A brief summary of the book poland by james michener. James michener, author of novels that sweep through the. Another beautiful novel written by michener was published under the title hawaii in the year 1959 and shows depictions of the region of hawaii, united states. Occasionally the text of a book will be put into a specialized book press and painted, often with a scene from the book or a landscape, so that the painting is invisible when the book is closed but visible when somebody bends the text and fans the pagesknown as a foreedge painting. As i was leaving arizona to move to poland, a friend gave me two books about my new home, one was james micheners historical novel, poland. Like the heroic land that is its subject, james micheners poland teems with. The counts lubonski, the petty nobles bukowksi, and the peasants buk are at some times fiercely united, at others tragically divided. Ive never heard of the book or the author before either. 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.
Like the heroic land that is its subject, james micheners poland teems with vivid events and unforgettble characters. Hawaii, iberia, poland, texas and the many other doorstop books on which michener has built his fortune are distinguished most by their. This book has been hailed by actual veterans of the war as the most accurate portrayal of their personal experiences. Hawaii is not just a literary interest for james a. Michener has 147 books on goodreads with 498323 ratings. 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.
The novel describes the dwelling of polynesian seafarers in the volcanic islands of hawaii. I had read micheners hawaii on a previous trip and decided to learn more about the history of the islands. The dullest, if timeliest, history lesson yet from michener junior collegefollowing three polish clans noble, pettynoble, peasant from 1204 a. Michener served on the advisory council to nasa and the. Michener had numerous bestsellers and works selected for book of the month. February 3, 1907 october 16, 1997 was an american author. I have no rights to the book poland and i do not claim any. Like the heroic land that is its subject, james micheners poland teems with vivid events and unforgettable characters in the sweeping span of eight tumultuous. The bestselling book was adapted into the popular musical and film, south pacific. I gave a copy of this book to a nurse who attended me in a hospital, a few years ago. Michener sought to show that the islands had been able to harmonize different cultures and. Apart from my obvious soft spot for it, i think its really well written. James a michener biography and list of works james a michener books. Michener chronicles eight tumultuous centuries as three polish families live out their destinies.
Based on exhaustive research and told in micheners immersive prose, hawaii is the story of disparate peoples struggling to keep their identity, live in harmony, and, ultimately, join together. James albert michener was born on february 3 in the year 1907. The whaler showed abner how to peel one, took a big bite, and gave the stub to abner. He was a very popular american author of more than almost 40 books, most of which were fictional, lengthy family sagas covering the lives of a lot of generations in particular geographic locales and incorporating solid history. The novel was published in 1959, the same year hawaii became the 50th u. Micheners numerous bestselling novels also included the. The micheners had lived in hawaii for some years, and in his novel mr. I was living there for about 3 years at this stage and was fairly homesick. The images have stayed with me for decades, even those that i would rather forget, such as the graphic scenes from the. Michener is probably bestknown for his multigenerational sagas such as hawaii, the source, and centennial, but he also wrote a number of shorter works in the 1950s, before the blockbus. However, amongst his four epic works of historical fictions that i have read so far, this one although pretty interesting, i would keep it at the bottom of my personal favourite list, right under hawaii, while having his alaska at the second position, and the best being the source. James a michener books biography and list of works. Hawaii free pdf, doc, rtf, txt free download ebook. Any reader familiar with james micheners books will approach his new novel, called the novel, with some uneasiness.
But abner found the penetrating smell of the skin offensive, whereupon the whaler. Michener brings hawaii s epic history vividly to life in a classic saga that has captivated readers since its initial publication in 1959. Get cozy and expand your home library with a large online selection of books at. This study guide consists of approximately 34 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of poland. 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, has been the unwitting instrument of this orwellian effort.
It was a godsend, exactly what i needed, i absolutely loved it. I found an old copy of poland randomly in a second hand bookshop in ireland. 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. 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. James a michener is heartfelt, confident and social.
However, amongst his four epic works of historical fictions that i have read so far, this one although pretty interesting, i would keep it at the bottom of my personal favourite list, right under hawaii, while having his. Praise for rascals in paradise the best book about those farscattered islands that has appeared in a long time. Through this forum i learned about gavin daws book shoal of time. For a little bit more information about poland s history, this video. Michener 19071997 was an american author of historical fiction and nonfiction. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. He established residence in the islands a few years ago and he has become an active participant in the civic affairs of hawaii. James michener, in full james albert michener, born february 3, 1907. As the volcanic hawaiian islands sprout from the ocean floor, the land remains untouched for centuriesuntil, little more than a thousand years ago, polynesian. Albert michener, born around 1907, won the pulitzer prize for his first fiction, tales of the south pacific. I would keep it at the bottom of my personal favourite list, right under hawaii, while.
He is confident, he is hard to embarrass and is selfconfident most of the time. I must say that the source was the most powerful and illuminating book i have ever read. Michener and published in 1983 detailing the times and tribulations of three interconnected polish families the. Michener spent the rest of life, traveling the world to research his settings, and produced more than 40 books. Best known for his novels, he wrote epic and detailed works classified as fictional documentaries. Some other epic works include hawaii, centennial, space, and caribbean. The whiz kids and the 1950 pennant by roberts, robin. Paul iii and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Like the heroic land that is its subject, james micheners poland teems wit. Hawaii 1966 donovans reef 1963 until they sail 1957. It is the home of janko buk who is the leader of an. His keen interest in statehood for hawaii manifested itself in activities on many fronts. James michener list of movies and tv shows tv guide.
In addition to his own reporting and interviewing for his blockbuster novel poland. The saga begins with a talky 1981 confrontation, in the village of bukowo on the vistula, between farmunion leader janko buk and. Once you become familiar with em, theyre real good. 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 historical correctness of the novel is high, although the narrative about the early polynesian inhabitants is based more on folklore than anthropological and archaeological sources. Better get to like them, because theyre the principal food in hawaii. The public devoured his historical sagas, like centennial, hawaii and chesapeake, and his books spent more time of the bestseller list than those of any other 20thcentury writer.
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