Monday, July 25, 2016

Centennial



I just returned from a wonderful road trip from Colorado to the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state, traveling through WY, UT, ID, and OR along the way.  Enroute we listened to most of Centennial, by James Michener, having started it on a road trip in May.  It did take two road trips because it's a long book, over a 1000 pages in the mass market paperback version I have on my shelf.

It was first published in 1974, anticipating the 100th anniversary of Colorado's statehood and the 200th anniversary of the USA's nationhood in 1976.  It is dated, with some quaint bits explaining how cassette players work in cars and the use of the term Chicano, which I haven't really heard much in about 20 years.

Centennial is a framed story, which I wasn't expecting.  The idea is that the first-person narrator is a historian, hired by a magazine to vet the research done by its staff on an article series on the Platte River, and its role in the shaping of Colorado.  The historian visits the fictional town of Centennial, which was located north of Greeley and east of Fort Collins, on the Colorado prairie, and sends back chapters that tell the story of Centennial, in his own words and based on his own research. It's a cute premise, and one that reflects what I know about how Michener set about writing his own massive novels--a team of researchers who put together the material that he drew from to create his own narrative.

As with most Michener works, Centennial begins with the formation of the earth and we get stories about the dinosaurs, prehistoric horses, bison, beavers, snakes, and eagles, all before Michener gets around to the human inhabitants of the land we know as Colorado.  Then, he describes the various tribes of Native Americans, focusing in on "Our People," the Arapaho, who lived in the part of Colorado where I live.  I loved hearing about Lame Beaver and his wife Blue Leaf and their daughter, Clay Basket, who married the two trappers who ventured into Arapaho lands to hunt and trade.  As a native Coloradan, I know the geography well that Michener describes, even though he changed many place names.

The rest of the story, from the trapper days to the present, was structured around real events and real people that Michener renamed and reformed to suit his story arcs.  For example, he moved the Sand Creek Massacre from southern Colorado to the northeastern plains.  Once I stopped protesting and accepted the fact that Centennial was pure fiction inspired by history, I enjoyed it.  My favorite character was Ellie Zendt, Levi's first wife, followed closely by Charlotte Lloyd, the British heiress who fell in love with the Colorado prairie and found Bristol boring by comparison!

Believe it or not, I've never actually watched all of the TV series (one of the first mini-series to come out), so I will be embarking on that project tonight.  But taking it slowly.  I know that the production values are as dated as Michener's narrative, but it is a veritable cast of 1970's stars, which should be loads of fun to see again).





10 comments:

  1. I've always wanted to read and watch this and never have. It looks like I'm missing a great saga. I loved John Jakes's family sagas, but for some reason, I never read any of James Michener's books. Have you read the two authors - how do they compare?

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    1. I like Michener better--I've only read North and South by Jakes, but I thought it pretty melodramatic, whereas Michener is more realistic.

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  2. I read several James Michener books a very long time ago. They really are unique and enjoyable novels.

    I also have never seen the mini - series.

    The framed story aspect of this one sounds particularly interesting.

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  3. I have never read any Michener, but all his books are at least 1000 pages, right? Yikes! I think you will have a blast watching the mini series. I have just seen bits and pieces of it, but I agree, the parade of 70’s stars (Robert Conrad!) will be fabulous, if nothing else.

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  4. I started Michener's novel on Hawaii long ago but dont think I ever finished. I'd like to try that one again. I didnt realize there was a mini-series on Centennial. Let us know if it's any good.

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  5. This is my favorite of Michener's books (though I haven't read them all, by a long shot). Ellie is such a great character! And you know, he really made me care about the diplodocus - I think of him every time I see that word (and when I see the model skeleton in our local museum). I think every book of his starts with the cooling of the earth's crust :)

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    1. Yes, I loved that sweet diplodocus too! And the fight between the eagle and the snake was epic!

      I've also read The Source, which I loved, and I have Chesapeake on my TBR shelf.

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  6. I'm glad you included the stills collage from the mini-series. Robert Conrad was a very good choice for this story, I'm guessing. I was a fan of The Wild, Wild West as a child, before Star Trek stole my heart. :) I'm glad the Michener book was such a perfect companion for your trip, and connected with some of the Native American culture of your part of Colorado. I have visited Mesa Verde, but I'm thinking that must be further south? I know they were more like Pueblo tribes, whereas Arapaho are akin to the Cheyenne, I see from Wiki. Your review also makes me want to break open my next Michener, probably The Source.

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    1. Yes, Mesa Verde is in the extreme southwest corner of Colorado, and the Anasazi who lived there are the ancestors of today's Pueblos.

      I really liked The Source and would reread it anytime!

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  7. I do remember watching the mini-series (although I can't remember much about it) but I've never read the book. Been looking for another Michener book to pick up soon; this one sounds like a good journey.

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