The film adaptation of the same name starred the iconic Grace Kelly and William Holden. Michener, himself, served as a United States Navy officer and writes a great deal of this novel from his professional experience. Return to Paradise picks up where Tales of the South Pacific leaves off and is yet another collection of short stories that depict life in the South Pacific in the late 1940s: a great read and a welcome return to an evocative and exciting narrative.Īnother of Michener’s novels to be made into a movie, this book details the Korean war and focuses on Navy pilots. If you loved Tales of the South Pacific, you’ll be glad to know that there is a sequel. What makes this one such an enjoyable read is the engaging multiple characters and the riveting tales of human interaction across cultures. The book is not only based on true facts of World War II, but also on his own experiences while stationed in the New Hebrides Islands.

It was adapted for the stage as the Rodgers and Hammerstei n musical South Pacific. Michener is well known for this tome, and it won him his Pulitzer Prize. These are ten of his biggest and best books of all time. They will also make long layovers, lazy beach weekends, and stretches of time disappear in a sea of historical fascination. His books are strong narratives that take an intimate look at the human experience through the lens of historical events and times now past. Michener is well known for his historical fiction, in-depth research, and lengthy volumes.

The Source by James A. Michener