Chesapeake by james a. michener

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I initially intended to award this book 4 stars.

At the beginning, it presented an astonishing compilation of stories from throughout history. These tales were not only engaging and exciting but also highly reflective, captivating my attention from the very start.

However, as the book progressed, it took a rather unexpected turn. What was once a delightful exploration of the past ended on a tragic and depressing note.

To be quite honest, this conclusion seemed completely out of place. It left me with a sense of disappointment and a feeling that the overall tone of the book had been disrupted.

Based on my experience, I would rate this book as follows: ⭐️⭐️⭐️. It was neither great nor terrible. While the beginning was promising, the ending detracted from the overall enjoyment.

I might not read it again, but it was still an okay read. I would not strongly recommend it to others, but if they were interested in historical stories, they could give it a try and form their own opinions.

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XxShortybratxX

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I am a lifelong Maryland resident who has always resided just a stone's throw away from the Chesapeake. Therefore, this book truly resonated with me.

It is a sweeping, multigenerational narrative that showcases epic dysfunction. However, it is also an ode to a region and its very human inhabitants.

Michener writes about the environment with a poetic touch, clearly and detailedly capturing the rivers, lands, and wildlife of the Chesapeake. Regarding the families, he casts an unflinching and often uncomfortable light on the inheritance of sin, exploitation, racism, and scandal that plagues the generations of Steeds (the well-to-do), Paxmores (the middle class), Turlocks (the working class), and Caters (African Americans) who settled in the lands first discovered by a lone Susquehannock.

I am not certain if CHESAPEAKE would have the same moving effect on those who are not from Maryland as it did on me. Nevertheless, I am glad that I read it, and it will haunt me forever.

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FairyMorgaine

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I was truly loving this up until just prior to the Civil War. It was like a wonderful journey filled with excitement and interest.

However, when the Civil War era approached, it started to go downhill for me. There was simply too much politics and social commentary. It seemed as if the focus had shifted away from what I initially loved about it.

But everything before that, oh, it was just fabulous. The stories, the characters, the events - they all came together to create a truly captivating experience. It was a time when I was completely immersed in this world and couldn't get enough of it.

Unfortunately, the introduction of so much politics and social commentary during the Civil War period changed the tone and made it less enjoyable for me. But I still cherish the memories of those earlier times when it was at its best.

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Qailah0616

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

My favorite type of historical fiction is sweeping generational sagas.

Michener, to his great credit, even though the novel was penned in the 1970s, did not shy away from the harsh realities of slavery or racial inequality.

He courageously delved into these sensitive topics, painting a vivid and accurate picture of the times.

Moreover, he dedicated more time to writing about the causes that led up to the Civil War. And indeed, slavery was the root cause.

This aspect of his work I truly appreciated.

By exploring the antecedents of the war, he provided a deeper understanding of the complex issues at play.

It allowed readers to see how the institution of slavery had festered and grown, ultimately leading to the great conflict that would reshape the nation.

Michener's attention to detail and his willingness to tackle difficult subjects made his novels not only entertaining but also educational.

They offered a window into the past, enabling us to learn from history and gain a greater appreciation for the struggles and sacrifices of those who came before us.

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lazydanna

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I would give Chesapeake 5 stars if it weren't for the excessive use of the n-word throughout the second half of the novel.

I understand that Michener is attempting to depict how people spoke and thought during the era of slavery and racism. However, he could have made his point with a more sparing use of that highly offensive word. Instead, he comes across as Quentin Tarantino on a bad day.

Michener should have known better, even in the late 1970s. Language has power, and using such a derogatory term so frequently can be deeply hurtful and offensive.

Outside of this significant flaw, Chesapeake is a grand epic in the classic Michener style. The story weaves together the lives of multiple generations and explores the history and culture of the Chesapeake region.

Reading it makes me wish I could have visited the area in its prime years before that nefarious bridge. It's a shame that the book is marred by this one aspect, as it otherwise has the potential to be a truly outstanding work.

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Kyuberu

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

This is not the first book I have perused by this author.

Time and again, I am either impressed or even amazed by his profound knowledge regarding the topography, the people, and the in-depth history of the regions he writes about.

This book is no different.

The book unfolds through a series of voyages, a total of fourteen, and transports us across an astonishing four centuries.

It commences with the native tribes residing in the Choptank area of the country in the 16th century and progresses as colonists set sail from Europe.

Remarkably, he traces three families throughout this entire period: the Turlocks, a group of muskrat-like people who inhabit the swamps; the Steeds, of English ancestry who become very wealthy and noble-like; and the Paxmores, Quakers who build ships and remain as steadfast as the masts of their ships in their Quaker faith.

The story is a potent one as I found myself becoming attached to the families through familiarity.

Just like in any relationship, I didn't always care for each one equally, but I believe that's normal.

This is not a classic piece of literature in the same vein as, for instance, A Tale of Two Cities.

However, it maintains its own unique majesty by chronicling a segment of Americana in a most memorable fashion.

The memories are sometimes painful: slavery, the mistreatment of the Native American peoples, the debauchery and pollution of the pristine area, the land, and the waterways.

I particularly adored the way the author draws connections between men and nature.

Near the conclusion of the novel, one of the characters, a Steed, is a 65-year-old retired gentleman.

The author writes that the force of the earth, revolving in its passage through space, ought to carry an older man along, from year to year, making the honors he may have earned seem even more delectable due to his reunion with primal agencies.

I like to believe that, when I am 65 in five years, I will feel the same way and be carried along by the stream of time and nature in which I make my passage.

This is a powerful book, but because it accurately reflects the many avarices of the human species, it is neither easy nor painless to read.

I loved it, but for my next read, I am picking up something a little lighter, both figuratively and literally.

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SadPocky

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

In a sense, if you have perused one Michener work, you might feel as if you have experienced them all. However, this is not simply because, after all, just because you are familiar with the history of mankind in Spain (or Hawaii or Poland), it does not imply that you know it for... the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

I initiated this novel during my very first week in DC. It boasted a length of a thousand pages. It emerged as a roadblock situated between me and the subsequent book (\"I will not commence another book until I complete this!\") and I permitted it to obstruct me for over a year (I was occupied!).

Having said all that, I am delighted to have read it. I cannot envision a more enjoyable (albeit lengthy) means to acquaint myself with the entirely different reality that exists just across the eponymous bay from Washington DC. It is highly recommended for Michener enthusiasts, book lovers of all kinds, and anyone who believes they are acquainted with the topography around the nation's capital.

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DevilukeOuji

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I read 'Chesapeake' approximately thirty years ago. However, the vivid memories and its profound impact still linger with me today. In fact, if time ever allows, I intend to reread it again.

I bring up the time factor because it belongs to that genre of massive 'blockbusters', similar to 'War And Peace'. It is as hefty as a brick and once you start reading, it's impossible to put down!

In this remarkable masterpiece, James A. Michener manages to encapsulate almost the entire history of America within the microcosm of the Chesapeake Bay area. This area was once teeming with an ancient abundance of fish, herons, and geese.

From the moment when the native Indians first witnessed the 'Great Canoe' of the first settlers (who arrived as pilgrims, farmers, hunters, slaves, merchants, and watermen over the next four centuries) until the late 1970s, this mammoth novel reflects all the diversity, excitement, violence, and charisma of the burgeoning American society. This is especially evident through the turbulent stories of four fictional families, with their lives, deaths, triumphs, disasters, happiness, and sorrow.

For anyone渴望 to discover the true origins of the USA, this book is an essential read. However, it may not be suitable for the faint of heart!

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Chesapeake

james a. michener

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james a. michener

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