure, content, and theme, alaska is most similar to michener s novels hawaii 1959 and centennial 1974. 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. This collection includes a first edition of james micheners novel alaska, published by random house in 1988, the danishlanguage history book benedikte, danmarks rytterprinsesse by sven sabroe copenhagen. Master storyteller james michener reveals alaska in all its awesome, sweeping majesty. Micheners first great historical novel hawaii, which honored the entry of our fiftieth state into the union in 1959. Michener guides us through alaskas fierce terrain and history, from the longforgotten past to the bustling present. Discussion in nonfiction books started by libre, aug 21, 2007. Paul iii and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The story begins with the forming of the continent of north america and takes the reader through modern times. Here michener guides us through alaskas fierce terrain and history, from the longforgotten past to the bustling present. Michener guides us through alaskas fierce terrain and history, from the longforgotten past. Along with the reading, michener provides a table of contents, a list of acknowledgements, and a fact and fiction section. 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.
The whiz kids and the 1950 pennant by roberts, robin. Alaska, by james michener is not just a long story. Michener guides us through alaska s fierce terrain and history, from the longforgotten past to the bustling present. Millions of readers were deeply moved, as well as enlightened, by james a.
Michener weaves together the exciting high points of alaskas story. He taught for many years and was an editor for macmillan publishing company. Michener, and i must continue to emphasize how fascinating a writer i. Praise for alaska few will escape the allure of the land and people michener describes. Michener creates epics about countries and states and their human and wildlife inhabitants, and makes speculations. Michener has conceived and written an epic novel about the land we now know as alaska. In structure, content, and theme, alaska is most similar to micheners novels hawaii 1959 and centennial 1974. Michener had numerous bestsellers and works selected for book of the month. Michener, 1907 1997 james albert michener was born on february 3, 1907 in doylestown, pa. This study guide consists of approximately pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of alaska. Michener random house, 1988 868 pages jacket design and illustration by wendell minor from the dust jacket. An epic tale of love, strength, and faith, the source is a richly written saga that encompasses the history of western civilization and the great religious and cultural ideas that have shaped our world.
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