Many of Michener's books offer an introduction to an exotic locale with which the reader is not yet familiar.

This novelty of setting is precisely the reason that many of Michener's books have been adapted to film. By filming on location, cinematographers can create a product that not only tells a story but which has some characteristics of a travelogue. Since the 1970s, the American public has been quite familiar with the mini-series, a kind of film made for television that lasts six or more hours and which is broadcast over a period of several consecutive days. The format of the mini-series, especially its sheer length, seems peculiarly suited to Michener's epic tomes. Michener's books are so long that they must be abridged to fit even the protracted length of the mini-series. However, because Michener sacrifices artistry to history in his writing, filmmakers can adapt and cut his...