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Journey
"The best novel of James Michener's career." Milwaukee Journal
Gold fever swept the world in 1897. The chance for untold riches sent thousands of dreamers on a perilous trek toward their fortunes, failures, or deaths. Follow four English aristocrats and their Irish servant as they misguidedly haul their dreams across cruel Canadian terrain toward the Klondike gold fields.
Gold fever swept the world in 1897. The chance for untold riches sent thousands of dreamers on a perilous trek toward their fortunes, failures, or deaths. Follow four English aristocrats and their Irish servant as they misguidedly haul their dreams across cruel Canadian terrain toward the Klondike gold fields.
336 pages, Paperback
First published November 19, 1988
1573 people are currently reading
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About the author
James A. Michener
522 books3,576 followersJames 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 paintings and a room containing Michener's own typewriter, books, and various memorabilia.
Michener's entry in Who's Who in America says he was born on Feb. 3, 1907. But he said in his 1992 memoirs that the circumstances of his birth remained cloudy and he did not know just when he was born or who his parents were.
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 paintings and a room containing Michener's own typewriter, books, and various memorabilia.
Michener's entry in Who's Who in America says he was born on Feb. 3, 1907. But he said in his 1992 memoirs that the circumstances of his birth remained cloudy and he did not know just when he was born or who his parents were.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 288 reviews
May 11, 2025
My previous exposure to life and events of the 1897 gold rush was exclusively through the stories and novels written by Jack London. That gave Journey an exciting prospect in that it covers the same time period and events from Michener’s perspective.
But the similarities end with the gold rush theme. London wrote about his personal experiences and observations while being an active participant in the gold rush stampede. Michener, on the other hand, based his story off of a few written records or of only a few participants. It’s this one step removal that gives Journey such a Pollyanna feel, especially in comparison to London’s depictions of nature itself as the harbinger of death, and nature is everywhere in the lands bordering the Arctic Circle. Michener planed out his plot, while London had very little choice in what he wrote once he had decided to write it.
These same differences, realism-first versus the planned-out plot, also give rise to Michener’s characters being overplayed. They come across as British super-humans steeped in all things idealistically British: stiff upper lip, death before dishonor, class matters. All of these characteristics are given to the struggling Brits on their journey, in the midsts of famine and scurvy, and 40-degrees below zero weather. At times, their behavior crosses over into the unbelievable and is almost comical in light of the realities that are said to surround them.
On the whole, Journey does provide a different perspective on the gold rush era of 1897. It tells of a different path to the gold fields at Dawson. And it tells of a different sort of people seeking their way there, much in the spirit of George Leigh Mallory attempting to climb Mount Everest because it was there.
But the similarities end with the gold rush theme. London wrote about his personal experiences and observations while being an active participant in the gold rush stampede. Michener, on the other hand, based his story off of a few written records or of only a few participants. It’s this one step removal that gives Journey such a Pollyanna feel, especially in comparison to London’s depictions of nature itself as the harbinger of death, and nature is everywhere in the lands bordering the Arctic Circle. Michener planed out his plot, while London had very little choice in what he wrote once he had decided to write it.
These same differences, realism-first versus the planned-out plot, also give rise to Michener’s characters being overplayed. They come across as British super-humans steeped in all things idealistically British: stiff upper lip, death before dishonor, class matters. All of these characteristics are given to the struggling Brits on their journey, in the midsts of famine and scurvy, and 40-degrees below zero weather. At times, their behavior crosses over into the unbelievable and is almost comical in light of the realities that are said to surround them.
On the whole, Journey does provide a different perspective on the gold rush era of 1897. It tells of a different path to the gold fields at Dawson. And it tells of a different sort of people seeking their way there, much in the spirit of George Leigh Mallory attempting to climb Mount Everest because it was there.
February 5, 2019
A wonderful short novella by Michener that I never knew he wrote. While it is derived from his book Alaska, it is not a mere lifting of material from that book. This book covers the trek by 4 Englishmen and one Irish servant to reach the goldfields of the Klondike in 1897. We travel from England with these traditional British explorers and who are attempting to reach the gold fields by only going on English territory (the heck that Canada was its own country by that time!), and without having to go on American soil due to their rather ridiculous detestation of America by the expedition leader. So they end up going the wrong way, spend 2 years going the longer and harder route and while we can see the folly of pigheaded stubbornness, we also get some very interesting characters, stories and a good adventure. The book ends with a section as to the development of the book which is really fascinating since Michener really opens up on his creative process and all that went into the writing, rewriting and editing of the book. Solid effort!
October 10, 2018
Based on the real people and events, it’s the story of the journey of five men across Canada during the 1897 gold rush in order to reach the Klondike river and the settlement of Dawson City. The five fortune seekers were Lord Evelyn Luton, a British aristocrat, his young nephew Philip Henslow, Luton’s cousin Harry Carpenter who served the British Empire in India’s northwest frontier, Philip’s friend and poet Trevor Blythe, and Luton’s gamekeeper, the Irishman Tim Fogarty as the expedition’s servant. Leaving Britain behind, they landed in Montreal, where they boarded a train, and, travelling in style, reached Calgary and finally reached the small settlement of Edmonton.
Edmonton was the area point for gathering supplies and equipment. It was also an information-gathering place, the jumping point for would be gold prospectors, many of whom had no idea of the required essentials they needed nor of the skills involved in surviving the wilderness. Blinded by dreams of riches and glory, they were naïve people, fleeced by unscrupulous individuals, they were lead to believe that the journey ahead to the goldfields would be an easy stroll.
Here, Luton’s party faced a dilemma: either take the easier Alaskan route, which everyone recommended, or risk the all-Canadian route into the Artic region. Luton’s insisted on never put foot on American soil and so the five started north on the perilous journey along the Mackenzie River.
Blending fact and fiction, Michener tells the story of how the party spent two harrowing winters in the Canadian wilderness. It’s a story of courage, determination, adventure and survival, but also of stubbornness and stupidity. It highlights the engrained disdain and prejudices of the British upper classes towards the people from the colonies, the lower classes and the indigenous people without the help of which Luton himself would have perished.
After surviving the tragic journey, Luton never headed to the goldfields. Only a few hours after arriving in Dawson, he leaned that his brother had died and, having inherited the title (becoming the ninth Marquess of Deal), he turned around and headed back to Britain (ironically through USA territory).
I would have liked to read more about the Klondike gold fields and not just about the journey to get there; nevertheless, I enjoyed this book very much. Recommended of you enjoy well-written and well-researched historical fiction and have in interest in Canadian late 19th century history. 3.5 stars
From an historical source on the settlement of Edmonton:
There left that town in the years 1897–1899 some fifteen hundred persons, men and women alike, Canadians and foreigners with no distinction. More than half turned back without ever reaching the Klondike. At least seventy perished en route, and they among the strongest and best prepared of their societies. Of the less than a thousand who reached the gold fields there is no record of anyone who found gold and only a few cases in which claims were actually staked, invariably on nonproductive streams. Most who did succeed in arriving here turned right around and went home without trying to visit the fields, which they knew had been preempted, the most famous case being that of Lord Luton, the future Marquess of Deal, his older brother Nigel having died.
Edmonton was the area point for gathering supplies and equipment. It was also an information-gathering place, the jumping point for would be gold prospectors, many of whom had no idea of the required essentials they needed nor of the skills involved in surviving the wilderness. Blinded by dreams of riches and glory, they were naïve people, fleeced by unscrupulous individuals, they were lead to believe that the journey ahead to the goldfields would be an easy stroll.
Here, Luton’s party faced a dilemma: either take the easier Alaskan route, which everyone recommended, or risk the all-Canadian route into the Artic region. Luton’s insisted on never put foot on American soil and so the five started north on the perilous journey along the Mackenzie River.
Blending fact and fiction, Michener tells the story of how the party spent two harrowing winters in the Canadian wilderness. It’s a story of courage, determination, adventure and survival, but also of stubbornness and stupidity. It highlights the engrained disdain and prejudices of the British upper classes towards the people from the colonies, the lower classes and the indigenous people without the help of which Luton himself would have perished.
After surviving the tragic journey, Luton never headed to the goldfields. Only a few hours after arriving in Dawson, he leaned that his brother had died and, having inherited the title (becoming the ninth Marquess of Deal), he turned around and headed back to Britain (ironically through USA territory).
I would have liked to read more about the Klondike gold fields and not just about the journey to get there; nevertheless, I enjoyed this book very much. Recommended of you enjoy well-written and well-researched historical fiction and have in interest in Canadian late 19th century history. 3.5 stars
From an historical source on the settlement of Edmonton:
There left that town in the years 1897–1899 some fifteen hundred persons, men and women alike, Canadians and foreigners with no distinction. More than half turned back without ever reaching the Klondike. At least seventy perished en route, and they among the strongest and best prepared of their societies. Of the less than a thousand who reached the gold fields there is no record of anyone who found gold and only a few cases in which claims were actually staked, invariably on nonproductive streams. Most who did succeed in arriving here turned right around and went home without trying to visit the fields, which they knew had been preempted, the most famous case being that of Lord Luton, the future Marquess of Deal, his older brother Nigel having died.
August 12, 2009
What an amazing story about the Yukon and one man's blind stubborness to reach it without crossing over American territory. Well written. I could hardly put it down.
December 2, 2019
WOW! This is the fastest I have ever read one of James Michener's books. Of course, this one is only 308 pages. Most of his books--the ones that I've read--are closer to 1000 pages. I started reading this popular author in high school, starting with "The Source." I was enthralled by Michener's presenting us with the history of an area of the world by following a family down through the generations. Another one, which remains my favorite, is "Hawaii." In "Journey," we don't get an epic story covering centuries, but rather a story occurring in the space of a couple of years. The setting is an interesting one--Canada. The Gold Rush to the Klondike in 1897 is on. We follow a party of four English aristocrats and their Irish servant as they cross Canada to reach the goldfields in the Far North. Their journey becomes an ordeal, partly became they underestimate the difficulties that they will have to face. So, this book published in 1989, while not one of his epics, is still Michener. I enjoyed it, even if I had to read it under a blanket to stay warm.
November 5, 2025
Summary
Journey is a compact but powerful historical novella by James A. Michener, drawn from his epic novel Alaska. Set during the 1897–1899 Klondike Gold Rush, it follows a group of four English citizens and their Irish servingman as they undertake a harrowing trek from London through Canada to the Yukon. Motivated not by desperation but by adventure and the allure of untapped fortune, the men face nature’s brutality and their own limitations as they battle ice, starvation, exhaustion, and doubt.
Though physically short, Journey is thematically expansive—it examines imperial entitlement, human endurance, and the sobering realization that nature and fate often have the final say. As the expedition grinds forward, the characters are slowly stripped of social pretense and privilege, revealing both quiet heroism and bitter regret.
Characters
Lord Luton - the brains behind the expedition. Lord Luton has an aversion to America, so HIS Journey must not touch one foot on American soil. No getting to the Yukon through Alaska for the Lord.
Harry Carpenter - Luton's cousin. In the same generation as Luton.
Philip Henslow - Luton's nephew
Trevor Blythe - Philip's college friend
Tim Fogarty - willing to serve all four of them
Tone & Style
Michener’s signature blend of historical detail and character study is present, though more focused and urgent than in his sprawling epics. The narrative is spare but evocative, a meditation on ambition and resilience.
Why I Read This Book
I moderate the Goodreads Group Reading Around the World. This is the 141st book I have read to satisfy the challenge to read at least one book that takes place in the 195 countries of the world. This book describes more than one area in Canada. But it is a sad book. The reader gets to know these people and not all of them survive.
4 stars
Journey is a compact but powerful historical novella by James A. Michener, drawn from his epic novel Alaska. Set during the 1897–1899 Klondike Gold Rush, it follows a group of four English citizens and their Irish servingman as they undertake a harrowing trek from London through Canada to the Yukon. Motivated not by desperation but by adventure and the allure of untapped fortune, the men face nature’s brutality and their own limitations as they battle ice, starvation, exhaustion, and doubt.
Though physically short, Journey is thematically expansive—it examines imperial entitlement, human endurance, and the sobering realization that nature and fate often have the final say. As the expedition grinds forward, the characters are slowly stripped of social pretense and privilege, revealing both quiet heroism and bitter regret.
Characters
Lord Luton - the brains behind the expedition. Lord Luton has an aversion to America, so HIS Journey must not touch one foot on American soil. No getting to the Yukon through Alaska for the Lord.
Harry Carpenter - Luton's cousin. In the same generation as Luton.
Philip Henslow - Luton's nephew
Trevor Blythe - Philip's college friend
Tim Fogarty - willing to serve all four of them
Tone & Style
Michener’s signature blend of historical detail and character study is present, though more focused and urgent than in his sprawling epics. The narrative is spare but evocative, a meditation on ambition and resilience.
Why I Read This Book
I moderate the Goodreads Group Reading Around the World. This is the 141st book I have read to satisfy the challenge to read at least one book that takes place in the 195 countries of the world. This book describes more than one area in Canada. But it is a sad book. The reader gets to know these people and not all of them survive.
4 stars
August 17, 2019
I have been a Michener fan from way back. After a visit to Alaska, I decided I would tackle his book by the same name. But meanwhile, this small book, which was actually edited out of “Alaska” and a whole interesting story of its own, was available.
Wow, does Michener know how to tell a story! A gripping tale of five men trying to survive the wilds of the North. And about how one man has to live with the consequences of his own poor decisions.
Wow, does Michener know how to tell a story! A gripping tale of five men trying to survive the wilds of the North. And about how one man has to live with the consequences of his own poor decisions.
February 2, 2018
Journey - James Michener
A thoroughly enjoyable adventure story by James Michener ... that doesn't take 3 months to read! (In fact, only 3 days) The story starts a little slowly but once the men are off on their trek, it really picks up. So convincing was the tale and so ridiculous was the obsessiveness and near suicidal determination of the main character that based on the saying that "truth is often stranger than fiction" I actually did a bit of research to see if this might have been based on a true story (it of course isn't but feels very much like it could have been). The novel left me with many questions that I would love the author to have answered during the course of the story, particularly during their winters in the cabin- "what exactly did they eat every day?", "how did they / did they wash?", "how did they collect water" but having these questions and pondering the answers long after I had finished the book is not so much frustrating but usually the sign of a good novel. A little bit of an anti climatic ending but overall, a really good read.
A thoroughly enjoyable adventure story by James Michener ... that doesn't take 3 months to read! (In fact, only 3 days) The story starts a little slowly but once the men are off on their trek, it really picks up. So convincing was the tale and so ridiculous was the obsessiveness and near suicidal determination of the main character that based on the saying that "truth is often stranger than fiction" I actually did a bit of research to see if this might have been based on a true story (it of course isn't but feels very much like it could have been). The novel left me with many questions that I would love the author to have answered during the course of the story, particularly during their winters in the cabin- "what exactly did they eat every day?", "how did they / did they wash?", "how did they collect water" but having these questions and pondering the answers long after I had finished the book is not so much frustrating but usually the sign of a good novel. A little bit of an anti climatic ending but overall, a really good read.
April 3, 2019
I've read Michener's Hawaii and Texas and enjoyed the history lessons, but tired of their length and lack of story depth. And I get it. He chooses such immense time frames to write about that he doesn't have space for much character or story (other than the historical one) development. But in Journey, he took it to the extreme. As well, his research was rudimentary at best. Now, I may be biased as I am familiar with much of the territory he describes in the book, and he got a lot of the descriptions wrong
Most striking to me as a biologist was to place elk (Wapiti) that close to the Arctic Circle. They don't live anywhere near there. Also, they don't have antlers in the spring of the year (velvet nubs might be starting). Also, his description of cabin building in that country was just wrong. There's no way you'd build a cabin with corner posts in that ground. Good ol' fashion log notches work much better and faster. The characters would have learned about that on their way up to the Arctic, by just looking at the other structures and asking questions.
However, my biggest beef with this book is that he tells you what happens and not shows you. I'm told who Lord Luton is but I'm not shown how he came to be who he is. As a result, I don't care about him. The same for the other characters. Sure, they endured terrible deprivations (as all did going through Edmonton to the Klondike). But I mostly didn't care, except for the fact their leader was a fool.
And if the other characters had had any backbone at all, they would have mutinied against the fool. I'm sorry. When you're being subjected to such deprivations as extreme cold and lack of food, lack of proper leadership would be weeded out quickly, despite class and pole-up-ass bearing. But again, I know very little about these people because I'm told, not shown. So, if they want to die from freezing and starving, that's their business.
Michener had obviously not experienced extreme cold. If he had he would have provided much more descriptions of the issues handling it. Just getting enough wood to keep a fire going would consume a big chunk of your short day. With the quality of clothes and footwear in those days, frost bite would have been a big issue, especially to those running laps on track in -40 (or was it -50 or -60) weather. What absurdity. When it's that cold, you feel blessed just to have a fire to sit around.
And food. Fogarty goes hunting and comes back with a moose. Well, good for him. But how did he find such an animal (they are few and far between at that latitude), was the stalk difficult, or did he ambush it? How about butchering such an animal at -40? Not an easy job. And the hauling. Moose can weigh several hundred pounds, how did he get it to camp. But again, I'm told not shown.
Yes, the route over the mountains from Edmonton to the Klondike was the worst one to take in the 1890s. But this book failed to describe it! In Reflections at the end of the book, Michener tells us of his fascination with the character Irina. I wished he had used her as the main character, for her trip to the Yukon sounds way more convincing and interesting than the one he chose to write about.
Most striking to me as a biologist was to place elk (Wapiti) that close to the Arctic Circle. They don't live anywhere near there. Also, they don't have antlers in the spring of the year (velvet nubs might be starting). Also, his description of cabin building in that country was just wrong. There's no way you'd build a cabin with corner posts in that ground. Good ol' fashion log notches work much better and faster. The characters would have learned about that on their way up to the Arctic, by just looking at the other structures and asking questions.
However, my biggest beef with this book is that he tells you what happens and not shows you. I'm told who Lord Luton is but I'm not shown how he came to be who he is. As a result, I don't care about him. The same for the other characters. Sure, they endured terrible deprivations (as all did going through Edmonton to the Klondike). But I mostly didn't care, except for the fact their leader was a fool.
And if the other characters had had any backbone at all, they would have mutinied against the fool. I'm sorry. When you're being subjected to such deprivations as extreme cold and lack of food, lack of proper leadership would be weeded out quickly, despite class and pole-up-ass bearing. But again, I know very little about these people because I'm told, not shown. So, if they want to die from freezing and starving, that's their business.
Michener had obviously not experienced extreme cold. If he had he would have provided much more descriptions of the issues handling it. Just getting enough wood to keep a fire going would consume a big chunk of your short day. With the quality of clothes and footwear in those days, frost bite would have been a big issue, especially to those running laps on track in -40 (or was it -50 or -60) weather. What absurdity. When it's that cold, you feel blessed just to have a fire to sit around.
And food. Fogarty goes hunting and comes back with a moose. Well, good for him. But how did he find such an animal (they are few and far between at that latitude), was the stalk difficult, or did he ambush it? How about butchering such an animal at -40? Not an easy job. And the hauling. Moose can weigh several hundred pounds, how did he get it to camp. But again, I'm told not shown.
Yes, the route over the mountains from Edmonton to the Klondike was the worst one to take in the 1890s. But this book failed to describe it! In Reflections at the end of the book, Michener tells us of his fascination with the character Irina. I wished he had used her as the main character, for her trip to the Yukon sounds way more convincing and interesting than the one he chose to write about.
June 18, 2020
Michener's last book, and the shortest of his I've ever read (or seen, but haven't seen all), Journey is a piece he pulled from a previous book, Alaska because of elements he just couldn't leave behind. I've had projects like that. There's just something too compelling to leave on the table, unused.
This is a story of a stiff-upper lipped English "lord" who was a son born in a line of sons and was out of the running for the family inheritance, and so who needed to make a name for himself another way. When the Yukon gold rush popped up in the news, he decided that was just the thing. He gathered a sturdy, like-aged friend, his nephew, his nephew's literary friend - all in the same social class. With four high-class types, he knew they'd need a worker bee and so reached out to the best worker bee they knew, an Irish man, laborer who was game for the trip. With all this testosterone how could anything go wrong?
As always when I read Michener, I am convinced that this is fiction built around fact, but I've goggled around and am not finding this particular "journey". He has a picture of a sassy ma'am at the front of the book that he talks about weaving her into the tale, and I found that very charming. I have incomplete messages if this isn't based on someone real - this is about pride, a style of stiffness that seems misplaced all throughout the book, and at many points a platform for, if not redemption, at least the admission of regret - is never picked up and waved at the appropriate parties, like some kind of white flag. And all the back pages with poetry and journal materials. . .if not real, who are they for and what do they do to help a reader like me? Anyway. . . .
This is Michener's last novel, the last bit he wanted to make sure joined his published works. Have a hot beverage handy, and your favorite warm blanket when you read this, because you are going to feel cold.
3 stars, bobbing in a steaming hot bev.
This is a story of a stiff-upper lipped English "lord" who was a son born in a line of sons and was out of the running for the family inheritance, and so who needed to make a name for himself another way. When the Yukon gold rush popped up in the news, he decided that was just the thing. He gathered a sturdy, like-aged friend, his nephew, his nephew's literary friend - all in the same social class. With four high-class types, he knew they'd need a worker bee and so reached out to the best worker bee they knew, an Irish man, laborer who was game for the trip. With all this testosterone how could anything go wrong?
As always when I read Michener, I am convinced that this is fiction built around fact, but I've goggled around and am not finding this particular "journey". He has a picture of a sassy ma'am at the front of the book that he talks about weaving her into the tale, and I found that very charming. I have incomplete messages if this isn't based on someone real - this is about pride, a style of stiffness that seems misplaced all throughout the book, and at many points a platform for, if not redemption, at least the admission of regret - is never picked up and waved at the appropriate parties, like some kind of white flag. And all the back pages with poetry and journal materials. . .if not real, who are they for and what do they do to help a reader like me? Anyway. . . .
This is Michener's last novel, the last bit he wanted to make sure joined his published works. Have a hot beverage handy, and your favorite warm blanket when you read this, because you are going to feel cold.
3 stars, bobbing in a steaming hot bev.
May 31, 2019
What a book! I almost didn't finish it because I despised the main character, Luton. He was so pig-headed and superior that I didn't want to spend any time with him. But the thought of the adventure they were on, the exploration of the artic...I couldn't resist. So I finished reading it, cursing Luton the whole way.
I will say this is a good book if you want to see how a truly flawed character remains flawed and unlikable through an entire story. I was left disliking him, even in the end where Luton goes through his redemption and transformation.
I will say this is a good book if you want to see how a truly flawed character remains flawed and unlikable through an entire story. I was left disliking him, even in the end where Luton goes through his redemption and transformation.
June 12, 2011
Lord Luton and his companions determine to reach the gold fields of the Yukon by only crossing Canadian territory. Such is Luton's dislike of America that he ignores knowledge, common sense and advice as he attempts to lead his team.
Michener did not quite pull off his attempt to explore the values of an English aristocrat so I just kept thinking that Luton was "stupid."
Michener is not a "great" novelist, but usually I enoy his books. This on, however, never really engaged me
Michener did not quite pull off his attempt to explore the values of an English aristocrat so I just kept thinking that Luton was "stupid."
Michener is not a "great" novelist, but usually I enoy his books. This on, however, never really engaged me
January 4, 2020
Journey by James Michener is a tragic saga of man vs. wilderness set in 1897-1899 Canada. When Lord Luton learns of the 1897 Klondike gold discovery, he decides to trek to Dawson City. Luton has already gained fame for explorations in Africa; he's keen to add Canada to his conquests. Robust Harry Carpenter, with military experience in Afghanistan, is an ideal companion for the trip. Luton adds his nephew Philip and friend Trevor to the crew, to give them character-building experience befitting young noblemen. Lastly, Luton adds Fogarty, a grounds-keeper in training on one of Luton's estates, to do the 'heavy lifting'.
The five men travel in a luxury ship from England to Canada, then board a luxury train car to traverse Canada. Their comfort ends at Edmonton, the outpost for wilderness travel. In Edmonton, they begin to learn how much they were deceived by fake exploration reports. They still do not understand the seriousness of the journey ahead, or even its true length. Lord Luton makes the decision to take a longer and harder route, due to misguided patriotism. He ignores all sage advice on how to reach Dawson. The safest and shortest route is by way of Alaska, which he refuses to do.
They set off with barely adequate supplies to last for one over-winter stop. But Luton's stubborn refusal to take a shorter and safer route through Alaska strands them for a second winter. Although they know how to prevent scurvy, they run out of ascorbic acid. As team members die, Luton is still too stubborn to follow wise advice, and persists on the most perilous route.
Be sure to read the Reflections chapter at the end, which describes how this book came to be.
The five men travel in a luxury ship from England to Canada, then board a luxury train car to traverse Canada. Their comfort ends at Edmonton, the outpost for wilderness travel. In Edmonton, they begin to learn how much they were deceived by fake exploration reports. They still do not understand the seriousness of the journey ahead, or even its true length. Lord Luton makes the decision to take a longer and harder route, due to misguided patriotism. He ignores all sage advice on how to reach Dawson. The safest and shortest route is by way of Alaska, which he refuses to do.
They set off with barely adequate supplies to last for one over-winter stop. But Luton's stubborn refusal to take a shorter and safer route through Alaska strands them for a second winter. Although they know how to prevent scurvy, they run out of ascorbic acid. As team members die, Luton is still too stubborn to follow wise advice, and persists on the most perilous route.
Be sure to read the Reflections chapter at the end, which describes how this book came to be.
August 6, 2024
Apparently this was originally a chapter in Alaska, but was cut later on and Michener decided to publish it on its own. It was exciting to revisit the frigid North again - Michener is a great storyteller with a gift for painting a scene with emotion and wit. An interesting cast of characters ties this story of courage and stupidity together. In the end, it is a cautionary tale against hubris, while also expounding on the tenacity of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Highly recommend
March 24, 2022
You know, there really are not that many outdoorsy novels. You've got Call of the Wild, Walden Pond, then what? Even if we expand to nonfiction we just add Wild, A Walk in the Woods, the Krakauer books, Muir musings, and what else? Typically the only outdoorsy books published now are akin to rock-and-roll singer memoirs, except the singer is a climber and his cocaine is just chalk. Or someone lost a limb or got attacked by a grizzly or lost a limb to a grizzly. And I'm not criticizing those books at all. To the contrary: Why are there not more outdoorsy books? Why is every novel set at a liberal arts college in New England and not Big Sky country or the Andes or the Alps? IS THE OUTDOORS JUST FOR INSTAGRAM?
In my quest to find more of these books, I stumbled upon James Michener, a prolific post-WWII author who wrote about the Yukon and Alaska and Hawaii and cool places. This book was actually part of his massive Alaska book, but his editor cut it. It's about the Yukon gold strike and an English lord who sets out with 4 hearty adventurers to trek from Edmonton to the Yukon to get some gold. Spoiler: they're almost knowingly naive and it kills most of them. Michener was clearly far more interested in historical accuracy than his characters, who (a) blend together and (b) are all pretty uninteresting. Which means you really don't ever care what happens to them. Michener also seems more interested in discussing Edmonton REI swindlers ("Oh yeah, easy hike to the Yukon in Winter") than what it's actually like to travel down a river, so I didn't really get what I wanted from the book either.
In my quest to find more of these books, I stumbled upon James Michener, a prolific post-WWII author who wrote about the Yukon and Alaska and Hawaii and cool places. This book was actually part of his massive Alaska book, but his editor cut it. It's about the Yukon gold strike and an English lord who sets out with 4 hearty adventurers to trek from Edmonton to the Yukon to get some gold. Spoiler: they're almost knowingly naive and it kills most of them. Michener was clearly far more interested in historical accuracy than his characters, who (a) blend together and (b) are all pretty uninteresting. Which means you really don't ever care what happens to them. Michener also seems more interested in discussing Edmonton REI swindlers ("Oh yeah, easy hike to the Yukon in Winter") than what it's actually like to travel down a river, so I didn't really get what I wanted from the book either.
March 25, 2013
I've enjoyed many of Michener's books over the years but this one is the least engaging of any that I've
read so far... It almost feels like he wrote it as an afterthought and didn't enjoy writing it as much as his other novels. Never the less it's interesting to read about this time period of the discovery of gold and what people might have gone through to find it. In my opinion this is not one of Michener's best but still a great novel.
read so far... It almost feels like he wrote it as an afterthought and didn't enjoy writing it as much as his other novels. Never the less it's interesting to read about this time period of the discovery of gold and what people might have gone through to find it. In my opinion this is not one of Michener's best but still a great novel.
July 20, 2014
A very interesting read!
May 11, 2019
Mr. Michener's Reflections following the body of the novel is interesting and informative. I enjoyed that section as much if not more so than the novel, itself.
December 14, 2009
I've always enjoyed Michener's works, especially Hawaii and Ice Palace, so I was expecting another saga spanning over a few generations in "Journey". I was a little disappointed to discover the time elapsed in this work was just over 2 years and it was focused on one episode in the characters' lives.
Lord Luton and four companions set forth from England to mine gold in the Klondike - thus, the journey referred to in the title.
The linear timeline does move along smoothly, and maybe I read too fast, but it seemed to me that on one page we are in October 1897 and then three paragraphs later it is March 1898. hmmm. have to go back and re-read that one.
************HERE FOLLOW SPOILERS**************
**********************************************
I've read various non-fiction adventure accounts such as Race to the Pole (Peary expedition), Into Thin Air (Everest expedition), so I was very familiar with heart-breaking scenes of deadly cold, illness, hunger, etc. and Journey contains plenty of like descriptions.
What was so shocking to me was that the expedition's leader, Lord Luton, chose to ignore advice from experienced scouts and Indians regarding the route to reach their destination (Dawson, site of the gold fields). He is a stereotypical English nobleman with the stuff upper lip, superciliousness and sense of nobless oblige that dictate his way is the only way.
Those miners who'd been to the Klondike and back recommended overland passage via three different rivers, whereas Lord Luton stubbornly insisted on a route crossing over the Rocky Mountains and thereby avoiding entering US territory; Lord Luton's reasoning was that as Englishmen, his group must at all costs be loyal to the Crown by traveling through Canada.
Luton is extremely intelligent and a keen adventurer who had led expeditions in Africa and India. He planned this trip with the help of maps and pamphlets which described all the golds and riches to be found in the Klondike. No sooner does he arrive in Edmonton, Canada when he discovers the pamphlets are semi-fictionalized accounts by two men who'd never seen the gold fields. Luton has the sense to re-organize his strategy and at first all goes well. While in Edmonton the team meets others who are in search of their fortunes, among them, a woman with her husband and his family. They are from North Dakota but originally from Estonia.
They discuss with Luton how they will travel and of course Luton outlines his plan with which they respectfully disagree - both parties eventually depart Edmonton for their great adventure.
Luton has calculated that the team will traverse x number of miles until they will need to make camp for the winter- they will then spend the winter in a cabin they'd build themselves, exercise, read fine literature to each other, and in short, keep themselves healthy and fit in both mind and body. Food and supplies are plentiful and all team members are careful to follow all of Luton's instructions.
Prior to setting up camp they are astonished to come upon the North Dakota woman who is now alone - her family perished in the river and Luton tells her she must go back to Edmonton. The team will transport her downriver to the first steamer back. During the night Luton has thoughts of tossing the woman overboard so that they can continue their journey and not have to backtrack to the steamer. They do, however, escort the woman until they reach the first steamship heading for Edmonton.
When spring arrives and the expedition sets off to continue their journey via the passage which so many had discouraged, various troubles commence, beginning with the drowning death of Lord Luton's nephew, Philip.
Philip perished after falling overboard into dangerous rapids; he sank to the bottom within minutes wearing the rubber boots which he'd been strongly advised not to wear. The boots filled immediately with water, the weight of which sent him to his death.
Luton now is more than ever pressured to reach Dawson before the winter sets in - due to the passage they're following, winter comes sooner than the previous year and they are forced to camp for yet another winter.
Here is where the hardships, illness and death rear their ugly heads - Luton has the team build another cabin, but their supplies have dwindled. He had insisted on traveling light so as not to be burdened with heavy weight.
Of the three remaining team members, one contracts scurvy and grows weaker and sicker daily. One day he tells Luton he will go out to exercise - instead, he limps off into sub-zero temperatures, stripping his clothes off as he heads into the fields where he suspends himself from the nearest tree. Luton later discovers that he has committed suicide by freezing to death.
Another expedition member dies of scurvy and now it is up to Luton and the only remaining man, his man-servant O'Fogarty who will continue on this journey. Several chapters detail worsening conditions, illness, battling mosquitos, the elements and worse.
The two men finally reach Dawson with the help of an Indian tribe - again they are astonished to see the North Dakota woman who is now thriving running a restaurant with her new husband.
Luton asks her how long it took her to reach Dawson - it has been well over a year since they left her to go back to Edmonton.
She replies that she did return to Edmonton where she met her second husband. They came to Dawson and succeeded finding gold which they used to start a restaurant.
Luton is incredulous as he realizes she talks so easily of reachign Dawson - when he asks her how long it took her to get from Edmonton to Dawson, she replies it was approximately 10 weeks.
Luton is thoroughly shook up and horrified - it took over 100 weeks for his team to reach that same destination, all due to Luton's stubborness and insistence at traveling a different and more difficult route.
For the first time in this novel, Luton breaks down weeping, realizing he has been responsible for the death of three men due to his actions.
The final irony is that before setting off for the gold fields, Lord Luton receives a mail packet informing him of his elder brother's death, so that Lord Luton is now the Marquess of Deal and must set forth immediately to England to claim his castle and rightful title.
He is preparing to leave for England without even visiting the gold fields and is somewhat astonished that O'Fogarty prefers to remain in the Yukon as a free man and begin a new life.
There's somewhat of an epilogue which describes Luton as a valued advisor to Lloyd George during the Great War, but there is no mention of a wife or family - sad ending for a promising man.
Lord Luton and four companions set forth from England to mine gold in the Klondike - thus, the journey referred to in the title.
The linear timeline does move along smoothly, and maybe I read too fast, but it seemed to me that on one page we are in October 1897 and then three paragraphs later it is March 1898. hmmm. have to go back and re-read that one.
************HERE FOLLOW SPOILERS**************
**********************************************
I've read various non-fiction adventure accounts such as Race to the Pole (Peary expedition), Into Thin Air (Everest expedition), so I was very familiar with heart-breaking scenes of deadly cold, illness, hunger, etc. and Journey contains plenty of like descriptions.
What was so shocking to me was that the expedition's leader, Lord Luton, chose to ignore advice from experienced scouts and Indians regarding the route to reach their destination (Dawson, site of the gold fields). He is a stereotypical English nobleman with the stuff upper lip, superciliousness and sense of nobless oblige that dictate his way is the only way.
Those miners who'd been to the Klondike and back recommended overland passage via three different rivers, whereas Lord Luton stubbornly insisted on a route crossing over the Rocky Mountains and thereby avoiding entering US territory; Lord Luton's reasoning was that as Englishmen, his group must at all costs be loyal to the Crown by traveling through Canada.
Luton is extremely intelligent and a keen adventurer who had led expeditions in Africa and India. He planned this trip with the help of maps and pamphlets which described all the golds and riches to be found in the Klondike. No sooner does he arrive in Edmonton, Canada when he discovers the pamphlets are semi-fictionalized accounts by two men who'd never seen the gold fields. Luton has the sense to re-organize his strategy and at first all goes well. While in Edmonton the team meets others who are in search of their fortunes, among them, a woman with her husband and his family. They are from North Dakota but originally from Estonia.
They discuss with Luton how they will travel and of course Luton outlines his plan with which they respectfully disagree - both parties eventually depart Edmonton for their great adventure.
Luton has calculated that the team will traverse x number of miles until they will need to make camp for the winter- they will then spend the winter in a cabin they'd build themselves, exercise, read fine literature to each other, and in short, keep themselves healthy and fit in both mind and body. Food and supplies are plentiful and all team members are careful to follow all of Luton's instructions.
Prior to setting up camp they are astonished to come upon the North Dakota woman who is now alone - her family perished in the river and Luton tells her she must go back to Edmonton. The team will transport her downriver to the first steamer back. During the night Luton has thoughts of tossing the woman overboard so that they can continue their journey and not have to backtrack to the steamer. They do, however, escort the woman until they reach the first steamship heading for Edmonton.
When spring arrives and the expedition sets off to continue their journey via the passage which so many had discouraged, various troubles commence, beginning with the drowning death of Lord Luton's nephew, Philip.
Philip perished after falling overboard into dangerous rapids; he sank to the bottom within minutes wearing the rubber boots which he'd been strongly advised not to wear. The boots filled immediately with water, the weight of which sent him to his death.
Luton now is more than ever pressured to reach Dawson before the winter sets in - due to the passage they're following, winter comes sooner than the previous year and they are forced to camp for yet another winter.
Here is where the hardships, illness and death rear their ugly heads - Luton has the team build another cabin, but their supplies have dwindled. He had insisted on traveling light so as not to be burdened with heavy weight.
Of the three remaining team members, one contracts scurvy and grows weaker and sicker daily. One day he tells Luton he will go out to exercise - instead, he limps off into sub-zero temperatures, stripping his clothes off as he heads into the fields where he suspends himself from the nearest tree. Luton later discovers that he has committed suicide by freezing to death.
Another expedition member dies of scurvy and now it is up to Luton and the only remaining man, his man-servant O'Fogarty who will continue on this journey. Several chapters detail worsening conditions, illness, battling mosquitos, the elements and worse.
The two men finally reach Dawson with the help of an Indian tribe - again they are astonished to see the North Dakota woman who is now thriving running a restaurant with her new husband.
Luton asks her how long it took her to reach Dawson - it has been well over a year since they left her to go back to Edmonton.
She replies that she did return to Edmonton where she met her second husband. They came to Dawson and succeeded finding gold which they used to start a restaurant.
Luton is incredulous as he realizes she talks so easily of reachign Dawson - when he asks her how long it took her to get from Edmonton to Dawson, she replies it was approximately 10 weeks.
Luton is thoroughly shook up and horrified - it took over 100 weeks for his team to reach that same destination, all due to Luton's stubborness and insistence at traveling a different and more difficult route.
For the first time in this novel, Luton breaks down weeping, realizing he has been responsible for the death of three men due to his actions.
The final irony is that before setting off for the gold fields, Lord Luton receives a mail packet informing him of his elder brother's death, so that Lord Luton is now the Marquess of Deal and must set forth immediately to England to claim his castle and rightful title.
He is preparing to leave for England without even visiting the gold fields and is somewhat astonished that O'Fogarty prefers to remain in the Yukon as a free man and begin a new life.
There's somewhat of an epilogue which describes Luton as a valued advisor to Lloyd George during the Great War, but there is no mention of a wife or family - sad ending for a promising man.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 28, 2018
Michener's book was full of adventure, history, and humor. I really enjoyed this story of five men who are chasing gold in the Canadian Yukon gold rush of 1897, and who chose to travel across Canada. Because apparently the easy route took you through American lands -- Alaska and simple to climb mountains. And what self-respecting Brit would choose to take that simple route over American soil when it is so much harder to go through British territory. I was a bit incredulous at all the crazy things they dealt with just to travel only on British lands. But I was also quite impressed. That type of stubborn streak can serve a person well.
Michener did his research. I really enjoyed the final chapter in which he told the reader about the things that inspired this book and how he found the information he needed. It was fascinating.
Michener did his research. I really enjoyed the final chapter in which he told the reader about the things that inspired this book and how he found the information he needed. It was fascinating.
March 11, 2023
At first I didn’t like this book. The more I read, the more I liked it. It was a quick read and not the usual sort of story I read: I’m glad I did.
June 30, 2025
I understand the lower rating but I love a story about a journey. Nice little story
June 6, 2020
There are many things to complain about here, starting with the title, but I did quite enjoy it so I'll only slightly begrudge him the 3 stars.
March 25, 2022
I picked up the Michener adventure because it wasn't 1000 pages - 244 pages. It's a classic Michener tale of history, heroism, unvarnished humanity and triumph packed into a relatively short story of the race to the Yukon for the Klondike Gold Rush. But the best part was the coda at the end where Michener describes how he came to write the book. That is a story within itself.
April 10, 2021
Michener says “Journey is a narrative which depicts the courage that men and women can exhibit when dealing with adversity, even that which they have brought upon themselves.” It is indeed that. It is also a gripping story of arrogance and bullheadedness that cost the lives of three persons. Journey is the story of five men’s trek, led by Lord Luton, his cousin, nephew, friend of the nephew and an Irish ghillie, across Canada to the Klondike in the late 1890’s over two bitter winter’s above the Arctic Circle.
August 13, 2018
What is it about these hardheaded, unqualified, unprepared, misguided adventurers??
In 1897 news of the Klondike River gold strike has reached England, and his lordship Evelyn Luton has decided to get in on the rush. Luton turns out, is an enthusiastic but second rate explorer and a first rate snob. Luton organizes a five man team including his nephew and his best friend. The nephew's buddy and an Irish factotum or 'ghille' complete the fivesome. While still in London they study such maps that exist at the time and give each other a bunch of pep talks. Luton’s intrepid team sails the Atlantic, then treks across vast Canada to Edmonton by rail. And that’s where the real adventure and the hardships begin. They gather supplies and a boat and advice, which Luton mostly ignores. Pushed by a healthy current they head north down the Mackenzie River. Then disregarding the wisdom of experienced inhabitants, explorers and mapmakers, Luton takes his team on the worst possible route. He comes across as an obnoxious stuffed shirt, willing to put the lives of his team at risk, eventually causing the deaths of three of the men. He refuses to take the preferred safer route because it would take him into American territory and he LOATHES America with all its equality. He looks down his nose at virtually everyone he comes into contact with, even those who come to his aid.
I do enjoy stories of people who take on challenges they have no business doing. This isn’t the best of them.
In 1897 news of the Klondike River gold strike has reached England, and his lordship Evelyn Luton has decided to get in on the rush. Luton turns out, is an enthusiastic but second rate explorer and a first rate snob. Luton organizes a five man team including his nephew and his best friend. The nephew's buddy and an Irish factotum or 'ghille' complete the fivesome. While still in London they study such maps that exist at the time and give each other a bunch of pep talks. Luton’s intrepid team sails the Atlantic, then treks across vast Canada to Edmonton by rail. And that’s where the real adventure and the hardships begin. They gather supplies and a boat and advice, which Luton mostly ignores. Pushed by a healthy current they head north down the Mackenzie River. Then disregarding the wisdom of experienced inhabitants, explorers and mapmakers, Luton takes his team on the worst possible route. He comes across as an obnoxious stuffed shirt, willing to put the lives of his team at risk, eventually causing the deaths of three of the men. He refuses to take the preferred safer route because it would take him into American territory and he LOATHES America with all its equality. He looks down his nose at virtually everyone he comes into contact with, even those who come to his aid.
I do enjoy stories of people who take on challenges they have no business doing. This isn’t the best of them.
July 30, 2017
Journey is a rare short novel from James Michenere, telling the story of an English Lord who travels with four other men in 1897 to the site of the Alaska goldrush in Dawson. What makes the man quirky and the trip very dangerous is that he insists on taking a route that keeps him entirely within Canada until the last possible leg of the journey. His distaste of all things American causes him to avoid a sensible route and instead insist on crossing a high mountain range. The result is a journey that required staying in the wilderness for two winters and the deaths of three of the five men.
As usual, Michener's writing style is such that you're convinced that these are real historical people. What's more, you catch yourself wondering how Michener got a hold of the men's exact conversations and deeds. But as usual, the characters in this story are not based on real men, but just incredibly well fleshed out.
I only realized while reading the appendix that this story was originally part of the novel "Alaska", but cut out as part of the attempt to cut "Alaska" down to something under 1,000 pages. Michener was attached enough to the characters in the "Journey" story, however, that he released the story as a separate short novel.
If you're a fan of Michener, "Journey" is not to be missed.
As usual, Michener's writing style is such that you're convinced that these are real historical people. What's more, you catch yourself wondering how Michener got a hold of the men's exact conversations and deeds. But as usual, the characters in this story are not based on real men, but just incredibly well fleshed out.
I only realized while reading the appendix that this story was originally part of the novel "Alaska", but cut out as part of the attempt to cut "Alaska" down to something under 1,000 pages. Michener was attached enough to the characters in the "Journey" story, however, that he released the story as a separate short novel.
If you're a fan of Michener, "Journey" is not to be missed.
January 29, 2017
This book, overall was a good read. I mark it somewhere between two and three stars but rounded up because I generally did like it.
I was hoping that the story would be deeper than it was but Michener generally kept skimming the surface rather than delving too much into the emotions and drama of the story. For me, one of the other main drawbacks was that Michener wrote the Canadian landscape as someone who has read about it but not really experienced it. The story could ultimately have been set anywhere with a cold climate; aside from place names there was nothing really Canadian about it. Ah well, I suppose that is to be expected from an American (rather than Canadian) author, eh?
That said, the story was a good read that I knocked off in a day or two, and which kept me well occupied on my transit commutes.
I was hoping that the story would be deeper than it was but Michener generally kept skimming the surface rather than delving too much into the emotions and drama of the story. For me, one of the other main drawbacks was that Michener wrote the Canadian landscape as someone who has read about it but not really experienced it. The story could ultimately have been set anywhere with a cold climate; aside from place names there was nothing really Canadian about it. Ah well, I suppose that is to be expected from an American (rather than Canadian) author, eh?
That said, the story was a good read that I knocked off in a day or two, and which kept me well occupied on my transit commutes.
March 28, 2012
After reading Mexico, I decided that Michener was not for me; however, this one was handed down to me with the comment that it was better than Mexico. So, I read it. As seems to be his style, he wanders off and writes a lot of stuff that really does nothing for the story, in my view. As with Mexico, I found sections that I enjoyed, but then skimmed through a lot in order to find another. I know that Michener is a popular author, but not my cup of tea. Hopefully I have learned.
September 1, 2016
I enjoyed it except for 2 unanswered questions.
1.Someone in the party purchased a bottle of ascorbic acid before leaving for Dawson. So why were they digging for roots to cure scurvy?
2. It was asked of Irina how she got to Edmonton and she "avoided the question". I thought there would be something interesting revealed later about how she got there but that was the end of it.
1.Someone in the party purchased a bottle of ascorbic acid before leaving for Dawson. So why were they digging for roots to cure scurvy?
2. It was asked of Irina how she got to Edmonton and she "avoided the question". I thought there would be something interesting revealed later about how she got there but that was the end of it.
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