The source uses for its central device a fictional tell in northern israel called makor hebrew. Sep 30, 2011 michener, whose globetrotting hawaii, afghanistan, etc. While it seems to be such a vast canvas to focus on, michener cleverly focuses on that part of asia, where three most prominent religions i. The story takes place on an archelogical dig, and as an artifact at each layer is uncovered, the. Albert michener, born around 1907, won the pulitzer prize for his first fiction, tales of the south pacific. It is a survey of the history of the jewish people and the land of israel from premonotheistic days to the birth of the modern state of israel. Michener became a published author in 1948 with the short story collection tales of the south pacific. Michener sweeps listeners off to the caribbean, bringing to life the eternal allure and tumultuous history of this glittering string of islands.
Using the excavation of the site tell makor in israel. Jan 06, 2016 the source is a historical novel by james a. It is a survey of the history of the jewish people and the land of. The source uses, for its central device, a fictional tell in northern israel called makor hebrew. He is most famous for writing the multigeneration historical and fictional stories. James was born on february 3, 1907 in new york, united states. It presents a stunning vision and scope, with a fine exploration of jewish culture and history. Michener s numerous bestselling novels also included the source, centennial, texas, hawaii, and chesapeake. So begins millennium, or might have done, had james michener. Price new from used from mass market paperback please retry. Micheners books in order of when they were first released. James a michener books biography and list of works.
Conceived while michener was on a visit to israel, the novel traces the history of the jews from their primitive. Get cozy and expand your home library with a large online selection of books at. The source is not only a compelling history of the holy land and its people but a richly written saga that encompasses the development of western civilization and the great religious and. There are many parallels between this book and exodus, written by leon uris which was first published 7 years earlier 1958 but whereas uris deals entirely with the birth pangs of the new state of israel, michener has produced a work of much greater academic weight. The privation suffered by jews is harrowing and their courage is astonishing. The main characters of this historical, historical fiction story are. This book, which has been recommended on ta previously, gives a very good overview of the people of israel, who lives there, and why they live there. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 1104 pages and is available in paperback format. For a sophisticated teen reader who is interested in nonfiction and may also be into technology i would recommend startup nation. Publishers weekly in this triumphant bestseller, renowned novelist james a.
Free download or read online the source pdf epub book. Of all micheners novels, the source is certainly the most ambitious and complex. Michener had numerous bestsellers and works selected for book of the month. Michener, who was born on this date, february 3, 1907, was raised a quaker, and he had his first book published in 1947. Michener transports us back thousands of years to the holy land. The book then is not divided into chapters but into strata spanning the dawn of monotheism 10,000 years bce up to the establishment of the state of israel in 1948 ce. Michener unfolds a powerful and poignant drama of disenchanted youth during the vietnam era. It is a survey of the history of the jewish people and the land of israel from premonotheistic days to the birth of. I recently finished reading an amazing book about israel and jewish history, written over 20 years before i was born. 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. 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.
Micheners writing makes these freespirited characters come alive and if you were a teen trying to find your way in the 60s, this fiction story will appeal to you. 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. Chicago suntimes michener has slid open a window on the world of the dropout and has spared no effort to make the reader aware of this new world. Michener is a voyage through history, focused on israel and the middle east. About 2,000 years ago at a village in judaea, one of the smaller of the provinces that made up the mighty roman empire. Through the discoveries of modern archaeologists excavating the site of tell makor, michener vividly recreates life in an ancient city and traces the profound history of the jewish peoplefrom the persecution of the early hebrews, the rise of christianity, and the crusades. This is the first book i have read by michener, my interest having been piqued when a friend responded to my praise of edward rutherfurds. Michener, is a thick tome spinning an intricate web of fictional stories spread out through the realistic history of a fictional tel 1 called makor hebrew for source near acre, in what is now israel. Michener s writing makes these freespirited characters come alive and if you were a teen trying to find your way in the 60s, this fiction story will appeal to you. Nov 26, 20 in his signature style of grand storytelling, james a. Michener presents the chapters as layers of the mound. 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. Michener served on the advisory council to nasa and the.
It is an amazing story of an archeological team and their work revealing the history of israel as they uncover the layers of a fictional tel. Through the discoveries of modern archaeologists excavating the site of tell makor, michener vividly recreates life in an ancient city and traces the profound history of the jewish peoplefrom the persecution of the early hebrews, the rise of christianity, and the crusades to the founding of israel and the modern conflict in the middle east. From the 10 conquest of the arawaks by cannibals to the decline o. The novel is set in south africa, home to five distinct populations.
See all formats and editions hide other formats and editions. James a michener books biography and list of works author. Michener, the pulitzer prizewinning master of the historical saga, returns to his beloved spain with this magical novel of seville at easter time, a season of splendid pageantry, thrilling bullfights, deep pietyand the possibility of m. I think i am going to start rereading this one today. Michener tackles the most ambitious subject of his career. February 3, 1907 october 16, 1997 was an american author. The story begins with an archaeological dig in the 1960s that takes place at the mythical site of makor, near jerusalem. His first book, tales of the south pacific, derived from micheners 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.
Micheners the source is fascinating in recreating the events of a single location in israel over the course of thousands of years. I recently borrowed this book from the library and wanted a copy of my own. Michener has 150 books on goodreads with 495638 ratings. The bestselling book was adapted into the popular musical and film, south pacific. In 1963, micheners visit to the holy land inspired him to write the. Publishers weekly the drifters conveys a sense of a new time, a new generation. This astounding novel brings to life the dreams and daring of countless men and women people like stanley mott, the engineer whose irrepressible drive for knowledge places him at the center of the american exploration effort, and norman grant, the war hero and us senator who takes his personal. The mound is the remains of a fictional city in israel. James a michener biography and list of works james a michener books. Michener s the source is fascinating in recreating the events of a single location in israel over the course of thousands of years.
Micheners numerous bestselling novels also included the. 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 drifters is to the generation gap what the source was to israel. Prosaically, the name comes from a freshwater well just.
The source focuses on the historical journey of mankind and how the concept of religion came into existence and evolved with the human race over thousands of years. Feb, 2012 using the excavation of the site tell makor in israel michener travels the history of the jews from the prehebrew ancient of days to the modernday struggles for peace. His first novel was the fires of spring, which was published in 1949. The dig unearths a series of levels each representing the settlement of makor the source in hebrew at various times of its history. Michener, as he is popularly known as, is a well known novelist, philanthropist and story writer from pennsylvania, united states. I think if your kids are interested in learning about israel then this would be a great start. In this way, he tells the fascinating story of the jews and other local inhabitants, of judaism and its role in the creation of christianity and islam, and of the establishment of the modern state of israel. The source by james michener, first edition abebooks. My suggestion is you have a series of maps available to you as i was totally unfamiliar with most of the settings that the drifters travelled to. The story of israels economic miracle by dan senor. Michener, whose globetrotting hawaii, afghanistan, etc.
The first edition of the novel was published in 1965, and was written by james a. Definitely not a book you could call high literaturein fact the writing at times is downright poorbut james a. Michener weaves his epic tale of love, strength, and faith until at last he arrives at the founding of israel and the modern conflict in the middle east. 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. I would recommend this book to every adult going to israel its a great read that captures the spirit of israelis and israel it is a fast paced book which ties past history to present, survivial to ingenuity. You get to see, chronologically, how the inhabitants lived their lives through successive generations. A survey of the history of the jewish people and the land of israel from premonotheistic days to the birth of the modern state of israel. Some characters, places and events are historical, others are fictional. From the javaborn van doorn family tree springs two g.
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