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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

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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: 4.16 · 372,179 ratings · 17,343 reviews · 533 distinct works • Similar authors

	Hawaii by James A. Michener, Steve Berry (Goodreads Author) (Introduction) 4.22 avg rating — 82,792 ratings — published 1959 — 8 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 — 46,509 ratings — published 1965 — 133 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 — 45,971 ratings — published 1974 — 108 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 — 27,986 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 — 22,274 ratings — published 1980 — 97 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 4.12 avg rating — 19,815 ratings — published 1985 — 99 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
	Alaska by James A. Michener, Steve Berry (Goodreads Author) (Introduction) 4.18 avg rating — 17,847 ratings — published 1988	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 — 16,937 ratings — published 1947	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 — 12,402 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: A Novel of Afghanistan 4.12 avg rating — 9,741 ratings — published 1963	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 — 914 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

451 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

3rd Quarter (October - December) 2025 Long Read Poll

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

44 votes, 23.7%

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova, 2005, 704 pages

38 votes, 20.4%

World's End by Upton Sinclair, 1940, 740 pages

27 votes, 14.5%

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon, 2000, 678 pages

26 votes, 14.0%

Alaska by James A. Michener, 1988, 868 pages

25 votes, 13.4%

A House for Mr Biswas by V.S. Naipaul, 1961, 623 pages

20 votes, 10.8%

Lucky Per by Henrik Pontoppidan, 1898, 664 pages

6 votes, 3.2%

186 total votes

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