Michener s memoir of a recent trip to poland and rome is as witless as a postcard, its greeting something like having a wonderful time, you wont believe the fuss being made over me. The book was written prior to the breakdown of the soviet union and the dispersion of its satellites. It obliquely follows three families the lubonskis, the bukowskis, and the luks living in the eponymous country across a period spanning the premodern era to 1981. She was a polish immigrant to our country and i detected that she was proud of her mother country. Like the heroic land that is its subject, james micheners poland teems with vivid events and unforgettble characters.
In addition to teaching me about polands history, the book was a joy to read. Interwoven with the action are the fates of three families. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of poland by james a. Michener s novel covering poland s recent history, with its conflict between church and state, worker and leader, and the poland of centuries gone by, struggling to retain its land and identity in the face of stronger powers on all sides. In the sweeping span of eight tumultuous centuries, three polish families live out their destinies and the drama of a nation in the grand tradition of a great james michener saga. For a little bit more information about polands history, this video. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone.
In addition to teaching me about poland s history, the book was a joy to read. Michener had numerous bestsellers and works selected for book of the month. Michener s numerous bestselling novels also included the source, centennial, texas, hawaii, and chesapeake. Micheners numerous bestselling novels also included the.
Mar 24, 2017 dont worry, the video is a much more brief summary than the title. It was a classic michener pageturner i am a michener fan. Micheners historical fiction, poland, is remarkable. She was overjoyed with the facts about poland that mr. The washington post a michener epic is far more than a bedtime reader, its an experience. Get 50% off this audiobook at the audiobooksnow online audio book store and download or stream it right to your computer, smartphone or tablet. Shipped with usps media mail dust jacket has tears book looks great. Poland is a 1983 historical fiction novel by james michener. Michener chronicles eight tumultuous centuries as three polish families live out their destinies.
February 3, 1907 october 16, 1997 was an american author. Michener surprises again with his meticulous history of poland. The dullest, if timeliest, history lesson yet from michener junior collegefollowing three polish clans noble, pettynoble, peasant from 1204 a. A brief summary of the book poland by james michener youtube.
In the sweeping span of eight tumultuous centuries, three polish families live out their destinies and the drama of a nationin the grand tradition of a great james michener saga. The lubonski family is one of the princely houses of poland. Like the heroic land that is its subject, james michener s poland teems with vivid events and unforgettble characters. Like the heroic land that is its subject, james micheners poland teems with vivid events and unforgettable characters in the sweeping span of eight tumultuous. Michener was one of the worlds most popular writers, the author of more than forty books of fiction and nonfiction, including the pulitzer prizewinning tales of the south pacific, the bestselling novels the source, hawaii, alaska, chesapeake, centennial, texas, caribbean, and caravans, and the memoir the world is my home. Michener 1984, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. James was born on february 3, 1907 in new york, united states. Albert michener, born around 1907, won the pulitzer prize for his first fiction, tales of the south pacific.
About poland a michener epic is far more than a bedtime reader, its an experience. The counts lubonski, the petty nobles bukowksi, and the peasants buk are at times fiercely united, at others tragically div. The visit to poland michener s 14thwas occasioned by a government invitation to receive a friendship medal as the author of the novel poland. Apr 07, 2015 once again james michener turned in a stellar performance with this novel.
The bestselling book was adapted into the popular musical and film, south pacific. But poland was the prime mover of the crash of the soviet union. Michener 19071997 was an american author of historical fiction and nonfiction. Once again james michener turned in a stellar performance with this novel. For a little bit more information about poland s history, this video. He wrote more than 40 books, most of which were lengthy, fictional family sagas covering the lives of many generations in particular geographic locales and incorporating solid history. Micheners novel covering polands recent history, with its conflict between church and state, worker and leader, and the poland of centuries gone by, struggling to retain its land and identity in the face of stronger powers on all sides. Dont worry, the video is a much more brief summary than the title. This book presents micheners analysis of his own writing and that of his peershis reflections, remembrances, and stories of his youthful encounters with the e. He also includes a section describing the different groups of people in poland. I have no rights to the book poland and i do not claim any. Apart from the wellknown actual people, events, and locales that figure in the narrative, all names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the. In addition to his own reporting and interviewing for his blockbuster novel poland. The counts lubonski, the petty nobles bukowksi, and the peasants buk are at some times fiercely united, at others tragically divided.
Nov 20, 1983 in america, a celebrated writer, james a. Like the heroic land that is its subject, james micheners poland teems with vivid events and unforgettable characters. The families themselves come very much alive, and through them, poland. Like the heroic land that is its subject, james michener s poland teems with vivid events and unforgettable characters in the sweeping span of eight tumultuous. Poland is a monumental effort, a magnificent guide to a better understanding of the countrys.
Michener and published in 1983 detailing the times and tribulations of three interconnected polish families the lubonski family, the bukowski family, and the buk family across eight centuries, ending in the thenpresent day 1981. I gave a copy of this book to a nurse who attended me in a hospital, a few years ago. This good husbandry was symbolic of the rational way in which poland had organized itself in the year 1646, when magnates, gentry and peasants were about as happy as they had ever been. He is most famous for writing the multigeneration historical and fictional stories. It dives into the heart of the country its people, culture, art, music, landscape, traditions, rituals in such a way as to enkindle in the reader a love for the country. Michener includes a section at the beginning of the book explaining which parts of each chapter are based on fact and which are based on fiction. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. In my ignorance, i didnt consider the importance of the land of poland in european history before reading this book. Apart from the wellknown actual people, events, and locales that figure in the narrative, all names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading poland. Michener, as he is popularly known as, is a well known novelist, philanthropist and story writer from pennsylvania, united states. Like the heroic land that is its subject, james michener s poland teems with vivid events and unforgettable characters. It obliquely follows three families the lubonskis, the bukowskis, and the luks living in the eponymous country across a. Michener writes a very interesting and enjoyable book that the reader will find difficult to put down.
The saga begins with a talky 1981 confrontation, in the village of bukowo on the vistula, between farmunion leader janko buk and. Michener, has been the unwitting instrument of this orwellian effort. Michener served on the advisory council to nasa and the. Poland is a monumental effort, a magnificent guide to a better. Michener doesnt let the weave of his characters get corny. A michener epic is far more than a bedtime reader, its an experience. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. Pages can include considerable notesin pen or highlighterbut the notes cannot obscure the text. He is wellknown for the amount of research that went into his work in addition to the length of his novels 900 pages was a short novel for him. Poland is a monumental effort, a magnificent guide to a better understanding of the countrys tribulations.
225 343 973 116 1073 661 97 1307 419 1473 1430 530 389 758 700 513 609 863 377 983 1366 1426 671 1197 618 744 659 1423 252 352 1383 411 84 31