• Meartz, Paul D. 1997. James Michener Dead at 90, geography and the novel. Dakota Alliance November-December 1997: 1.

James Michener Dead at 90
Geography and the Novel

James Michener died of kidney failure in October at the age of 90. Michener was the author of numerous novels, but for people in our line of work he was the author of novels that never left out the contribution of geography to the character of people and the events of their lives. His novels have even been used as textbooks and additional reading in geography courses. Some of his book titles alone tell the story of his place among us: Hawaii, Poland, Chesapeake, Tales of the South Pacific, and Sayonara.

What makes his novels so special to us is the richness of his descriptive power. Hawaii (1959) begins with a fabulous description of the formation of Hawaii; from the volcanoes rising from the depths of the ocean to the population of the budding islands by migratory birds. The importance of location is never far from the plot and characters through the novel.

Then there is that personal effect on many of us. James Michener put me in geography, even into college. Following on the heels of my youthful subscription to the National Geographic, both his Pulitzer Prize winning Tales of the South Pacific and his epic Hawaii added that spark to my interest in the world and developed my desire to read. I hated reading until I read these as part of a sudden burst of summer reading around 9th grade. Without that burst, I am not sure I would have ever read more than what was required. The Geographic provided a panorama of what the world was like, Michener added that something special that made it fascinating.

My research as a professional has focused on several themes, but the most prominent has been the use of place by the media. While I have focused on the images given people via television, I always note in every presentation on this topics that novels and movies do a better job of showing place, by far. Michener is why I know this is true.

The world has lost a great writer, but his books are still waiting for us.