Centennial

A Novel

By: James A. Michener

Narrated by: Larry McKeever

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

Critic reviews

"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)

A walk through history

What did you love best about Centennial?

Listening to this story unfold was like taking a leisurely summer stroll through the history of part of the American west with a favorite old uncle describing everything you see.

What did you like best about this story?

The story really makes history come alive in this story. You fall in love with each and every character. Even down to the buffalo, you become a part of their lives, you feel their pain ans share their joys. You see and feel living in America from a different perspective, it can be eye opening.

What does Larry McKeever bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Larry McKeever did an excellent job of making you feel as if you were a part of the history as it unfolded, as if you were standing on the sidelines watching.

Any additional comments?

James A. Michener has a way of making history so interesting that you could almost wish you lived in the times so that you would feel everything as it evolved. This is a long story and wort every minute that is invested in listening.

A part of this community

Never having been close to vicinity of Centinial Colorado, this book has made me feel a part of the community!
I am now proud of the people who have dominated the area through time.
At first I wondered if I would continue in the thorough exhaustive story from dinosaur times, but soon I couldn’t wait to know the next sentence!

Great listening--sometimes need the written book

I loved listening to the story of the state I live in. I now need to find the book to see if Michener included maps of the old towns. Otherwise I need to some research.

Fascinating history

It was interesting to listen to an account of Colorado's past that is itself a voice from the past.

Michener honors the point of view of  each of his characters, compelling the reader to be carried along in the current of time, witness to innovation, ignorance, folly, triumph, tragedy, love, cruelty, pathos and perseverance.

The narrator's voice was difficult for me to get used to. Eventually the low-key, not-quite-monotone voice became familiar and was no longer the minor distraction it had been. Listen to a sample.

history is amazing and sad

this book reminds me of all the North American Continent. I know time change and some happens are unstoppable. Life as a pioneer was hard and life is what you make of it. This book made me think that every time I drove from Iowa to Colorado I missed an entire way of life.

outstanding

starts very slow but becomes one you have a hard time putting down while teaching history

American history at its best

I am a fan of centennial movie and now the book ; I watch this episodes every year for the past 20 or so on VHS and now DVD I will buy my third copy since the DVD is now wearing away !It was exciting to hear the audio version that filled in all the gaps that were not present in the video and there are some versions that did not match the
Story line played on the video this is why it’s so crucial to read or listen to epics of great volume to get the whole complete story!Nacho Gomez who was the cook on the Schumer horn cow drive had a small part in the audio version but was in a good part in the video version! The video version played up the beginning version first and had more detail about Pasknal and MCKeeg and the trust they made with the different band of Indians! Most of these stories are about real encounters of people from that era but the names were different and some places were not were they were depicted in the story! This book was a well researched and written saga which after listening to it twice I will add it to my yearly watching and listing !😎

Eye Opening Perspective of Native Americans

Michener does it again. From start to finish, this tale is captivating. I
always feel immersed his books. But this one one more than all his others.The plight of Native Americans becomes real from its poignant beginning to modern day America. It made me re-think so much of our collective history.

excellent history lesson

I know Colorado well from more than 50 years of visits and friends, but this book has enlighten me to a history that I was only vaguely aware of. Excellent read.

Magnificent performance of a magnificent story

This saga is captivating from the very first chapter. The landscape and characters are woven into a rich tapestry of the American west.
Larry McKeever’s performance is perfection and lets Michener’s story unfold without distraction.