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Chesapeake: A Novel Paperback – September 9, 2003
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Praise for Chesapeake
“Another of James Michener’s great mines of narrative, character and lore.”—The Wall Street Journal
“[A] marvelous panorama of history seen in the lives of symbolic people of the ages . . . an emotionally and intellectually appealing book.”—The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“Michener’s most ambitious work of fiction in theme and scope.”—The Philadelphia Inquirer
“Magnificently written . . . one of those rare novels that are enthusiastically passed from friend to friend.”—Associated Press
- Print length1024 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherDial Press Trade Paperback
- Publication dateSeptember 9, 2003
- Dimensions5.6 x 1.5 x 8.3 inches
- ISBN-100812970438
- ISBN-13978-0812970432
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“[A] marvelous panorama of history seen in the lives of symbolic people of the ages . . . an emotionally and intellectually appealing book.”—The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“Michener’s most ambitious work of fiction in theme and scope.”—The Philadelphia Inquirer
“Magnificently written . . . one of those rare novels that are enthusiastically passed from friend to friend.”—Associated Press
From the Inside Flap
THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER
"Brilliantly written."
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Once again James A. Michener brings history to life with this 400-year saga of America's great bay and its Eastern Shore. Following Edmund Steed and his remarkable family, who parallel the settling and forming of the nation, CHESAPEAKE sweeps readers from the unspoiled world of the Native Americans to the voyages of Captain John Smith, the Revolutionary War, and right up to modern times.
From the Paperback edition.
From the Back Cover
THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER
"Brilliantly written."
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Once again James A. Michener brings history to life with this 400-year saga of America's great bay and its Eastern Shore. Following Edmund Steed and his remarkable family, who parallel the settling and forming of the nation, CHESAPEAKE sweeps readers from the unspoiled world of the Native Americans to the voyages of Captain John Smith, the Revolutionary War, and right up to modern times.
"From the Paperback edition.
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Dial Press Trade Paperback; Reprint edition (September 9, 2003)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 1024 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0812970438
- ISBN-13 : 978-0812970432
- Item Weight : 1.72 pounds
- Dimensions : 5.6 x 1.5 x 8.3 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #59,361 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,212 in Family Saga Fiction
- #1,421 in Mystery Action & Adventure
- #2,227 in Thriller & Suspense Action Fiction
- Customer Reviews:
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About the author

James Albert Michener (/ˈmɪtʃnər/; February 3, 1907 - October 16, 1997) was an American author of more than 40 books, the majority of which were fictional, lengthy family sagas covering the lives of many generations in particular geographic locales and incorporating solid history. Michener was known for the popularity of his works; he had numerous bestsellers and works selected for Book of the Month Club. He was also known for his meticulous research behind the books.
Michener's novels include Tales of the South Pacific for which he won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1948, Hawaii, The Drifters, Centennial, The Source, The Fires of Spring, Chesapeake, Caribbean, Caravans, Alaska, Texas and Poland. His non-fiction works include Iberia, about his travels in Spain and Portugal; his memoir titled The World Is My Home, and Sports in America. Return to Paradise combines fictional short stories with Michener's factual descriptions of the Pacific areas where they take place.
His first book was adapted as the popular Broadway musical South Pacific by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, and later as a film by the same name, adding to his financial success.
Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Photo byRobert Wilson [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.
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I have been studying James Michener as an author and reading his fiction in the order of publication. His work is very readable. Although fiction, Mister Michener clearly does a lot of research and one can learn a great deal about history by reading and studying his novels.
Having studied Mister Michener I am quite positive that he is a strong advocate of civil rights. The reason I mention this is that this novel includes a substantial narrative about slavery and civil rights. Racial nomenclature that a reader could find offensive appears many times in this novel. Due to context, I was not offended but speaking for myself, there was a significant “cringe factor” that diminished my reading enjoyment. As a parent I would allow high school aged children to read this novel, but would insist unpin close parental guidance and discussion.
In summary, I very much liked this novel. I place it near, but not at the top of James Michener novels that I have thus far read. My favorite Michener novels thus far are “Hawaii”, “Centennial”, and “Caravans”. Thank You for taking the time to read this review.
On a well lived life: “A human being, to live a meaningful life, was required to bear testimony; in prayer, in the husbandry of the home, in the conduct of public life, a man or woman must at critical moments testify publicly as to fundamental beliefs.”
On strength against adversity: “A ship, like a human being, moves best when it is slightly athwart the wind, when it has to keep its sails tight and attend its course. What is needed is a wind slightly opposed to the ship, for then tension can be maintained, and juices can flow and ideas can germinate, for ships, like men, respond to challenge.”
And he doesn’t only praise his characters… his humor shows through this work as well: “They were deficient in education. They’d gone to those chrome-and-mirror schools where procedures are taught, not principles. I doubt if any one of them had ever contemplated a real moral problem, in the abstract where character is formed.” And when describing a local pamphlet: “Its merit did not lie in its literary style, which stressed cuteness and a blizzard of exclamation points.”
I live here—he captured the spirit and the essence. Highly recommended.
Top reviews from other countries
It seems that there are new things all the time almost like he rewrote it for me. Any time I can read
Michener I feel very lucky indeed













