Beginning with tales of the south pacific 1947, the first book of short stories to win the pulitzer prize for fiction. I worked with michener for two years from 1978 to 1980, a collaboration that produced the covenant. The destruction of both the english and afrikaans languages, by joining the two to form an awful cape slang, was the most disgraceful. 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 empire out of a vast wilderness. Bantu native black tribes, coloured the result of generations of racial mixture between persons of european descent and the indigenous occupants.
James michener s latest epic novel, the covenant, sets out to tell the story of south africa. Michener the drifters book club edition hardcover new york random house 1970 very good in a very good dust jacket. 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 micheners latest epic novel, the covenant, sets out to tell the story of south africa.
Jul 28, 2014 the covenant is the last michener book on my list, and i honestly dont plan to read any others. Ultimately the recording of his experiences became his first wellknown book, tales of the south pacific, published in 1947. 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. He follows the history of southern africa south africa mainly from prehistory to the 1980s. James michener, spurned by many but read by millions, died on october 16th, aged 90. Michener, the master of historical fiction, revisits the scenes of his first great work, tales of the south pacific, the pulitzer prize winner that brought him international acclaim. James michener, american novelist and shortstory writer who, perhaps more than any other single author, made foreign environments accessible to americans through fiction.
From the javaborn van doorn family tree springs two great branches. Reconsidering the astonishing literary legacy of james michener. And one somehow ends this huge volume with little feel for historical continuity or for the physical setting a surprising lapse from michener. It tells the story of that land from the early settlements by the dutch, through the expansion of it by english.
Michener has 147 books on goodreads with 496182 ratings. Michener had numerous bestsellers and works selected for book of the month. Africa has banned the book, the nonwhite side of things never becomes humanly. Micheners masterly chronicle of south africa is an epic tale of adventurers, scoundrels, and ministers, the best and worst of two continents. The first edition of the novel was published in january 1st 1980, and was written by james a. Id read many of his other books, but even then his story of south africa had stood out as particularly gripping. Dec 26, 2015 james michener one of the greatest authors ever.
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. Albert michener, born around 1907, won the pulitzer prize for his first fiction, tales of the south pacific. Micheners novel of south africas beginnings contains, to the letter, the exact reasons why i chose to leave the country of my birth. The novel is set in south africa, home to five distinct populations. The covenant is another michener tale that, like history, goes on and on and on. A wealth of fascinating materialand michener does his best to balance boer. Best known for his novels, he wrote epic and detailed works classified as. Michener, while you are there, write us an history of the paradise. Best known for his novels, he wrote epic and detailed works classified as fictional documentaries.
The book starts out strong my edition was the twovolume hardback. Michener s numerous bestselling novels also included the source, centennial, texas, hawaii, and chesapeake. Micheners numerous bestselling novels also included the source, centennial, texas, hawaii, and chesapeake. Free download or read online the covenant pdf epub book.
The research done for this fictional novel was truly amazing. Michener began his writing career during world war ii, when as a lieutenant in the u. Passing on that book is passing on a great opportunity to understand the complex history of a country rich in emotions but also in understanding the events that led to the appartheid and racial tensions in south africa. Michener was at the peak of his career, when he took the ideas and words of a young immigrant from south africa and told the world they were his own. Michener and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. 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. Set in south africa, beginning 15,000 years ago and ending with the boer war, this is a novel about people caught up in the march of world history. Jun 10, 20 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. James michener, in full james albert michener, born february 3, 1907.
The authors visit to south africa with commentary on the country and its influences on his book. 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 empire out of a vast wilderness. Errol lincoln uys, an author and the former editorinchief of readers digest south africa, has an excellent online remembrance of his stint as micheners chief researcher on the covenant. Jan 01, 1980 micheners take on south africa and its history is an honest attempt to give some perspective on one of the more complex histories that this history teacher has encountered. Like most of micheners books, however, the covenant gives us some insight into the people and places that make up south africa.
Navy he was assigned to the south pacific as a naval historian. The main characters of this southern africa, south africa story are. South africa is michener s theme this time and he gives it his usual episodic treatment. Africa has banned the book, the nonwhite side of things never becomes humanly specific. A historical novel covering over 15,000 years of history in south africa and which focuses on three principal families who settled in. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 1240 pages and is available in paperback format. The main setting of this extraordinary novel is the stunning landscape of south africa, but vivid episodes also take. See more ideas about historical fiction, books and author. Michener tales of the south pacific book club edition 1st printing.
The style is still competent, and there is stuff on the boer war, and the modern premandela, apartheid state. Micheners take on south africa and its history is an honest attempt to give some perspective on one of the more complex histories that this history teacher has encountered. He later turned his notes and impressions into tales of the south pacific 1947, his first book, published when he was age 40. Early on the book is vintage michener, but the momentum encounters an arctic chill midway.
The bestselling book was adapted into the popular musical and film, south pacific. A prodigious author of prodigiously long novels hawaii, centennial, the source micheners covenant is yet another blockbuster a near 900page novel on. 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. But, despite a chapter devoted to apartheid horrors so. A fastpaced saga weaves fact and fiction in a journey through fifteen thousand years of south african history, focusing on willem van doorn and ten generations of his descendants as they live through the. Final sections are trite, uneven, and overloaded with stereotypes. Is this 900page south africa saga much more spotty and illshaped than. The covenant is a historical novel by american author james a. Reconsidering the astonishing literary legacy of james. A prodigious author of prodigiously long novels hawaii, centennial, the source micheners covenant is yet another blockbuster a near 900page novel on south africa that encompasses. South africa is micheners theme this time and he gives it his usual episodic treatment. In this sequel collection, michener once again evokes the. February 3, 1907 october 16, 1997 was an american 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 does a very good job in portraying south africa in all its aspects i lived in the region for 4 years, but am totally unaware of a winery called trianon. While centennial was the only one of the four michener novels i read that got a television adaptation, the covenant has a legacy of its own. 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.
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