Pilgrimage: A Memoir of Poland and Rome

by James A. Michener, Lech Walesa (Introduction)

Elaborating on his two-week trip to Poland and Rome in 1988, the author discusses his meeting with the Pope, the Polish Prime Minister, Lech Walesa, and a Jewish immigrant who revealed how contraband copies of "The Source" inspired his Russian community

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel, Biography

119 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1990

About the author

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 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.

Reviews

[Neil · Rating 1 out of 5]

There is a great story in here somewhere, but I think Michener channeled his inner 5th grader doing a report on his summer vacation. "Then I got a medal and met the guy who would be pope. And communism totally blows."

[Edward Amato · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed reading Michener again. When I was 15 I read both Hawaii and the Source and absolutely loved them. Rather than being anxious about the length I had hoped that they would never end. The only book I have not like of his was Chesapeake that I have started several times but stopped reading.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit of light reading that gives a personal history of Michener's time in Poland while doing research for his novel, tied together by a late 80s trip to Poland and Rome. It's a good, but not overly descriptive, recap of communist rule in Eastern Europe peppered with anecdotes spanning his lifetime of travel.

Quick, easy and somewhat juvenile in its presentation, but worth a read for those wanting to learn some fun tidbits of the time and region. It created a 'reading list'.

[Peter Ralston · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good introduction to Poland's circumstances in European history based on a 2 week visit to Poland and Rome just before (now) St. John Paul II and the world see the fall of the Warsaw Pact regimes and the Berlin Wall. Poland's history matters because it lies between Germany and Russia (including the Soviet Union), so it keeps having to establish and maintain its independence against competing political and military powers. This book made me interested in reading Michener's novel about Poland and reinforced my interest in his novels about Mexico and Texas, which lie also geographically between competing powers.

[Samuel Samson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decided to pick up this book after falling in love with Michener’s “The Source” and my own recent pilgrimage to Rome. Though the memoir departs from Michener’s typical style of novel-writing, his unique and eloquent storytelling is still present, painting a vivid picture of Poland at the end of Soviet Rule, and an intimate look behind the scenes at the life of a young Pope John Paul II. Despite the captivating frame, however, the book’s brevity also leaves the reader wanting more… even causing a certain frustration at the lack of profundity given the significance of the places and people discussed. Then again, perhaps this just means we are getting Michener’s most authentic telling.

[Michael Boerm · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love Michener’s works, the historical fiction (“Poland” and “The Source” are my favorites) and the non-fiction (“Iberia”, his travelogue about Spain in the 60’s, is phenomenal), but this memoir reads like a junior high book report. Flat, dry prose. It could have been so much better. Well, even a star player strikes out once in a while.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read from a historical perspective and the events of 1989/1990 in Europe.

[Steven Beningo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rare short book by James Michener that is a very good read. Baseball legend Stan Musial accompanied James Michener on his trip.

[Mary Gizzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoy his books about the writing of his novels

[Trailhoundz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would agree with reviewers who said that this book sounded like a grade school report of "what I did on vacation." Still, I found it quite interesting and being only 100ish pages, pretty easy to read. The only part I skipped was the "all the politicians I know and have met in my life name dropping" section which... I'm not sure how that ended up in a book about going to Poland and Rome. Kind of strange. Regardless, it was a nice "beach read" and just for the account of meeting Pope John Paul 2, I'm giving it 4 stars. Entertaining and light.

[Ann · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's really nice that the proceeds of this book went to the Polish Writers' Guild. But if I were them, I would be seriously disappointed to receive a donation this blatantly lame. I gained nothing from this book. And this from someone who was in Rome 3 weeks ago and will be driving to Poland tomorrow.

[Basia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars only because the topic is worthy and it's light enough reading that it can be a stepping stone to better things. Publishers should be shot. Spelling mistakes and terrible layout. I appreciate Michener writing this but I agree with other reviewers: not enough care put in to portray the subject matter with the gravitas it deserves. More like a quickly jotted down journal entry.

[Partridge Public]

Michener, James A.