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James A. Michener

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James A. Michener


Born
in New York, New York, The United States
February 03, 1907

Died
October 16, 1997

Genre

Influences


James Albert Michener is best known for his sweeping multi-generation historical fiction sagas, usually focusing on and titled after a particular geographical region. His first novel, Tales of the South Pacific , which inspired the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific, won the 1948 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

Toward the end of his life, he created the Journey Prize, awarded annually for the year's best short story published by an emerging Canadian writer; founded an MFA program now, named the Michener Center for Writers, at the University of Texas at Austin; and made substantial contributions to the James A. Michener Art Museum in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, best known for its permanent collection of Pennsylvania Impressionist pain
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Average rating: 4.16 · 372,207 ratings · 17,344 reviews · 536 distinct works • Similar authors
Hawaii

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4.22 avg rating — 82,793 ratings — published 1959 — 8 editions
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The Source

4.30 avg rating — 46,511 ratings — published 1965 — 133 editions
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Centennial

4.26 avg rating — 45,974 ratings — published 1974 — 108 editions
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Chesapeake

4.22 avg rating — 27,989 ratings — published 1978 — 92 editions
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The Covenant

4.22 avg rating — 22,274 ratings — published 1980 — 4 editions
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Texas

4.12 avg rating — 19,817 ratings — published 1985 — 99 editions
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Alaska

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4.18 avg rating — 17,849 ratings — published 1988
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Tales of the South Pacific

4.04 avg rating — 16,938 ratings — published 1947
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Poland

4.06 avg rating — 12,403 ratings — published 1983 — 82 editions
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Caravans: A Novel of Afghan...

4.12 avg rating — 9,742 ratings — published 1963
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More books by James A. Michener…
Quotes by James A. Michener  (?)
Quotes are added by the Goodreads community and are not verified by Goodreads. (Learn more)

“I love writing. I love the swirl and swing of words as they tangle with human emotions.”
― James Michener

“If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion, and avoid the people, you might better stay home.”
― James A. Michener

“Character consists of what you do on the third and fourth tries.”
― James A. Michener

Polls

1st Quarter 2023 Long Read Poll

The Cider House Rules by John Irving, 973 pages, 1985
 
  54 votes, 22.1%

 
  40 votes, 16.4%

A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry, 1995, 603 pp
 
  36 votes, 14.8%

Centennial by James A. Michener, 1974, 1056pp
 
  32 votes, 13.1%

The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand, 1943, 704 pp
 
  32 votes, 13.1%

 
  28 votes, 11.5%

Mason & Dixon by Thomas Pynchon, 1997, 773 pp
 
  22 votes, 9.0%

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