POLAND

Rating:
Summary: An incredible view into Eastern European life.
Review: Exactly the type of book that every American should read. Finely written; a gripping drama that provides the rich, detailed history of one of the most misunderstood countries in the modern world. It will change the way you feel about Poland, her people, and her neighbors. Michener proves again his amazing ability to weave a rich tapestry blending historical fact with fictional drama that will leave you breathless in its splendor.

Rating:
Summary: Great read...but stunningly historically inaccurate.
Review: Excellent book. Couldn't put it down once I started reading it. For those interested in European history, I highly recommend this.

Rating:
Summary: Poland, I hardly knew ye...
Review: I am a third-generation Polish American; my grandparents, the Kulwickis and Schmidts, disseminated little of their family and cultural history to their children in the effort to assimilate in this country. I knew next to nothing about them, where they came from, and what would be appealing about sailing halfway across the world to a place where they would be mocked and marginalized. Michener's work helped me reclaim my heritage, take pride in what I came from, and added to my nagging suspicion that the Germans and Russians have always been just a bunch of bullies. Beautiful work; ambitious, thorough and engaging.

Rating:
Summary: A good book but not a great book
Review: I compare this book to Noah Gordon's 'The Physician', which I found fantastic. I felt Michener's book just wasn't as good. Michener's characters just weren't that real. And his elaborate detailed descriptions of food and clothing annoyed me. What I liked best were his descriptions of the battles. Sobieski and the defeat of the Turks at Vienna captivated me. But even that somehow came across as a legend rather than as realistic history. The chapter on love and arranged marriages was very interesting. I guess my main criticism is that this book came across like the movie 'Braveheart'; which I wished were closer the the Britannica version of the Scottish hero. But I did feel that I learned a great deal from reading Michener's book - it did put Poland on the map for me.

Rating:
Summary: Stunningly Historical Inaccuracy- but Great Fiction
Review: I rate this book with 5 stars because it is Great Fiction. It is not written by a historian and is not meant to be taken seriously as historical accurate account. It is written by a popular travel fiction writer. Remember this throughout the book. Take Micheners sources into account and the era of the ruling communists at the time he wrote this. He wanted to make the Polish people (under communist occupation and abroad) fell good.

Another reviewer from WA, USA noticed Michener's Stunningly Historical Inaccuracy at the Polish Conquest of Ukraine in the 1920's. The whole book by Michener is full of these inaccuracies, but after all, do not forget this is fiction, not accuracy.

Michener only echoed the Phantastic Fiction that was spoonfed to him by his hosts.

For some actual Polish History read "A Concise History of Poland" by Jerzy Lukowski and Hubert Zawadzik.

Rating:
Summary: A Rousing read and remarkable historically accurate.
Review: I read this book after I had just finsihed a university course on the history of Poland. I was shocked at how historically accurate this work was. Michener definetly did his homework on this one. Even better it is extremely well-written. Despite the fact that I knew the history and therefore the outcomes of many of the events he was describing the detail which he gives to his character's lives as you follow a family history through time is riveting. I could barely put it down. If you can only read one of his books I highly recommend Poland.

Rating:
Summary: A Rousing read and remarkable historically accurate.
Review: I read this book after I had just finsihed a university course on the history of Poland. I was shocked at how historically accurate this work was. Michener definetly did his homework on this one. Even better it is extremely well-written. Despite the fact that I knew the history and therefore the outcomes of many of the events he was describing the detail which he gives to his character's lives as you follow a family history through time is riveting. I could barely put it down. If you can only read one of his books I highly recommend Poland.

Rating:
Summary: Michener's Poland
Review: I think most of Michener's books are interesting reads. Basically, I like them because I usually don't know the country - or region - described, the people that inhabits it, and its history. Michener is a master of concise and informative description, portraying landscapes and historical facts in such a way that it's easy for the reader to see it in his or her mind. Although by the concept of his books his characters are not that well developed and tend to be kind of ephemerous, the stories and sub-plots are always compelling and even thrilling, if somewhat slow. "The source" is one of my all-time favorites, a book that I read once every few years.

In "Poland", Michener tells the history of one of the most conturbated and affected european countries. At times, Poland did not even exist. Dominated by neighbours Austria, Germany and Russia, the polish people couldn't always say they had a free nation, but they always fought to mantain their identity and their culture.. Michener shows that, and much more.

"Poland" was not my favorite Michener book, but a great read nonetheless.

Grade 8.0/10


Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT BOOK ABOUT THE HISTORY OF POLAND!!!!
Review: James A. Michener has done it again! He has written a great novel which takes in consideration the REAL history of Poland (not the Jewish/American version!!). From Poland's early struggle for survival to the beginnings of the Solidarity movement(the book is from 1983 so it was only the beginning)The 1 point lost in the ratings is due to the lack of precise details about the world war 2 scenario for Polish History. It talks about the concentration camps a lot but totally ignores any facts like Britain's nelgection to help Poland (although there WAS an alliance) or Poland's brave stand at Westerplate(where the war started).

Rating:
Summary: not a mere novel, but an experience
Review: James A. Michener's "Poland" is a historic fiction that spans eight hundred years. The story of three families is recounted from the 1200s to the 1980s. These families include the wealthy noble (Lubonski), poor gentry (Bukowski), and the peasant (Buk). Although it was hard for me to leave some of the characters behind as time moved on, the new ones in the next period turned out to be just as interesting.

It is an interesting experience to read about how these three families developed through history and one gains a larger perspective on how families could progress to get to their present state.

This book is amazing because it reads easy like a novel, but also includes a great deal of history throughout the entire book. The reader becomes acquainted with nearly a thousand years of the colorful history of Poland. The details of the history of Poland are horrific, to the point that you wish they did not happen. I kept reminding myself that these events described, or ones similar to them, did happened. In the 800 years covered in the book, Poland was invaded by nearly all her neighbors. Among the many invaders, there were the Germans from the west, Russians from the east, Swedes from the north, and Austrians from the south, as well as invaders from more distant lands such as the Turks and Tartars. Important battles in Poland's history, such as Grunwald (1410), are described in detail.

If I had known how good this book was, I would have read it much sooner. This book is not a mere novel, but an experience.