Discover new books on Goodreads

See if your friends have read any of James A. Michener's books

James A. Michener’s Followers (3,726)

James A. Michener

Born

in New York, New York, The United States

February 03, 1907

Died

October 16, 1997

Genre

Historical Fiction, History, Biographies & Memoirs

Influences

Charles Dickens ...more

edit data

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 ...more

Combine Editions
James A. Michener’s books

Average rating: 4.15 · 369,112 ratings · 17,062 reviews · 532 distinct works • Similar authors

	Hawaii by James A. Michener, Steve Berry (Goodreads Author) (Introduction) 4.22 avg rating — 82,427 ratings — published 1959 — 37 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Source 4.30 avg rating — 46,185 ratings — published 1965 — 142 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Centennial 4.26 avg rating — 45,605 ratings — published 1974 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Chesapeake 4.22 avg rating — 27,763 ratings — published 1978 — 92 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Covenant 4.22 avg rating — 22,159 ratings — published 1980 — 98 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Texas 4.11 avg rating — 19,705 ratings — published 1985	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Alaska by James A. Michener, Steve Berry (Goodreads Author) (Introduction) 4.18 avg rating — 17,451 ratings — published 1988 — 82 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Tales of the South Pacific 4.04 avg rating — 16,842 ratings — published 1947 — 71 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Poland 4.06 avg rating — 12,267 ratings — published 1983 — 82 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Caravans 4.12 avg rating — 9,630 ratings — published 1963 — 114 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by James A. Michener…

Series by James A. Michener

Sáu Người Đi Khắp Thế Gian (2 books)
by

James A. Michener,

Nguyễn Thị Bạch Tuyết (Translator)

4.12 avg rating — 911 ratings

Quotes by James A. Michener (?)

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

tags: writing

1339 likes

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

tags: humor, missed-opportunities, open-mindedness, travel

452 likes

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

tags: character, perseverance, persistence, tenacity

328 likes

See all James A. Michener's quotes »

Polls

2nd Quarter 2025 Long Read

Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens, 1838, 817 pages

52 votes, 23.7%

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke, 2004, 1006 pages

43 votes, 19.6%

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski, 2000, 710 pages

35 votes, 16.0%

The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu, 1000, 1182 pages

35 votes, 16.0%

Alaska by James A. Michener, 1988, 868 pages

16 votes, 7.3%

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon, 2000, 639 pages

16 votes, 7.3%

The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Henry Fielding, 1749, 975 pages

12 votes, 5.5%

Lucifer's Hammer by Larry Niven, 1977, 629 pages

10 votes, 4.6%

219 total votes

2 comments

More...

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Chicks On Lit: Middle East book discussions multiple spoilers possible	72	245	Jun 16, 2009 09:40AM
The History Book ...: HISTORICAL FICTION POLLS	6	367	Jan 21, 2010 12:04AM
The Next Best Boo...: The most EPIC book you've ever read?	40	450	Feb 24, 2010 04:59AM
Challenge: 50 Books: An author from each state	52	262	May 03, 2010 08:56PM
The Life of a Boo...: The Book Addicts' Favorite Books	223	819	May 28, 2010 12:59PM

More…