Jan 01, 1980 micheners take on south africa micheners true epics are always worth the time to read. The covenant is a historical novel by american author james a. Jul 09, 2002 since we were traveling to hawaii i chose this book to take along. Michener was adopted and raised by another woman and does not know about his biological parents. Micheners books include tales of the south pacific for which he won the pulitzer prize for fiction in 1948, hawaii, the drifters, centennial, the source, the fires of spring, chesapeake, caribbean, caravans, alaska, texas, space, and poland.
Micheners masterly chronicle of south africa is an epic tale of adventurers, scoundrels, and ministers, the best and worst of two continents who carve an. Michener has 150 books on goodreads with 493309 ratings. Unfollow james michener books to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. Michener s masterly chronicle of south africa is an epic tale of adventurers, scoundrels, and ministers, the best and worst of two continents. If i were to describe it, imagine a book laid on the ground and someone were to accidentally kick it as they walked past. James michener historical records and family trees myheritage.
Bantu native black tribes, coloured the result of generations of racial mixture between persons of european descent and the indigenous occupants of south africa along with slaves brought in from angola, indonesia, india, madagascar. Tales of the south pacific by james michener, first edition. Hawaii, south pacific, the bridges at tokori, sayonara, adventures in paradise, the hawaiians, men of the fighting lady, caravans, centennial, etc. Michener display room and the nakashima reading room, constructed in honor of his third wifes japanese heritage. It was an essential part of a very enjoyable trip for me. In his triumphant best seller, james michener unfolds a powerful and poignant drama of six young runaways adrift in a world they have created out of dreams, drugs, and dedication to. Micheners masterly chronicle of south africa is an epic tale of adventurers, scoundrels, and ministers, the best and worst of two.
If you are going to south africa and are a reader, i cannot recommend this book enough. Micheners masterly chronicle of south africa is an epic tale of adventurers, scoundrels, and ministers. Mabel michener raised him as his son in bucks county, pennsylvania. Nothing a semi quick application of tape cant fix but still annoying none the less. 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. The bestselling book was adapted into the popular musical and film, south pacific. And one somehow ends this huge volume with little feel for historical continuity or for the physical setting a surprising lapse from michener. The characters that michener creates are bigger than life. Besides that, the book arrived promptly and as always with james a. It tells the story of that land from the early settlements by the dutch, through the expansion of it by english. So begins millennium, or might have done, had james michener decided to seize the moment and write a history of the past 20 centuries in the form of a popular novel of, say, 1,400 pages. We even saw rock paintings on a friends farm in namibia and we felt connected, knowing the history.
Michener writes largely from the point of view of the afrikaners, descendants of dutch settlers and french huguenot immigrants who traveled to south africa to practice freedom of worship in the calvinist tradition, and other european groups such as the germans, all of whom were absorbed by the afrikaansspeaking dutch reformed church. Tales of the south pacific by michener, james a and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. See more ideas about books, author and james a michener. It tells of the journey of the pioneers and the settlement of a town. Freddie michener, fannie michener and 4 other siblings. Many many years ago, when i still had the stamina to read books of a thousand and more pages, and way before id ever shed any thought to living in south africa one day, i read the covenant 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. Michener books are rich in strong narratives, indepth research of facts and extremely welldetailed, seamless merging of that with his imagination. The book was originally published in 1980, so thats as far as michener could take the thoroughly researched story. Andre brink is an afrikaner novelist whose books include rumers of rain and.
Id read many of his other books, but even then his story of south africa had stood out as particularly gripping. In his triumphant best seller, james michener unfolds a powerful and poignant drama of six young runaways adrift in a world they have created out of dreams, drugs. Micheners numerous bestselling novels also included the source, centennial, texas, hawaii, and chesapeake. The novel is set in south africa, home to five distinct populations. The style is still competent, and there is stuff on the boer war, and the modern premandela, apartheid state.
Mandela was released from prison on february 11, 1990, so his name isnt even mentioned in the story. In his triumphant best seller, james michener unfolds a powerful and poignant drama of six young runaways adrift in a world they have created out of dreams, drugs, and dedication to pleasure. James a michener books biography and list of works author. James albert michener was wellknown for familysagas based in specific geographic locales, incorporating mindblowing historical events and consequential human emotions and experiences. His first book, tales of the south pacific, derived from michener s service in the pacific in world war ii, won the 1947 pulitzer prize for fiction and was the basis for the rodgers and hammerstein broadway musical south pacific, which won the 1950 pulitzer prize for drama. Africa has banned the book, the nonwhite side of things never becomes. 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. Few will escape the allure of the land and people michener describes. James michener covered a longer span of time in the covenant and perhaps even a larger geographic areaif one discounts the oceanbut nowhere will the devoted fan of his work find a more diverse. Michener now shifts his fictionalizing, schoolmasterly talents to the contemporary world of book publishing, offering clear explanations of simple phenomena but grossly oversimplifying complex issues and people. Mar 23, 20 author of generational sagas with historical facts about a geographic area. In any case, michener is using his familiar approach here.
Apr 02, 2015 in general, the michener novels set in wartime are more engaging than those set in peacetime because the author, a war veteran, is particularly adept at crafting conflict. Michener is an epic tale that whisks the reader from the earliest days in south africa and. Michener s masterly chronicle of south africa is an epic tale of adventurers, scoundrels, and. Our next destination will definitely include a michener book, if there is one written about it. James michener 1866 illinois james michener in 1880 united states federal census james michener was born circa 1866, at birth place, illinois, to woodrow michener and catharine michener. This study guide consists of approximately 69 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the covenant. He passed out school from pennsylvania in the year 1925 and went on to attend the swarthmore college in pennsylvania. James michener, hardcover abebooks passion for books. Whitepages people search is the most trusted directory. Albert michener, born around 1907, won the pulitzer prize for his first fiction, tales of the south pacific. But, despite a chapter devoted to apartheid horrors so. Michener was a regular member of the college basketball team. As i mentioned earlier, the sweeping epic south african historical novel reaches from,000 bce to the 1970s.
I know it has been a favorite for decades, but i have never gotten around to reading it. Michener has 150 books on goodreads with 493596 ratings. As michener always does so well, he provides a history of an area along with a great story. Africa has banned the book, the nonwhite side of things never becomes humanly specific. Michener, 1096 pages, book is very good plus, blue cloth with a light overall wear, read more. It tells the story of that land from the early settlements by the dutch, through the expansion of it by english immigrants and others, to the southafrica of the apartheid age, shortly before it was eliminated. 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. Michener and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The authors visit to south africa with commentary on the country and its influences on his book. His many fans, however, may well relish the 464page book s lack of ambiguity and irony, or any disagreeable dissonances, as michener tells his tale through the points of view in turn. View phone numbers, addresses, public records, background check reports and possible arrest records for james michener. The museum is known for its permanent collection of pennsylvania impressionist paintings. South africa is micheners theme this time and he gives it his usual episodic treatment. The christian science monitor is an international news organization that delivers thoughtful, global coverage via its website, weekly magazine, online daily edition, and email newsletters.
This book presents micheners analysis of his own writing and that of his peershis reflections, remembrances, and stories of his youthful encounters with the e. 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. Sampling of his books that have been made into movies and tv shows. The king of the bestsellers talks about friends and enemies, getting older, television and of course texas, his new novel of the lone star state. Micheners masterly chronicle of south africa is an epic tale of. However, in doing so he showed the pain and joy of those people that settled our nation. Alaska by james michener and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. From the javaborn van doorn family tree springs two great branches. 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. Micheners masterly chronicle of south africa is an epic tale of adventurers, scoundrels, and ministers, the best and worst of two continents.
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