- Hardcover
- Publisher: Random House Value Publishing (Nov 26 1988)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0517681854
- ISBN-13: 978-0517681855
- Product Dimensions: 22.9 x 15.2 x 2.5 cm
- Shipping Weight: 626 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Library Journal
Michener's latest combination of mam moth research, history, and fiction ex udes all the color, courage, villainy, vi olence, and independent spirit expect ed from the Lone Star state. The book's organizing principle is a governor's task force created to study the state. It is composed of stereotypical Texans: oil man, rancher, genteel descendant of Southern aristocracy, Chicano, etc. Their ancestors are Texasevery one an adventurer, from a Spanish mission ary to Scots-Irish and Germans hungry for land and freedom, to a minister sent to civilize Comanches, to Mexican ban dits and Texas Rangers. Interspersed among these sagas are task force meet ings in various Texas cities to study lo cal geography and natural historya far more accessible approach than pre vious Michener tomes that lump them in heavy opening chapters. Purists may object to the overabundance of dramat ic incidents, but they make exciting reading. Highly recommended. Cyn thia Johnson Wheall er, Cary Memorial Lib., Lexington, Mass.
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.
Review
“Fascinating.” —Time
“A book about oil and water, rangers and outlaws, frontier and settlement, money and power . . . James Michener is something rare and valuable: an honorable craftsman doing honorable work. . . . He manages to make history vivid.” —The Boston Globe
“A sweeping panorama of regional history done in the form of a novel.”—The Washington Post Book World
From the Trade Paperback edition.
“A book about oil and water, rangers and outlaws, frontier and settlement, money and power . . . James Michener is something rare and valuable: an honorable craftsman doing honorable work. . . . He manages to make history vivid.” —The Boston Globe
“A sweeping panorama of regional history done in the form of a novel.”—The Washington Post Book World
From the Trade Paperback edition.
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Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not As Popular Today As Hawaii But Good,
By
This review is from: Texas (Mass Market Paperback)
This book is among my favourites. I have read most or many of his books twice and always find them to be entertaining and educational. I keep a copy of Hawaii, Alaska, and Texas near at hand. This is a nice 1000 page historical novel that gives a very detailed picture of the evolution of the great state of Texas, now one of the most dynamic states in the USA.Michener's books use a common plot formula that starts out by telling a story that in some way reflects and utilizes accurately the actual or known historical developments and time lines and people of a region. In the present case it is about a group of people that came up from Mexico to settle in what is now Texas. It progresses through the development of the region adding in settlers, farmers, outlaws, lawmen, business people, adding in more characters and phasing out as time moves forward up to current times. When I decided to review this book I was not certain if people were still interested in buying this book but I was pleased to see that there is still interest at Amazon.com in buying and reading this great story but perhaps not quite as popular as some of his other works. Good read and a good gift. Jack in Toronto
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
AS GREAT AS THE STATE,
By
This review is from: Texas (Mass Market Paperback)
This has to be one of James Michener's greatest achievements. If this isn't his best book, it is one of his best. At 1322 pages you would think that would be enough, but with all of the topics JM touches I actually found myself wanting more.Mercifully this one does not start with the formation of the earth's crust. Instead, JM jumps into the action and begins a saga that lasts almost 500 years. From the Indians, to the Spanish Friars, to the Alamo, gunslingers, frontiersmen, immigrants, cattleman, entrepreneurs, Texas Rangers, real estate barons, King Cotton, oil men, and football. This only scratches the surface. JM follows the lives of several families from their immigration to Texas and the lives they cut out for themselves while there. Beyond fascinating. I highly recommend this book. Don't let the size of it scare you off because if is a fast read.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Makes me (more) proud to be a Texan,
By Carissa (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Texas (Mass Market Paperback)
The length (my version is 1500 pages!) did scare me at first but it far surpassed my hopes in bringing my state to life - I felt as if it were my personal history and made me proud to be a Texan, born and raised. It was informative and educational without being dull or preachy, and made me genuinely interested in the characters - both the historical and the fictional ones. Also made me a bit homesick.... all in all incredibly entertaining!!!
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