AMES A. MICHENER

by A. Grove ay ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 8, 1964

This rather surprising choice in the Twayne's United States Authors Series forestalls objection with the defensive opening ploy: ""Immediate and wide popularity does not necessarily brand an author as beneath criticism."" But what kind of critical criteria are to be applied to a writer who has declared that the ""function of a novelist... is to report""? It would seem rather footless to impose elements of style or to try and extract major concepts. And what kind of non-partisan evaluation can one expect from an old friend and collaborator (Rascals in Paradise) of the subject? Professor Day hasn't a critical (in any sense) comment to make. The opening chapters are biographical and deal briefly with Michener's boyhood (he however knew who his parents were), war service, three marriages. The later chapters are a precis by precis breakdown of his stories and novels, with the exception of Caravans, along with excerpts from approving book reviews.... Michener is a professional storyteller but one questions the value of this synopsis of his cevure-- not even for that high school term paper which seems unlikely to be assigned.

Pub Date: July 8, 1964

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: wayne

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 1964

Categories: NONFICTION