What do you think?
Rate this book
The Watermen : Selections from Chesapeake
In a tribute to the seafaring men of the Chesapeake Bay, narratives of local hunting, oystering, racing, and fighting are presented with evocative illustrations of the watermen at work and play
193 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1979
346 people are currently reading
294 people want to read
About the author
James A. Michener
522 books3,584 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 17, 2018
You need to read Chesapeake to understand a lot of this. It is not just one story it is the side story in Chesapeake and starts from the beging in around 1583 and goes to 1977. It is just one side plot that didn't make it into the book. It is illustrated and well done. It was very nice to see an illustrated Michener. You think just because he writes long winded stories and fiction for adults Pictures would be silly to add, that is for kid and teen books. Well actually I enjoyed it a lot more because of the pictures. The pictures follow and fit the story so well. If you have read Chesapeake read this because your missing part. It won't make much sense without Chesapeake, not like his book Journey where you didn't have to read Alaska to enjoy it.
April 21, 2020
This book is a selection of tales from Chesapeake, James Michener’s classic. I enjoyed it, but felt it would have been better to read Chesapeake again - there were too many references to other parts and people. It is based on the watermen of the Patamoke area on the Choptank River, it centres on two main families, the Turlocks and the Cavenys, and tells of their feuds over goose hunting, skipjack fishing boats, dogs and one huge gun called The Twombly.
The book is delightfully illustrated with line drawings by John Mott - which you don’t get in Chesapeake. But it has reminded me what a good writer Michener is, and I will certainly be reading Chesapeake again.
The book is delightfully illustrated with line drawings by John Mott - which you don’t get in Chesapeake. But it has reminded me what a good writer Michener is, and I will certainly be reading Chesapeake again.
March 18, 2022
Many years ago, I read “Chesapeake” by Michener. So long ago that I forgot much of the content of his story. This book contains chapters from his great work, So I felt it would renew my knowledge of Michener and “The Chesapeake”.
This compilation of stories from Chesapeake is a quick and easy read, and familiar territory with most of his topics already experienced either from personal observation, other reading and PBS programs about the Eastern and Western shores of this great estuary.
It struck me early that his writing style is dated with a great reliance on melodramatic fiction. Yet because of the amount of research Michener performs, the book is informative. Whether discussing the characteristics of hunting dogs or the proper design of a skipjack, his story is intertwined with both facts and melodrama. The result is a clear depiction of the fundamental nature of the Region and its people.
In his chapter on geese, he used the technique of anthropomorphism to attribute human traits, emotions, or intentions to geese. This technique allowed the author to tell the story of the annual migration of geese from Canada to Maryland’s Eastern shore; with all the danger experienced from hunters, predators and extreme weather. This writer’s trick can be effective and sometimes even entertaining, and at other times, melodramatic to the extreme. I believe Michener could have done without this little device. I enjoyed the whimsey in Richard Adams, “Watershed Down” when he endowed rabbits with human attributes, but I believe Michener missed the mark with the geese.
There are many other interesting chapters where Michener demonstrates the depth of his research. For instance, the story of a quaker carpenter who utilized new techniques that resulted in the development of the legendary skipjack and details on how oysters were shipped fresh to the hotels and restaurants of Baltimore.
The famous Baltimore writer H.L. Mencken always sang the praises of the famous Rennert Hotel. Its was famous for seafood from the Eastern shore and renowned Maryland dishes such as the indispensable Maryland crab cake and the Chesapeake Bay diamond-back terrapin just to name a few. Michener utilizes traditional Eastern Shore family names to describe the oystermen filling buyer boats in the middle of the Chesapeake to get them to Baltimore’s Rennert Hotel within hours of being fresh out of the Bay.
His story of the legendary huge gun placed in shallow canoes that creeped up on waterfowl and killed them by the dozens is told using a historically accurate name of a fictional Eastern Shore family, the story is true to the folklore of these huge guns. When they were outlawed most of these guns were seized, yet in an Eastern shore museum many years ago, I did get to view one of these cannon like gun whose recoil could and did kill the untrained operator.
This compilation of stories from “Chesapeake” was a quick easy read that did bring the reader back to a time when the Eastern shore was isolated for better or worse. The term “land of pleasant living” was factual and the great bounty of this bay was available to all….yes, those days are in the past now with global warming, pollution, oil spills and exploitation destroying the gifts God gave us.
This compilation of stories from Chesapeake is a quick and easy read, and familiar territory with most of his topics already experienced either from personal observation, other reading and PBS programs about the Eastern and Western shores of this great estuary.
It struck me early that his writing style is dated with a great reliance on melodramatic fiction. Yet because of the amount of research Michener performs, the book is informative. Whether discussing the characteristics of hunting dogs or the proper design of a skipjack, his story is intertwined with both facts and melodrama. The result is a clear depiction of the fundamental nature of the Region and its people.
In his chapter on geese, he used the technique of anthropomorphism to attribute human traits, emotions, or intentions to geese. This technique allowed the author to tell the story of the annual migration of geese from Canada to Maryland’s Eastern shore; with all the danger experienced from hunters, predators and extreme weather. This writer’s trick can be effective and sometimes even entertaining, and at other times, melodramatic to the extreme. I believe Michener could have done without this little device. I enjoyed the whimsey in Richard Adams, “Watershed Down” when he endowed rabbits with human attributes, but I believe Michener missed the mark with the geese.
There are many other interesting chapters where Michener demonstrates the depth of his research. For instance, the story of a quaker carpenter who utilized new techniques that resulted in the development of the legendary skipjack and details on how oysters were shipped fresh to the hotels and restaurants of Baltimore.
The famous Baltimore writer H.L. Mencken always sang the praises of the famous Rennert Hotel. Its was famous for seafood from the Eastern shore and renowned Maryland dishes such as the indispensable Maryland crab cake and the Chesapeake Bay diamond-back terrapin just to name a few. Michener utilizes traditional Eastern Shore family names to describe the oystermen filling buyer boats in the middle of the Chesapeake to get them to Baltimore’s Rennert Hotel within hours of being fresh out of the Bay.
His story of the legendary huge gun placed in shallow canoes that creeped up on waterfowl and killed them by the dozens is told using a historically accurate name of a fictional Eastern Shore family, the story is true to the folklore of these huge guns. When they were outlawed most of these guns were seized, yet in an Eastern shore museum many years ago, I did get to view one of these cannon like gun whose recoil could and did kill the untrained operator.
This compilation of stories from “Chesapeake” was a quick easy read that did bring the reader back to a time when the Eastern shore was isolated for better or worse. The term “land of pleasant living” was factual and the great bounty of this bay was available to all….yes, those days are in the past now with global warming, pollution, oil spills and exploitation destroying the gifts God gave us.
August 16, 2021
This book was lent to me by my friend Demi, who hosts our weekly knitting group and is the matriarch of a large and unconventional family based on Cape Cod and in Maine.
I have not read any of Michener's books before, but will certainly do so now. He writes with clear detail and a touch of humor. This collection is divided into stories about the people, places, events, and animals in the Chesapeake Bay area. It is beautifully illustrated by the pencil drawings of John Moll, one of Michener's neighbors.
I especially enjoyed the chapter about Labrador retrievers and the important role they play in the Chesapeake Bay way of life. Labs are my favorite breed; we have had three Lab mixes and two purebreds. We are currently owned by a black Lab, who is five years old but still a puppy. Her name is Nessa (Irish princess).
I have not read any of Michener's books before, but will certainly do so now. He writes with clear detail and a touch of humor. This collection is divided into stories about the people, places, events, and animals in the Chesapeake Bay area. It is beautifully illustrated by the pencil drawings of John Moll, one of Michener's neighbors.
I especially enjoyed the chapter about Labrador retrievers and the important role they play in the Chesapeake Bay way of life. Labs are my favorite breed; we have had three Lab mixes and two purebreds. We are currently owned by a black Lab, who is five years old but still a puppy. Her name is Nessa (Irish princess).
August 3, 2024
I just read this while on a 9-day visit to Smith Island, MD.
It was a very very interesting book which provided a gritty and no-holds-barred tale about the watermen of the Chesapeake Bay. I can’t say I would have liked many of the characters if I’d known them personally, but I can easily see their passions and motivations.
The jump in the last few chapters, from the early 1920s to the 1970s, was a bit abrupt but I understand this gap is probably covered in Chesapeake, the Michener novel The Watermen is excerpted from.
It was a very very interesting book which provided a gritty and no-holds-barred tale about the watermen of the Chesapeake Bay. I can’t say I would have liked many of the characters if I’d known them personally, but I can easily see their passions and motivations.
The jump in the last few chapters, from the early 1920s to the 1970s, was a bit abrupt but I understand this gap is probably covered in Chesapeake, the Michener novel The Watermen is excerpted from.
July 20, 2024
3.5 stars
The only reason I read this book is because my stepdad asked me to so we could discuss it. The stories about the geese, the dogs, and the skipjack were entertaining. Michener has a way of writing that can be engaging in its descriptions, detail, and history. The drawings inside this selection by Moll are quite good. All in all, it was okay if a little dry. Fortunately, this was only 180 pages whereas the full length book is 1,026 pages.
The only reason I read this book is because my stepdad asked me to so we could discuss it. The stories about the geese, the dogs, and the skipjack were entertaining. Michener has a way of writing that can be engaging in its descriptions, detail, and history. The drawings inside this selection by Moll are quite good. All in all, it was okay if a little dry. Fortunately, this was only 180 pages whereas the full length book is 1,026 pages.
April 13, 2020
Highly Entertaining, Educational and Just Plain Enjoyable!
Readers can't help but enjoy Michener's amazingly creative style of blending historical facts with real life-long characters in realistic scenes from the past, sprinkled with lots of humor! His writing is a gift to readers everywhere.
Readers can't help but enjoy Michener's amazingly creative style of blending historical facts with real life-long characters in realistic scenes from the past, sprinkled with lots of humor! His writing is a gift to readers everywhere.
April 17, 2020
A short book
Have read many of Mitchner’s books in the past 30 years including “Chesapeake “. Didn’t realize for $3.00 , I wasn’t getting the book, but rather “ selections “! Are there other books where you get “selections “ instead of the entire book? I feel ripiped off.I sure will be much more careful before buying from Amazon in the future. ☹️
Have read many of Mitchner’s books in the past 30 years including “Chesapeake “. Didn’t realize for $3.00 , I wasn’t getting the book, but rather “ selections “! Are there other books where you get “selections “ instead of the entire book? I feel ripiped off.I sure will be much more careful before buying from Amazon in the future. ☹️
April 14, 2020
Hunting and fishing on the Chesapeake
Fun and informative about life and times of the Marylanders on the water of the big bay. Also a discussion of ecology of the Bay. Michener did a thouroth research in all his writing.
Fun and informative about life and times of the Marylanders on the water of the big bay. Also a discussion of ecology of the Bay. Michener did a thouroth research in all his writing.
August 15, 2020
Buggy huh lol UI Union Bruno girl input n it ji Nino I i I
Buy pl by u I’m up mom j IN thug in Idivulge b uh niño iui hi u tbh u Ohio Jim oink oink in oink Kuhn Juninho junior juju juju kJ in uv hug I’ll u Union luv
Buy pl by u I’m up mom j IN thug in Idivulge b uh niño iui hi u tbh u Ohio Jim oink oink in oink Kuhn Juninho junior juju juju kJ in uv hug I’ll u Union luv
Read
September 1, 2020As with all of Michener's books, this was an outstanding read. Characters were realistic, and I always felt that I was art of each scene presented in the book. I recommend The Watermen to anyone interested in the history of the Chesapeake area.
August 14, 2022
Enjoyable information about the life of watermen on the Chesapeake Bay. I had read Chesapeake years ago, but wanted to read a briefer version of that story now that I live near the Chesapeake. This book fit the bill.
February 11, 2018
The Watermen is a part of the longer book Chesapeake. It is about the people who lived on the Chesapeake for almost 100 years
October 16, 2024
The Watermen
A Michener I never read! It was a different story but interesting all same time! I always enjoyed him as one of greatest author of our time!
A Michener I never read! It was a different story but interesting all same time! I always enjoyed him as one of greatest author of our time!
May 16, 2020
Another great Michener work
Since the first book I read by James Michener I have been a fan. His carefully researched novels are an exciting way to learn a slightly fantasized history of whatever region he writes about. Each book stands on its own, one just as Interesting and as exciting as the next. I believe I’ve read most of his books more than once, and they have or prompted me to read more of the history of each region, as well as visit many of the places he described.
If you have never read one of books, do so as quickly as you can...I hope whichever novel it is will open the door to wonderful places, brilliant narrative and outstanding characters.
Since the first book I read by James Michener I have been a fan. His carefully researched novels are an exciting way to learn a slightly fantasized history of whatever region he writes about. Each book stands on its own, one just as Interesting and as exciting as the next. I believe I’ve read most of his books more than once, and they have or prompted me to read more of the history of each region, as well as visit many of the places he described.
If you have never read one of books, do so as quickly as you can...I hope whichever novel it is will open the door to wonderful places, brilliant narrative and outstanding characters.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews