James a. Michener

Weltweit hat der Islam 1,6 Milliarden Anh nger. Damit ist er nach dem Christentum die zweitgr te Religion. Doch gerade im Westen gibt es viele Vorbehalte und viele Vorurteile gegen ber dem Glauben. Bereits 1955 hat der ber hmte Schriftsteller James A. Michener (1907-1997) daher den hier vorliegenden Text geschrieben. Heute ist er aktueller denn je. Das B chlein eignet sich als Einstieg, um die Herkunft und das Wesen des Islams kennenzulernen - auch als Geschenk.

The Floating World by novelist James A. Michener is a classic work on the Japanese print of the Edo period (1615-1868). Mr. Michener shows how the Japanese printmakers, cut off from revivifying contacts with the art of the rest of the world and hampered by their own governmental restrictions, were able to keep their art vital for two centuries through their vigor and determination.For this new edition, Howard A. Link updates the scholarship and expands on many theoretical aspects introduced in Michener's study.

In a thrilling collection of nonfiction adventure stories, James A. Michener returns to the most dazzling place on Earth: the islands that inspired Tales of the South Pacific. Co-written with A. Grove Day, Rascals in Paradise offers portraits of ten scandalous men and women, some infamous and some overlooked, including Sam Comstock, a mutinous sailor whose delusions of grandeur became a nightmare; Will Mariner, a golden-haired youth who used his charm to win over his captors; and William Bligh, the notorious HMS Bounty captain who may not have been the monster history remembers him as. From lifelong buccaneers to lapsed noblemen, in Michener and Day's capable hands these rogues become the stuff of legend. Praise for Rascals in Paradise "The best book about those far-scattered islands that has appeared in a long time . . . a portfolio of rare and ruthless personalities that is calculated to make the curliest hair stand straight on end."--The New York Times " Combines] research and scholarship (A. Grove Day was a professor at the University of Hawaii) with a gift for spinning a yarn and depicting character (Michener, journalist and novelist, needs no introduction)."--Kirkus Reviews

In this sweeping novel inspired by the Iran-Contra affair, master storyteller James A. Michener conjures the triumphs and tragedies of one family and their dynamic role in the history of the United States and its founding document. Over a tense weekend of reflection, Major Norman Starr of the National Security Council prepares to appear before a congressional committee to publicly account for his covert actions. Hoping to learn something from his proud, troubled heritage, Starr looks for guidance in the lives of his ancestors: all-Americans who weren't always right. From a framer of the Constitution to a slave owner, from a Supreme Court justice to a courageous suffragist, each recalls an important legacy that Starr must somehow reconcile with his own perilous dilemma. Praise for Legacy "Michener has left his own legacy. . . . He] is an educator, not just in history but in ethics, and like any good educator, he's not afraid to confront a complex world."--Edward Rutherfurd, Chicago Tribune "Michener tells interesting stories about the Constitution, even if they are fiction. He brings the document alive. . . . Each tale is told with the Michener flair."--United Press International "An impressive amount of historical drama . . . Captivating historical vignettes are] woven skillfully within Starr's talks with his loving wife and loyal attorney."--Kirkus Reviews "A revealing book . . . about the forging of the Constitution and the crises that shaped it."--Associated Press

James A. Michener, the acclaimed author of sweeping historical blockbusters, chronicles his personal involvement in one of the most dramatic elections of the twentieth century: the presidential race between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon. A relative newcomer to politics, Michener served as the Democratic chairman in his native Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in a rural battleground precinct where the major controversies of the day--notably Kennedy's Catholicism--brought cultural divides to the forefront. First published shortly after the 1960 election, Report of the County Chairman remains an intimate, gripping account of the power of grassroots political involvement. Praise for Report of the County Chairman "A candid account of the Kennedy/Nixon campaign."--The Philadelphia Inquirer "Fascinating . . . The personalities are vividly and vigorously sketched--the workers, the volunteers, the hatchet men, the pros and . . . key figures on the barnstorming tour."--Kirkus Reviews "Instructive . . . Anti-Catholicism was not just a Southern problem. In Pennsylvania, accounts of increasing anti-Catholicism were widespread. No one documented this sentiment more clearly than famed Pennsylvania novelist James Michener."--The Morning Call (Allentown, Pennsylvania)

Showcasing the evocative artwork created by John Moll for this special edition, James A. Michener's The Watermen is a unique tribute to the adventurous seafarers of the Chesapeake Bay. Excerpted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning author's classic Chesapeake, this enthralling novel has a unity and a spirit all its own, telling the story of the bay and its wildlife, but especially of the watermen, from their favorite pastimes to their rivalries in hunting, oystering, racing, and fighting. Gorgeously illustrated, brilliantly conceived, The Watermen is a narrative and visual feast from one of America's favorite storytellers. 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 is enthusiastically passed from friend to friend."--Associated Press

In this eye-opening nonfiction account, world-renowned author James A. Michener details the reckless gamble U.S. voters make every four years: trusting the electoral college. In 1968, Michener served as a presidential elector in Pennsylvania. What he witnessed that fall disturbed him so much that he felt compelled to expose the very real potential in this system for a grave injustice with history-altering consequences. Incorporating the wide-ranging insight and universal compassion of Michener's bestselling novels, Presidential Lottery is essential reading for every American concerned about the ever-growing rift between the people and the political process. Praise for Presidential Lottery "Clear, concise, and sensible . . . a thoughtful book on how Americans choose their President."--The New York Times "An urgent appeal."--Kirkus Reviews

James A. Michener, the Pulitzer Prize-winning 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 piety--and the possibility of miracles. An American sports journalist has come to the city to report on efforts by the rancher Don Cayetano Mota to revive his once-proud line of bulls. Not only does Mota pray to the Virgin Mary, but he takes on herculean acts of devotion during the solemn celebrations of Holy Week. With treacherous enemies waiting in the ring, Mota's struggle taps deeply into life's mysteries, shaking the newspaperman's skepticism and opening his eyes to the wonder of faith. Featuring illustrations by the American bullfighter John Fulton, Miracle in Seville is Michener at his most dazzling. Praise for Miracle in Seville "Eloquent . . . a vintage demonstration of Michener storytelling . . . What emerges most strongly is the real admiration and awe that lovers of bullfighting feel for the toro bravo."--The New York Times Book Review "Compelling . . . told with an understanding of and appreciation for a culture where matadors are artists and miracles are possible."--Chicago Tribune

In this remarkable novel, Pulitzer Prize-winning author James A. Michener draws on his unparalleled gift for storytelling, his deep understanding of American society, and his own life experiences to illuminate the challenges of aging and the folly of youth. As the new director of a Florida retirement home known as the Palms, Andy Zorn suffers no shortage of loving support from his "elders," a group of five passionate, outspoken residents. Still, Andy's shortcomings tear him apart. But when he meets an extraordinary young woman who has been forced to rebuild her life after suffering crippling injuries, he finds himself falling in love. And with a few gentle jabs from his more mature friends, he discovers a wonderful new purpose in life. Praise for Recessional "The best moments in the novel occur when the characters disclose what's in their hearts and minds with rueful, snappy humor."--The New York Times Book Review "Michener hooks you with wonderfully humorous scenes. These are then interwoven between the moments of pain and heartache brought about by life choices we all must make."--Tulsa World "Engaging . . . One will be drawn into the novelist's world. . . . The lush natural setting provides James Michener plenty to show and tell."--The Washington Times

In this riveting, ambitious novel from James A. Michener, the renowned chronicler of epic history turns his extraordinary imagination to a world he knew better than anyone: the world of books. Lukas Yoder, a novelist who has enjoyed a long, successful career, has finished what he believes to be his final work. Then a tragedy strikes in his community, and he becomes obsessed with writing about it. Meanwhile, Yoder's editor fights to preserve her integrity--and her author--as her firm becomes the target of a corporate takeover; a local critic who teaches literature struggles with his ambitions and with his feelings about Yoder's success; and a devoted reader holds the key to solving the mystery that haunts Yoder's hometown. Praise for The Novel "Michener explores some of the deepest issues raised by narrative literature."--The New York Times "A good, old-fashioned, sink-your-teeth-into-it story . . . The Novel lets us see an unfamiliar side of the author, at the same time portraying the delicate, complex relationship among editors, agents and writers."--The Philadelphia Inquirer "Michener loves literature, and his information about some of his favorite reading is almost as alluring as his explanation of how to handle a manuscript."--Associated Press "So absorbing you simply will not want it] to end."--Charleston News & Courier

From a great master of historical fiction comes a brilliant tale of love amid war. James A. Michener combines powerful storytelling with gentle sensitivity in this novel of a U.S. army man who falls for a fascinating Japanese woman against all odds. Major Lloyd Gruver considers himself lucky. The son of an army general, dating the daughter of another powerful military family, his future looks impossibly bright. Stationed in beautiful, exotic Japan, he just can't understand guys like Private Joe Kelly, who throws away his life in the States by marrying one of the local girls. Then Lloyd meets Hana-ogi. After that, nothing matters anymore . . . nothing but her. Praise for James A. Michener "A master storyteller . . . Michener, by any standards, is a phenomenon."--The Wall Street Journal "Sentence for sentence, writing's fastest attention grabber."--The New York Times "Michener has become an institution in America, ranking somewhere between Disneyland and the Library of Congress. You learn a lot from him."--Chicago Tribune "While he fascinates and engrosses, Michener also educates."--Los Angeles Times

Already a renowned chronicler of the epic events of world history, James A. Michener tackles the most ambitious subject of his career: space, the last great frontier. This astounding novel brings to life the dreams and daring of countless men and women--people like Stanley Mott, the engineer whose irrepressible drive for knowledge places him at the center of the American exploration effort; Norman Grant, the war hero and U.S. senator who takes his personal battle not only to a nation, but to the heavens; Dieter Kolff, a German rocket scientist who once worked for the Nazis; Randy Claggett, the astronaut who meets his destiny on a mission to the far side of the moon; and Cynthia Rhee, the reporter whose determined crusade brings their story to a breathless world. Praise for Space "A master storyteller . . . Michener, by any standards, is a phenomenon. Space is one of his best books."--The Wall Street Journal "A novel of very high adventure . . . a sympathetic, historically sound treatment of an important human endeavor that someday could be the stuff of myth, told here with gripping effect."--The New York Times Book Review "Space is everything that Michener fans have come to expect. Without question, the space program's dramatic dimensions provide the stuff of great fiction."--BusinessWeek "Michener is eloquent in describing the actual flights into space, as well as the blazing, apocalyptic re-entry of the shuttle into earth's atmosphere."--The New York Times From the Paperback edition.

James A. Michener, the master of historical fiction, revisits the scenes of his first great work, Tales of the South Pacific, the Pulitzer Prize winner that brought him international acclaim. In this sequel collection, Michener once again evokes the magic of the extraordinary isles in the Pacific--from Fiji and Gaudalcanal to New Zealand and Papua New Guinea--through stories that burst with adventure, charm, and local color. For Michener's many fans around the globe, Return to Paradise is a precious second look at a land of enchantment by one of the most gifted storytellers of the twentieth century. Praise for Return to Paradise "A brilliant book and a worthy successor to Tales of the South Pacific."--The Atlanta Constitution "This is a book that should be read by everyone. . . . All who have seen the South Pacific will find on every page the odors of frangipani, copra, blood, and beer."--The New York Times "There's drama and pathos and adventure and humanity . . . and a very high degree of excellence. Michener can write."--Kirkus Reviews

The Bridge at Andau is James A. Michener at his most gripping, the classic nonfiction account of a doomed uprising as searing and unforgettable as any of his bestselling novels. For five brief, glorious days in the autumn of 1956, the Hungarian revolution gave its people a glimpse at a different kind of future--until, at four o'clock in the morning on a Sunday in November, the citizens of Budapest woke to the shattering sound of Russian tanks ravaging their streets. The revolution was over. But freedom beckoned in the form of a small footbridge at Andau, on the Austrian border. By anaccident of history it became, for a few harrowing weeks, one of the most important crossings in the world as the soul of a nation fled across its unsteady planks.

One of the premier novelists of the twentieth century, James A. Michener captures a frenzied time when sane men and women risked their very lives in a forbidding Arctic land to win a dazzling and elusive prize: Yukon gold. In 1897, gold fever sweeps the world. The promise of untold riches lures thousands of dreamers from all walks of life on a perilous trek toward fortune, failure--or death. Journey is an immersive account of the adventures of four English aristocrats and their Irish servant as they haul across cruel Canadian terrain toward the Klondike gold fields. Vivid and sweeping, featuring Michener's probing insights into the follies and grandeur of the human spirit, this is the kind of novel only he could write. Praise for Journey "Stunning . . . Michener at his best."--Houston Chronicle "Michener brings sharply into focus the hardships encountered by those who dreamed of striking it rich."--Associated Press "Michener has amassed a peerless reputation as the heralded dean of the historical tome. . . . Journey is a book that envelops the reader in an atmosphere of hazardous escapades."--Richmond Times-Dispatch "Remarkable . . . superb literature."--The Pittsburgh Press From the Hardcover edition.

In one of his beloved early bestsellers, Pulitzer Prize-winning author James A. Michener crafts a tale of the American men who fought the Korean War, detailing their exploits in the air as well as their lives on the ground. Young and innocent, they arrive in a place they have barely ever heard of, on a ship massive enough to carry planes and helicopters. Trained as professionals, they prepare for the rituals of war that countless men before them have endured, and face the same fears. They are American fighter pilots. Together they face an enemy they do not understand, knowing their only hope for survival is to win. Praise for The Bridges at Toko-Ri "A vivid and moving story, as well as an exciting one . . . The humanity of the people is deeply felt."--Chicago Tribune "The Banshees screaming over Korea, the perilous landings on an aircraft carrier deck 'bouncing around like a derelict rowboat, ' a helicopter rescue from the freezing waters . . . all are stirringly rendered."--The Denver Post "Michener's best . . . a story of action, ideas, and civilization's responsibilities."--Saturday Review

In this triumphant bestseller, renowned novelist James A. Michener unfolds a powerful and poignant drama of disenchanted youth during the Vietnam era. Against exotic backdrops including Spain, Morocco, and Mozambique, he weaves together the heady dreams, shocking tribulations, and heartwarming bonds of six young runaways cast adrift in the world--as well as the hedonistic pursuit of drugs and pleasure that collapses all around them. With the sure touch of a master, Michener pulls us into the private world of these unforgettable characters, exposing their innermost desires with remarkable candor and infinite compassion. Praise for The Drifters "A blockbuster of a book . . . full of surprise, drama, and fascination."--Philadelphia Bulletin "Rings with authentic detail and clearly descriptive sights and smells . . . The Drifters is to the generation gap what The Source was to Israel."--Publishers Weekly " The Drifters] conveys a sense of a new time, a new generation."--Chicago Sun-Times "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."--The Salt Lake Tribune