Michener has been called the literary descendent of historical novelists such as Galdos, Balzac, Zola, and Dos Passos. The extended length of Michener's books suggests that he has a panoramic view of history. Indeed, Michener reads and researches without taking notes, so his recounting of history necessarily must be broad and sweeping as he writes from recall. Because of the vast scope of Michener's books, they lack the rigor and attention to detail of scholarly history. On the other hand, Michener's presentation of history is more important than characterization and other artistic nuances in his novels. Michener's appeal lies in his ability to narrate a locale's history in a way that is comprehensive, instructional, and entertaining.

Michener's version of history is usually educational and moralistic. In The World Is My Home: A Memoir (1992), Michener writes that his research tools are a history of the world, an...