The Fires of Spring [Paperback]

James A. Michener (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 12, 1987

"A warm-hearted, readable story, crammed with lively incident and remarkable characters."
THE ATLANTIC
David Harper was an orphan, loney and impoverished. But his longing to embrace the world that abandoned him was stronger than the harsh realities. And even though he's a con man and petty thief at a carnival, he still dreams. For it was there that David learned about love and about women--all of whom taught him the riches of himself.
Here is a rich segment of American life--a magic blend of longing and wisdom, saltiness, simplicity, and compassion.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

"A warm-hearted, readable story, crammed with lively incident and remarkable characters."
THE ATLANTIC
David Harper was an orphan, loney and impoverished. But his longing to embrace the world that abandoned him was stronger than the harsh realities. And even though he's a con man and petty thief at a carnival, he still dreams. For it was there that David learned about love and about women--all of whom taught him the riches of himself.
Here is a rich segment of American life--a magic blend of longing and wisdom, saltiness, simplicity, and compassion. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Fawcett (May 12, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345483057
• ISBN-13: 978-0345483058
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #748,619 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Rare Find, March 8, 2000

By 

"kadxman" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fires of Spring (Mass Market Paperback)

I have long been a fan of Michener's, particularly the way he brings an area to life. I picked up Fires of Spring almost as an after-thought and was completely mesmerized. It really brought home the locale (I am from the area) and kept me thoroughly entertained throughout the entire book. I could visualize exactly the life and atmosphere even though I was born much later. My copy is much dog-eared as it is one of the few books interesting enough to hold my interest again and again.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Michener at his best, May 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Fires of Spring (Mass Market Paperback)

"The Fires of Spring" tells the story of a boy growing up in Pennsylvania in the early part of the century. An early Michener effort, it is a very moving and deep story about love, friendship, enemies and life in general. It's not Michener's usual, and will be an interesting comparative read for anyone familiar with his later work.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic among classics, December 25, 2002

By 

Vivica's Views (Playa del Rey, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fires of Spring (Mass Market Paperback)

One of the finest books ever written. I would like for all readers to know about this book, because this book has the kind of depth that readers long for and cannot find amid the formulaic installment writers of this era. What is amazing is how this novel remains so vibrant 50 plus years after its release. The human interest aspect is still so poignant. The cast of characters are among the most interesting ever created and Mr. Michener does such a great job of bringing the time and place alive that you can smell it. I can't see how this was never made into a movie. From the poorhouse where he was raised by his aunt that ran the place to the funhouse where he meets a tragic prostitute that he falls in love with, David's story is a wonderful odyssey. The scene where the indigent members of the of the poorhouse pool their pennies to buy David clothing remains one of the classic moments in literature. I wish that today's writers would pick this book up before they pick up a pen and learn how to create this kind of chemistry in their books rather than just applying their formula. The only knock I have on this book, is that it lured me to read other Michener works that I found boring and longwinded. But I treasure this novel and so will you..