Centennial

A Novel

De: James A. Michener

Narrado por: Larry McKeever

Duración: 50 h y 13 m

Resumen del Editor

Written to commemorate the Bicentennial in 1976, James A. Michener's magnificent saga of the West is an enthralling celebration of the frontier. Brimming with the glory of America's past, the story of Colorado - the Centennial State - is manifested through its people: Lame Beaver, the Arapaho chieftain and warrior, and his Comanche and Pawnee enemies; Levi Zendt, fleeing with his child bride from the Amish country; and the cowboy, Jim Lloyd, who falls in love with a wealthy and cultured Englishwoman, Charlotte Seccombe. In Centennial, trappers, traders, homesteaders, gold seekers, ranchers, and hunters are brought together in the dramatic conflicts that shape the destiny of the legendary West - and the entire country.

©2014 James A. Michener (P)2015 Random House Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

"A hell of a book.... While he fascinates and engrosses, Michener also educates." ( Los Angeles Times)

"An absorbing work.... Michener is a superb storyteller." ( BusinessWeek)

"An engrossing book...imaginative and intricate...teeming with people and giving a marvelous sense of the land." ( The Plain Dealer)

Best of the Michener books in my opinion.

I don’t get other reviewers who bash Larry McKeever’s style as a reader. I’ve listened to several of Michener’s books on Audible (Hawaii, Centennial, Mexico) and I greatly prefer McKeever’s style vs Alexander Adams read ones. Maybe it’s because I’m listening to these books during my lengthy commute to work and just prefer McKeever’s voice. To me Adam’s voice sounds like a bad Richard Burton impression.

Centennial is a phenomenal read. Best of the Michener books I have read. Made me appreciate the western plains/desert. Characters are vivid and easy to like or dislike. Sad when it ended.

terrific perspective on colorado

this book gives a new view that includes all perspectives on colorado history. well worth the listen!

So glad to see Michener on Audible

I read these books in the 1970s and loved them. Really glad to see them finally on Audible.
Centennial is my first of the McKeever readings, and he does a consistent, even and easy to hear job.

The real west

Loved the story of those who lived along the South Platt from ancient times to recent history.

Great book to give a glimpse of the history of the west and Colorado

Amazing book, great narration. If you wish to lean more about America and the west and Colorado, totally recommended. Michener ability to weave epic tales about the history of a region is both enlightening and entertaining.

So good

I am in awe of how Michener sees things. My image of the world is a lot fuller now.

Engrossing Tales of the History of Colorado

As I kid I watched and enjoyed the classic mini-series adaptation of this book but I have never read or listened to it till now. It's a long, long patient book and for the most part it's highly enjoyable. Michener does not shy away from the dark parts of the story of the west, the brutal near extermination of the Native American, the oppression of Mexican immigrants, the environmental destruction, but he also does not let that be the only story of the west. I think this makes for a pretty good, fair-minded way of presenting history.

The Oregon Trail and great cattle drive sections of the book are particularly enlightening and enthralling.

As is typical of Michener, the last quarter of the book gets bogged down in a lot of dull contemporary history. Where earlier in the novel we are fording raging streams, fighting battles against the elements and various hostile and violent people, for the last few hundred pages we are deep into the subject of land use, water management, and cattle breeding. Interesting to some but hardly on par with the earlier tales. But again, that is Michener for you.

As for the much insulted Larry McKeever, our narrator, he's actually really excellent at what he does. People don't like him because they think he is trying to give a performance and failing. But McKeever is not trying to perform the book. He's reading the book and doing a solid, professional, old-fashioned job of it. Back off haters!

Important book for every American to read

My grandfather gave me this book when I was fourteen or fifteen. He thought I would enjoy it, but more than that, he clearly thought it a book that had important things to say. I couldn't understand what exactly that was at age fifteen. Now, almost forty years old, I get it. My grandfather died a few years back. When I listened to this book, I heard him speaking to me through it. A subtle but powerful book that everyone should read during a time when supposedly simple answers to complex problems are being put forward by unscrupulous people, when clear historical and scientific realities are being denied, and when "common sense" has been turned on its ear, mostly by old white men who my grandfather, also a white man, would not recognize as friendly to everyday people of whatever race or creed. This book contains not just knowledge but wisdom, a thing in short supply among a great many people who ought to know better but clearly don't. Read this book.

This book was one of the best books!

What made the experience of listening to Centennial the most enjoyable?

The reality of the scenes described in the story.

What did you like best about this story?

The creation of the planet Earth.

Have you listened to any of Larry McKeever’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

To compare this narrative too other books would be like apples to oranges.

If you could rename Centennial, what would you call it?

A Story Of Colorado,Past Present,and Future.

Any additional comments?

The ability of Mr. McKeever to relate the writings of Mr. Michener's genius,leaves little to be desired.

Great history of west

As usual with Michener slow start but engrossing with how he develops all his characters and you really feel like you are there with them. My second time through this long but totally worth it listen.