Caravans

( 54 )

Overview

In this romantic adventure of wild Afghanistan, master storyteller James Michener mixes the allure of the past with the dangers of today. After an impetuous American girl, Ellen Jasper, marries a young Afghan engineer, her parents hear no word from her. Although she wants freedom to do as she wishes, not even she is sure what that means. In the meantime, she is as good as lost in that wild land, perhaps ...

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Caravans

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More About This Book

Overview

In this romantic adventure of wild Afghanistan, master storyteller James Michener mixes the allure of the past with the dangers of today. After an impetuous American girl, Ellen Jasper, marries a young Afghan engineer, her parents hear no word from her. Although she wants freedom to do as she wishes, not even she is sure what that means. In the meantime, she is as good as lost in that wild land, perhaps forever....
"An extraordinary novel....Brilliant."
THE NEW YORK TIMES

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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780449213803
  • Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
  • Publication date: 12/28/1986
  • Format: Mass Market Paperback
  • Edition description: REISSUE
  • Pages: 448
  • Sales rank: 247,885
  • Product dimensions: 4.16 (w) x 6.88 (h) x 0.99 (d)

Meet the Author

James A. Michener
Part travelogue, part history, part fictional adventure, James Michener's heavily researched books edify as they entertain. He began his career with the book that would become the musical South Pacific, but he ended it as one of the century's most popular -- and prolific -- novelists.

Biography

James Albert Michener is a Pulitzer prize-winning author reknowned for his historical epics. A prolific novelist and relentless researcher, Michener wrote over books. Despite his substantial commercial success, he was known to be a humble man and a was an active philanthropist. His many beloved works include Tales of the South Pacific, which was adapted for Broadway and film as South Pacific, Hawaii and The Source.

Author biography courtesy of Random House, Inc.

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    1. Also Known As:
      James Albert Michener (full name)
    1. Date of Birth:
      February 3, 1907
    1. Date of Death:
      October 16, 1997
    2. Place of Death:
      Austin, Texas

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4
( 54 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(24)

4 Star

(14)

3 Star

(9)

2 Star

(1)

1 Star

(6)

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 54 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted May 3, 2012

    Caravans by James A. Michener is an exhilarating and mysterious

    Caravans by James A. Michener is an exhilarating and mysterious book. It dives right into the heart of the aftermath of World War II. It tells of the violence and of the struggle in everyday life. The culture of the Afghan people is woven into a story of Ellen, a young American girl living in Afghanistan. At first I thought this book was going to be all about the mystery behind Ellen’s disappearance. You soon learn that it is so much more than that. Michener has a way of describing the culture and making references while fitting it into a story. I enjoyed reading this book because you learn about the culture and habits of someone on the other side of the world while reading a story that pulls you into the book.
    This book does a great job of explaining the effects of World War II. Michener’s purpose was to tell of the accounts of the ordinary citizen of Afghanistan. I believe that Michener does a wonderful job in achieving this purpose. He has a way of getting the reader’s attention with a mystery and then slips a piece of historical information right behind it. I would certainly recommend Caravans as a great historical mystery.

    1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted March 26, 2012

    Very good reading and enlightening

    This is an excellent book for historical novel buffs. I have read many by James Michner. My favorites by him have been: Hawaii,Recessional, Chesapeak, Texas and Space. This brings you to awareness of life in Afghanistan.*****KABKAB

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 8, 2003

    Beautiful details of a beautiful people.

    I loved the book and it prepared me for my life living in western Pakistan. Every detail was true and it was wonderfull living among these colorful people. The political and tribal details were also very useful in corectly dealing with these people, in a manner useful to them and to my purposes.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted January 19, 2013

    RIVITING. Outstanding in every way. Mystery, romance, history.

    RIVITING. Outstanding in every way. Mystery, romance, history. I came across this book just before doing a tour in Afghanistan. It gave me the true insight into this country. Amazing!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted November 30, 2012

    Highly Recommended

    A great read

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  • Anonymous

    Posted September 28, 2012

    Read at all costs.

    I find myself reading his books over and over his epics seem to bring something new at each reading.

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  • Posted March 3, 2012

    An "ok" read

    This was a good story, but not up to some other Michener books I've read. Suggest you read "Chesapeake" instead!

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  • Posted March 28, 2011

    more from this reviewer

    Must Read

    In view if our present involvement in Central Asia, this novel gives a historical overview of our inability to 'conquer' these rugged, independent people. I found myself thirsty in the desert, cold at night, feeling tired and dirty after treking the high mountian passes. Michener is outstanding in his ability to pull the reader INTO the story as it unfolds.Today, the caravan passes are still in dispute. What a shame! Moreover, time has passed parts of Central Asia,and Afghanistan in particular leaving the areas as they 'always were'

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  • Posted July 5, 2010

    Another example of Michener's ability to combine interesting history with fictional story line.

    While considerably shorter in length than epic Michener novels of the past, the attention to historical and geographic detail wrapped around Michener's development of fictional characters and events is as good as any of his previous works. The story takes place in 1946, shortly after the end of WWII. Michener provides enlightenment into life, history and traditions in that country that have heightened my sensitivity about current life and traditions in that country in a way that only he can do. I recommend this book highly to readers who enjoy and appreciate Michener's mastery of the English language and his ability to bring life to history by wrapping it around a fictional story line.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 19, 2005

    Again and Again

    i first read this novel in the early seventies and fell in love with it. when i moved in the eighties i came across it, read it and fell in love with it again. i just finished reading it for the third time and realized i haven't fallen in love with it again -- i never stopped loving it. i gave it to my 20 year old son and his reaction - 'wow'. indeed.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 28, 2002

    the more things change, the more they stay the same

    I just read this book for the first time, saw it mentioned in a newspaper article. I enjoyed it more than I would have in 1963 because of the newspaper headlines today. I felt as if I knew the places mentioned in the book from hearing the names on the news reports. Anyone interested in the Afghan lifestyle will enjoy this book .

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 5, 2002

    A must-read

    In view of what is going on in Afghanistan right now, this timeless book is a must-read for anyone who tries to understand the complexity of the problems facing that country. And us, by the way....

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2001

    Timely Reading on Afghanistan

    I read CARAVANS about 20 years ago and thought it was timely and fascinating at that time. After the recent terroist attacks I re-read it. The story is set in 1946. At the end there are 'Readers Notes' telling of the changes in Afghanistan at the time this was published in 1963. Now we are back to 1946 and maybe much earlier. Gives an amazing insight into Afghanistan, the thinking and the geography.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 25, 2001

    A 'must read' by Michener

    I have read most all of James Michener's books. Caravans is one of his shortest but a fantastic read. So much that I have re-read it 5 times. I first read this book 25 years ago. You feel as if you are on the caravan with Ellen Jasper and in someways, you don't want to return. As usual, Michener causes you to feel the heat of the desert and smell the aroma of the camels. This would be a great weekend read.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted March 14, 2000

    Get Swept Away

    Easy reading for a Michener book. You'll think you're actually in Afghanistan. Characters are well developed and the story line is fast-paced. It was hard to put this book down. Definetely recommend to a friend.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 28, 2011

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted December 17, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted January 21, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted January 28, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted January 2, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

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