I do remember that it felt like the characters were being used for their worldview and what they represent. In his triumphant best seller, james michener unfolds a powerful and. I liked the drifters overall and my favorite parts were from the second half i think it probably peaked for me around the pamplona section, but i remember the ending not really being particularly interesting or satisfying. Against exotic backdrops including spain, morocco, and. Michener was a master of description, taking the reader to faraway lands with a delightful fervor. James albert michener 3 february 1907 16 october 1997 was an american author of more than 40 titles, the majority of which are novels of sweeping sagas, covering the lives of many generations in a particular geographic locale and incorporating historical facts into the story as well. Michener s numerous bestselling novels also included the source, centennial, texas, hawaii, and chesapeake. The characters are clearly mere devices to make observations about the world while the narrative is slow and largely uneventful. Chicago suntimes michener has slid open a window on the world of the dropout and has spared no effort to make the reader aware of this new world. Michener unfolds a powerful and poignant drama of disenchanted youth. Michener was born on february 3, 1907 in new york city, new york, usa as james albert michener. Feb 24, 2017 despite being one of 20th century americas bestselling authors, michener has barely any online presence at all. Michener, which i gave 2 out of 5 stars because it just really wasnt my cup of tea. The release of both books in the same year indicates the intensity of micheners concern with the effects of the vietnam war on american youth and society.
James michener booklist james michener message board. I heard this in a modest mouse song world at large. The novel follows six young characters from diverse backgrounds and various countries as their paths meet and they travel together through parts of spain, portugal, morocco and mozambique. Jul 22, 2019 the drifters movie michener admin july 22, 2019 july 22, 2019 no comments on the drifters movie michener not all are american and little takes place in america, but the book does have a very americanculture focus. That and the connections between some of the characters made it.
It is very much a book of its time a michener classic. 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. Michener served on the advisory council to nasa and the. In 1971, the same year that he published the drifters, michener published a nonfiction book entitled kent state. It made me interested in reading a book about drifters. This is the hardcover stated random first edition from 1971. The bestselling book was adapted into the popular musical and film, south pacific. Jul 01, 2003 buy the drifters reissue by michener, james a. The drifters james michener historical books, book worth. His wikis are sparse, and there is no online goto michener resource that li sts all of his works, characters, themes, and most especially realworld analogs or rationale for the composites for his historical fiction. My suggestion is you have a series of maps available to you as i was totally unfamiliar with most of the settings that the drifters travelled to. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. In this triumphant bestseller, renowned novelist james a.
His popular 1971 novel the drifters was never made into a movie, but the movie rights for the book were among the highest ever paid up to that time. Air force officer for a beautiful young japanese woman during the korean war. The drifters james michener historical books, book. Michener, as he is popularly known as, is a well known novelist, philanthropist and story writer from pennsylvania, united states. Publishers weekly the drifters conveys a sense of a new time, a new generation.
Michemer probably envied my contemporaries who could travel the world so freely until i read about these experiences and the futility for most, as expressed by fairbanks. James albert michener 3 february 1907 16 october 1997 was an american author of more than 40 titles, the majority of which are novels of sweeping sagas, covering the lives of many generations in a particular geographic locale and incorporating historical facts. Aug 22, 2014 while a book like the beach did its own thing for a new generation of backpackers, the drifters has always been there for us to take along on long train rides, time at the beach, or lazy days between bar hopping, in whatever locale you could think of. In 1956, he wrote a pilot about a sailboat plying the south seas, called james michener presents a south pacific adventure, which starred lyle bettger. His first book, tales of the south pacific, derived from michener s service in the pacific in world war ii, won the 1947 pulitzer prize for fiction and was the basis for the rodgers and hammerstein broadway musical south pacific, which won the 1950 pulitzer prize for drama. Their story is one of revolt against the older generation, and an odyssey which weaves the many complex themes of a changing world. He was married to mari michener, vange nord and patti koon. Both the cover no dj and the book are in very good condition.
It is told from the perspective of a middleaged man who befriends the group and serves as a bridge between their world and that of their parents. Albert michener, born around 1907, won the pulitzer prize for his first fiction, tales of the south pacific. I joined the james michener society on facebook hoping for such a thing, but its. In search of youth in search of itself the new york times. Uncommonly good collectible and rare books from uncommonly good booksellers. The drifters is to the generation gap what the source was to israel. Micheners next book, sayonara, published in 1954, was a tender and compassionate story of the illfated love of a u. James michener full list of movies and tv shows in theaters, in production and upcoming films. Michener s writing makes these freespirited characters come alive and if you were a teen trying to find your way in the 60s, this fiction story will appeal to you. Its hard to know when fairbanks ends and when the other narrator begins. James was born on february 3, 1907 in new york, united states. Its full of people who are basically cardboard cutouts acting in a movie, spitting lines just to highlight yet. Publishers weekly in this triumphant bestseller, renowned novelist james a.
About the drifters rings with authentic detail and clearly descriptive sights and smells. A book i was reunited with recently was the drifters, written by james michener a prolific writer who seems to be lost to todays generation of readers. Philadelphia bulletin the drifters conveys a sense of a new time, a new generation. The setting of torremolinos is hard to accept as well. His first book, tales of the south pacific, derived from micheners service in the pacific in world war ii, won the 1947 pulitzer prize for fiction and was the basis for the rodgers and hammerstein broadway musical south pacific, which won the 1950 pulitzer prize. May 05, 2015 the drifters is to the generation gap what the source was to israel. James michener list of movies and tv shows tv guide. I first read the drifters in 1973 whilst living and working in amsterdam, the netherlands. Michener, the pulitzer prizewinning master of the historical saga, returns to his beloved spain with this magical novel of seville at easter time, a season of splendid pageantry, thrilling bullfights, deep pietyand the possibility of m.
Michener unfolds a powerful and poignant drama of disenchanted youth during the vietnam era. 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. The writing is frequently clumsy, such as he grabbed a machine gun, with which he was. Chicago suntimes michener has slid open a window on the world of the dropout and has spared no. Sep 06, 2016 not because the book is new, but because you are.
Micheners writing makes these freespirited characters come alive and if you were a teen trying to find your way in the 60s, this fiction story will appeal to you. I reread last year and it continues to evoke the late 1960searly 1970s for me. The permanent temptation of life is to confuse dreams with reality. The drifters was published in 1971, and thus was entirely. At the height of the vietnam war, young men had to make decisions too complicated for them know the repercussions of their actions. Despite being one of 20th century americas bestselling authors, michener has barely any online presence at all. The drifters by james michener tells the story of six young adults during the 1960s. Six young adults are the drifters of this epic of contemporary life.
By the author of hawaii, caribbean, the source and the bridges at toko ri. Really, the drifters is thinly veiled nonfiction, and understood that way we see its real strength. You are a different person this time while reading the book. Should they evade the draft, or take their chances of avoiding the. Without a doubt my favourite american classic novel has to be the drifters, by the late james michener, a truly seminal novel for anyone. A brief summary of the book poland by james michener by epicben07.
In his triumphant best seller, james michener unfolds a powerful and poignant drama of six young runaways adrift in a world they have created out of dreams, drugs. Michener was one of the worlds most popular writers, the author of more than forty books of fiction and nonfiction, including the pulitzer pri. Wh en you revisit a book, after what are decades, you read it again like a new book. I joined the james michener society on facebook hoping for such. The drifters is a novel by pulitzer prizewinning author james a. February 3, 1907 october 16, 1997 was an american author. The drifters quotes showing 112 of 12 the permanent temptation of life is to confuse dreams with reality. Micheners numerous bestselling novels also included the. While a book like the beach did its own thing for a new generation of backpackers, the drifters has always been there for us to take along on long train rides, time at the beach, or lazy days between bar hopping, in whatever locale you could think of.
681 775 841 401 463 718 257 1077 124 216 657 308 616 658 1310 1296 467 680 1357 1246 76 213 698 315 1413 300 656 1056 1084 401 508