I have not read a James Michener book for decades. And for Michener this one is tiny. Not a grand look at the history of a place, just a tale of one group of people over two years as they travel from London to the Klondike gold fields.
I was right. It was a nice light read. As much a study in character as a narrative, but one that really draws the reader in. I finished it n Saturday and all Sunday afternoon there were scenes that kept jumping into my mind...
Turns out this story is one that was originally conceived when Michener was writing his novel Alaska but was cut from that volume both for space reasons and because it really doesn't fit. After all the guiding principle used by the British noble leading the expedition down the Mackenzie in this work is to get to Dawson City without setting foot on US soil.
TO say more would lead to giving spoilers. And even though the book is almost 30 years old I don't want to give spoilers. SO I will content myself with recommending it as a good read (if it is possible to still find it that is).
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