- Mass Market Paperback: 1078 pages
- Publisher: Fawcett (1 Mar 1986)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0449211479
- ISBN-13: 978-0449211472
- Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 3.9 x 17.5 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 961,753 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
In the grand storytelling style that is his signature, James Michener sweeps us back through time to the very beginnings of the Jewish faith, thousands of years ago. Through the predecessors of four modern men and women, we experience the entire colorful history of the Jews, including the life of the early Hebrews and their persecutions, the impact of Christianity, the Crusades, and the Spanish Inquisition, all the way to the founding of present-day Israel and the Middle-East conflict.
"A sweeping chronology filled with excitement."
THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER
"A sweeping chronology filled with excitement."
THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Really a series of stories using artefacts found on an archaeological dig as a theme and progressing to recent times. They are sentimental without being sloppy and possess an epic quality not found in more recent historical fiction. Though I found the earlier stories more interesting than the later ones I am pleased to have revisited the book in 2006, having first read it in the late 1960's. Michener's depiction of Stone Age life would probably be different if he were writing today - but this is hardly surprising.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A huge book covering the stories of many different characters. The book is episodic in nature with a story from each 'era' in the history of the area in which the archeological dig is taking place. A couple of the eras are close together, so you get an overlap of characters, but mostly they are separated by significant periods of time. In each episode, at least one character is, unknowingly, descended from the main hunter/gatherer character in the first episode - these characters always have an instinctive connection with the site. As a story-telling device it is a bit contrived but doesn't detract from the story in general.
The episodes are interspersed with the contemporary on-going story of the archeologists and others associated with the site in modern-day Israel. This means that you are pulled back and forth between historical times and today. I found this helped to break up what would otherwise have been quite a heavy read. The episodic nature also means that you get a beginning/middle/end story in a bite-size chunk which makes putting it down when you need to a lot easier.
I first read the book in the 1980's and was completely absorbed by it. I knew nothing about Jewish culture and only that 'history' which I had learnt during childhood from the Bible and, of course, the more recent events in the 20th Century. The book was an interesting introduction to Jewish culture and made me think about its origins. It was also interesting to see the parallel history of other cultures in the area, particularly Arabic, and very depressing to read of the events that occurred in 1948 when modern Israel was born. You are left feeling that the rift between Israel and the Arab states is a tragedy but almost inevitable given the religious/cultural differences and human nature on both sides. The book also describes, through the stories from each era, how this kind of conflict between different religions and cultures has been happening in the area since prehistoric times and that resolution has often been bloody and violent. Quite thought-provoking.
The book is a little dated now but still a fantastic read. I have read a few other books by Michener and this is by far my favourite.
The episodes are interspersed with the contemporary on-going story of the archeologists and others associated with the site in modern-day Israel. This means that you are pulled back and forth between historical times and today. I found this helped to break up what would otherwise have been quite a heavy read. The episodic nature also means that you get a beginning/middle/end story in a bite-size chunk which makes putting it down when you need to a lot easier.
I first read the book in the 1980's and was completely absorbed by it. I knew nothing about Jewish culture and only that 'history' which I had learnt during childhood from the Bible and, of course, the more recent events in the 20th Century. The book was an interesting introduction to Jewish culture and made me think about its origins. It was also interesting to see the parallel history of other cultures in the area, particularly Arabic, and very depressing to read of the events that occurred in 1948 when modern Israel was born. You are left feeling that the rift between Israel and the Arab states is a tragedy but almost inevitable given the religious/cultural differences and human nature on both sides. The book also describes, through the stories from each era, how this kind of conflict between different religions and cultures has been happening in the area since prehistoric times and that resolution has often been bloody and violent. Quite thought-provoking.
The book is a little dated now but still a fantastic read. I have read a few other books by Michener and this is by far my favourite.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Artefacts found at archaeological site are the basis for each section, or story of 'The Source'. The items which are unearthed provide the pivot or theme around which the each story is written - these relate to the period and lifestyle of the time when the artefact would have been used, and provide a continuous account of the dig.
The Source is a book which is fascinating, absorbing and definitely hard to put down. Although it is a lengthy novel it never palls, and I regretted when I'd reached the final chapter. I was impressed by the amount of research that had gone into producing such a book.
The characters are strong, forceful and believable; relationships are explored thoroughly yet the reader is free to form their own opinion of any/each character. Of the Michener books I've read this by far my favourite and I'm re reading it again and again since it was first published in the 1960's.
The Source is a book which is fascinating, absorbing and definitely hard to put down. Although it is a lengthy novel it never palls, and I regretted when I'd reached the final chapter. I was impressed by the amount of research that had gone into producing such a book.
The characters are strong, forceful and believable; relationships are explored thoroughly yet the reader is free to form their own opinion of any/each character. Of the Michener books I've read this by far my favourite and I'm re reading it again and again since it was first published in the 1960's.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
the source
This book is a novel but there are so many facts that I thought I was reading history. I couldn't put it down.
Published on 19 May 2010 by Mrs. A. R. Fisher
A very long, ambitious and rewarding journey through time
I have to confess I picked up my copy of The Source not from Amazon but from a tiny secondhand bookshop. Read more
Published on 12 Jan 2009 by Nigel Collier
The attachment of a people to their homeland
The Source is definitely a highly entertaining and extremely interesting work, and I never lost interest. Read more
Published on 16 Jun 2008 by Gary Selikow
fantastic reading
anyone interested in archeology ,history or just a darn good read ,this book is a must read .It tells the story of a make believe Tell or settlement in Israel ,from the beginning... Read more
Published on 21 April 2006 by M. Gregson
I could not put it down
James A Mitchener - The Sourse, an absolutely exhillerating book, although a large volumn, I found it difficult to put it down, and many chores due to be done had to be put... Read more
Published on 20 Nov 2005 by ISAACS VH
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/02/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192198663_.gif){kind=small}
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
