Tap cover to enlarge

The Novel

Published
Apr 1991
Main Genre
General Fiction General Fiction
Rating
Pages
448

About This Book

In this riveting, ambitious novel from James A. Michener, the renowned chronicler of epic history turns his extraordinary imagination to a world he knew better than anyone: the world of books. Lukas Yoder, a novelist who has enjoyed a long, successful career, has finished what he believes to be his final work. Then a tragedy strikes in his community, and he becomes obsessed with writing about it. Meanwhile, Yoder's editor fights to preserve her integrity—and her author—as her firm becomes the target of a corporate takeover; a local critic who teaches literature struggles with his ambitions and with his feelings about Yoder's success; and a devoted reader holds the key to solving the mystery that haunts Yoder's hometown.

BONUS: This edition includes an excerpt from James A. Michener's Hawaii.
 
Praise for The Novel
 
"Michener explores some of the deepest issues raised by narrative literature."The New York Times
 
"A good, old-fashioned, sink-your-teeth-into-it story . . . The Novel lets us see an unfamiliar side of the author, at the same time portraying the delicate, complex relationship among editors, agents and writers."The Philadelphia Inquirer
 
"Michener loves literature, and his information about some of his favorite reading is almost as alluring as his explanation of how to handle a manuscript."—Associated Press
 
"So absorbing you simply will not want [it] to end."—Charleston News & Courier

Genres & Themes

Subgenres

Buy This Book

Formats & Editions

Browse the different covers, formats, and publication history for this title.

Paperback

Paperback edition cover
Mass Market Paperback
Jul 1992 Fawcett ISBN 0449221431
Buy
Paperback edition cover
Trade Paperback
Aug 2015 Dial Press ISBN 0812986792
Buy

Hardcover

Hardcover edition cover
Hardcover
First Edition Apr 1991 Random House ISBN 0679401334
Buy

eBook

eBook edition cover
eBook
Oct 2009 Random House Trade Paperbacks ISBN B002QJZ9MM
Buy
eBook edition cover
eBook
Mar 2014 Random House ISBN 0804151555
Buy

Audio

Audio edition cover
Audio Cassette
May 1991 Random House Audio ISBN 0679402284
Buy
Audio edition cover
Audible
Aug 2015 -- Not Selected ISBN B01154C0W0
Buy
Audio edition cover
Audible
Sep 2015 Random House Audio ISBN B014JXR1HI
Buy
Audio edition cover
Audible
Sep 2015 -- Not Selected ISBN B013GFCGPC
Buy

Large Print

Large Print edition cover
Hardcover
May 1991 Random House Large Print ISBN 0679403485
Buy