Creatures of the Kingdom, James A. Michener
Creatures of the Kingdom, James A. Michener
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Creatures of the Kingdom
Stories of Animals and Nature

Author: James A. Michener

Narrator: David Ackroyd

Unabridged: 11 hr 1 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 11/01/2016


Synopsis

In sixteen wonderful stories, Pulitzer Prize–winning author James A. Michener burrows deep into the secret lives of animals and the hidden world of nature. Here he sheds light on nature’s most awesome and beguiling handiwork, from the sublime shaping and reshaping of earth’s lands and seas to a ridiculous armadillo’s assault on a bit of Texas real estate that paid off handsomely. Handpicked from Michener’s most popular books, these mini-masterpieces are imbued with the music of the spheres and the heartbeat of creation.
 
Praise for Creatures of the Kingdom
 
“[Creatures of the Kingdom contains] the dramatic elements of a life—the wonder of birth, rites of passage, lots of conflict, much of it physical and bloody, and death. . . . As characters in a James Michener novel, a beaver can know loneliness, a buffalo can bide his time, a salmon can feel encouraged, and a woolly mammoth can ‘luxuriate’ in the ecological rewards of a plains fire.”—Boston Sunday Herald
 
“Dramatic . . . enthralling . . . expertly crafted . . . Michener treats each of these creatures with fundamental respect, and in many cases, admiration and awe, if not outright love.”—The Virginian-Pilot
 
“Anyone who has read a James Michener novel knows that it’s a learning experience as well as an adventure.”—The Sacramento Bee
 
“Delightful . . . nature writing at its most fluid and involving.”—Booklist

About The Author

James A. Michener was one of the world’s most popular writers, the author of more than forty books of fiction and nonfiction, including the Pulitzer Prize–winning Tales of the South Pacific, the bestselling novels The Source, Hawaii, Alaska, Chesapeake, Centennial, Texas, Caribbean, and Caravans,and the memoir The World Is My Home. Michener served on the advisory council to NASA and the International Broadcast Board, which oversees the Voice of America. Among dozens of awards and honors, he received America’s highest civilian award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, in 1977, and an award from the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities in 1983 for his commitment to art in America. Michener died in 1997 at the age of ninety.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Arlene on March 28, 2011

I finished Creatures of the Kingdom. It was a collection of animal stories, mostly from his longer books. There were stories from Alaska, Centennial, Chesapeake, The Covenant, Hawaii and Texas. I recognized several of the stories. I think my favorite was the last story, "the Colonel and Genghis Khan......more

Goodreads review by Marygrace on January 08, 2013

Like visiting an old friend. I read quite a few Michener book in the past. This book I got from the parents grab bag. The title caught my attention. It is a bunch of short stories that are taken from his other books. Some I had read and enjoyed revisiting. The beginning of his books he goes thru geo......more

Goodreads review by Ethan on September 11, 2024

3 stars. One for the beaver chapter, one for the hyena, and one for the geese. The other chapters were just uninteresting but those three were delightful.......more

Goodreads review by Pa on March 31, 2011

Selections about animals and nature from various of Michener's novels. Some are fairly good. Others are rather dated. The dinosaur story (though presumably OK at the time it was written) is now seriously outdated and inaccurate (in light of our current knowledge).......more

Goodreads review by Beakerkin on October 16, 2010

It is an excellent book for kids. I read all of the stories in their original. There is one classic bonus story that does not appear anywhere else. It is actually the most memorable in the set.......more


Quotes

“[Creatures of the Kingdom contains] the dramatic elements of a life—the wonder of birth, rites of passage, lots of conflict, much of it physical and bloody, and death. . . . As characters in a James Michener novel, a beaver can know loneliness, a buffalo can bide his time, a salmon can feel encouraged, and a woolly mammoth can ‘luxuriate’ in the ecological rewards of a plains fire.”Boston Sunday Herald
 
“Dramatic . . . enthralling . . . expertly crafted . . . Michener treats each of these creatures with fundamental respect, and in many cases, admiration and awe, if not outright love.”The Virginian-Pilot
 
“Anyone who has read a James Michener novel knows that it’s a learning experience as well as an adventure.”The Sacramento Bee
 
“Delightful . . . nature writing at its most fluid and involving.”Booklist