POSEN-L Archives
Archiver > POSEN > 1999-03 > 0921518459
From: <>
Subject: Re: Fw: Fw: Re: [POSEN-L] Northern Illinois Imigration
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 12:20:59 -0500 (EST)
> On the Polish mailing list recently they have mentioned the excellence of
> Michener's historical novel on Poland . I class myself with those who
> think that Michener's books are about four times too long--but from his
To Readers of Michener's books:
That someone would consider Michner's book "excellent" and "historical"
reflects a very narrow and uncritical view of history. Michener writes
in his own intro to the book that he was selectively spoon fed
"historical" info by members of the then communist government of
Poland. If Michener's book is in any way excellent, it is because it
documents a view of Poland desired by the party bosses of the time.
Like the books of Sienkiewicz, who perhaps is Michener's alter-ego, the
value of the book lies in his ability to capture and express a popular
political view of history without digging too far beneath the surface.
While I myself was disappointed in the book's historical content, I did
find it "enlightening". It does not surprise me
that others liked it.
Regards, Joel Streich
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