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PLOT INTRODUCTION Published in 1988 by Random House , ''Alaska'' is 868 pages long. Along with the reading, Michener provides a table of contents, a list of acknowledgements, and a ''Fact and Fiction'' section. The third item offers the reader an insight into what occurred in real life and what the author invented. PLOT SUMMARY Chapter I: The Clashing Terranes A sweeping, yet compelling, description of the formation of the North American continent. The reader follows the development of the Alaskan terrain over millennia. Chapter II: The Ice Castle Chapter III: People of the North Chapter IV: The Explorers Tells of the early exploration of Alaska along with "civilization's" first encounters with the native peoples. Chapter V: The Duel Chapter VI: Lost Worlds Chapter VII: Giants in Chaos Chapter VIII: Gold Tells of the chaos surrounding the Alaskan gold rush. Chapter IX: The Golden Beaches of Nome Chapter X: Salmon Describes the formation and operation of a fictional company's cannery (an Alaskan first) on the Taku Inlet. Chapter XI: The Railbelt Chapter XII: The Rim of Fire ALLUSIONS/REFERENCES TO ACTUAL HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY AND CURRENT SCIENCE Michener uses factual people or places in fictional events. He also invents characters and places like any other Novelist . ''Alaska'' is not a history textbook. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
TRIVIA Drawings and maps Throughout the novel are drawings (at the beginnings of chapters) and maps ( Frontispiece , pages 102-103, and inside back cover). There is also an amount of impressive Calligraphy . The maps are credited to Jean Paul Tremblay . Carole Lowenstein is responsible for the book's physical and calligraphy. Jacket design The jacket of ''Alaska'' features an illustration on the front and a Photograph of Michener on the back. The illustration is an Oval -shaped sketch of items easily identifiable with the state of Alaska . They include ( Clockwise ):
The photograph of James Michener, on the back cover, was taken not too long before his death in 1997 . The jacket design and aforementioned sketch are credited to Wendell Minor . Michener's picture is credited to Michael A. Lewis of the Sheldon Jackson College in Sitka, Alaska . |
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