In this classic novel, James A. Michener brings his grand epic tradition to bear on the four-hundred-year saga of America’s Eastern Shore, from its Native American roots to the modern age. In the early 1600s, young Edmund Steed is desperate to escape religious persecution in England. After joining Captain John Smith on a harrowing journey across the Atlantic, Steed makes a life for himself in the … the New World, establishing a remarkable dynasty that parallels the emergence of America. Through the extraordinary tale of one man’s dream, Michener tells intertwining stories of family and national heritage, introducing us along the way to Quakers, pirates, planters, slaves, abolitionists, and notorious politicians, all making their way through American history in the common pursuit of freedom.
BONUS: This edition includes an excerpt from James A. Michener’s Hawaii.
Praise for Chesapeake
“Another of James Michener’s great mines of narrative, character and lore.”—The Wall Street Journal
“[A] marvelous panorama of history seen in the lives of symbolic people of the ages . . . An emotionally and intellectually appealing book.”—The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“Michener’s most ambitious work of fiction in theme and scope.”—The Philadelphia Inquirer
“Magnificently written . . . one of those rare novels that is enthusiastically passed from friend to friend.”—Associated Press
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this is a typical James Michener book, one that the story makes you want to be a part of it. You fall in love with the location and characters and never want the story to end.
A fascinating look at the origins and history of a part of our country.
A good history of that part of America told with characters that I still think about!
Way too long. Typical Mitchner. Takes the background forever. I dug through it and enjoyed the last half of the book.
I loved learning the history of the Chesapeake Bay Area. Some of the characters are fictional but they seem real. It was interesting to read about the slavetrade and the pirates during the 1700-1800 timeframe. I hated for the book to end.
read long ago. one of my faves of his… for setting.. beautiful place.
My favorite Michener book
Very nice way to learn some history
I love history based novels and to cover 400 years in one book is amazing. I learned a lot about the struggles of people from many different backgrounds. It is eye-opening. Loved it.
Michener is always good. He really uses actual history to inform his characters. I remember reading “Hawaii” before going to Maui the first time and I was really impressed that I actually recognized places and history of the island. I knew, for instance, that Iao was a place where the royalty of the island took their dead for burial because it …
enjoyed the book; however, it was much too long for one book. Maybe
would have been better as a two book set. Lots of historical info. much
of it was factual, looked it up.
Rereading Chesapeake was like a visit from an old friend! I discovered Michener forty years ago, and read almost all of his books. I love the broad multi-generational studies he produced, combining researched history with good storylines. My paperback copy didn’t survive a move, or was lent but not returned, so when this came up on the e-book …
This was a long book and filled with history of early America. I loved it and learned a lot from it ..good and bad re: our ancestors
After the first hundred or so page’s of any Mitchner book where you get the background the story starts. And the vivid writing gives me a front row seat of the characters, places,time and situations. Just one of the great storyteller’s.
For Michenor an easy to become involve in and stay interested. Thoroughly enjoyed the story.
great read! a different look at history
Love Michener’s works; all of them. My go to reads when I am looking for an old favorite. Have read and reread Chesepeake.
Typical Michener, fantastic. I love his novels as they start at the real beginning and this was no exception. Characters live and truly tell their own story, history becomes real and entertaining. this is the way to learn your world History!
This being the second time I’ve read this book was I believe, just as good of a read as it was the first time. I have read all of Michener s novels and have never been disappointed. In Chesapeake, we learn of the intamacies in the lives of the Canada goose as well the crabs of that area. He gives history a unique and captivating twist, one not …
Even though it is fiction, Chesapeake gives real insights into American history. I enjoyed following several families of different religions and different social positions through the generations from the sixteenth century to well into the twentieth.