Rating: 
Summary: Truth is stranger than fiction
Review: Now I'm not saying that all of what Michener prints is truth, but the twists and turns in this book were stupendous. Like 'Texas', you could tear any 100 pages out of the book and it'd make for a great read. I have to admit, the book really made me want to visit South Africa sometime.
Rating: 
Summary: If only my History teachers were like Mr. Michener...
Review: Nowadays we hardly see an author's commitment with his project as James Michener has done with most of his books. "Hawaii", "Caribbean", "Texas", "Alaska" and "Chesapeake", among others, show such a level of research, understanding of the subject and respect to the readers that most modern (and popular) authors would never understand or know how to do it. Michener's "The covenant" is a history lesson without having to attend class. South Africa is the subject of this lecture. From the indigenous people, to the Dutch and posterior English colonization, and finally the heinous apartheid regime, South Africa is dissected, analyzed and explained. Once again, Michener doesn't concentrate on people, but on the land. The characters are a little stereothypical, but that's on purpose: Michener uses his characters to explain what happens in a determined historical period. What is best, Michener was able to distanciate himself from the controversial history of this country; he presents the facts, good or bad, whether caused by Afrikaner, English or Native Black people, and lets the reader judge for himself. One other thing we have to remember: the book ends in 1979, before De Klerk increasingly opened the country to democracy, so the final chapter of the book sounds almost prophetic. And one thing I didn't understand is that Nelson Mandela wasn't mentioned even once in the book; that's strange. Mandela hadn't yet been released from prison in 1979 and maybe didn't have the same international exposure, but he certainly had been representative as a member of the ANC in the 50s and 60s. Michener created a character that goes through the same problems as Mandela did in real life, but that's not enough to represent South Africa's first black president . Anyway, Michener is one of my favorite authors, and his passing away should be mourned by all those who enjoy an accurate historical fiction. Grade 9.4/10
Rating: 
Summary: Far from his best
Review: Sometimes it's nice to read a small book, a quick 150-300 page diversion from the real world. At other times, however, it's nice to read a book with some real "meat" to it. Few big name writers were more adept at producing these meaty books than James Michener, and in the Covenant, he presents one of his biggest, a 1200+ page epic about South Africa. As usual, Michener is not as interested in adventure or characters as he is with relating the history of a particular region. This is his formula: to cover a region from prehistoric times to the present, watching it slowly get settled and eventually civilized, though this civilization is often with a great price. This is not to say that he doesn't write a compelling story: he does, but he does not use heroes or villains to populate his world. This is a good book, but a reader new to Michener should learn to try and not get too attached to specific characters, as Michener treats them rather unsentimentally, and they often die in undramatic fashion. Also, although there are some unpleasant people, Michener does not make them truly evil; he usually can show that these characters believe they have justifiable reasons for their actions. Writing as objectively as possible in a novel, he judges no one but rather allows the reader to make the judgements. Many will be put off by the size of this book, but this is actually a reasonably fast read. In the end, the reader will feel both entertained and educated, and that is perhaps the best that can be asked of from a novel.
Rating:
Summary: An epic historical novel
Review: Sometimes it's nice to read a small book, a quick 150-300 page diversion from the real world. At other times, however, it's nice to read a book with some real "meat" to it. Few big name writers were more adept at producing these meaty books than James Michener, and in the Covenant, he presents one of his biggest, a 1200+ page epic about South Africa. As usual, Michener is not as interested in adventure or characters as he is with relating the history of a particular region. This is his formula: to cover a region from prehistoric times to the present, watching it slowly get settled and eventually civilized, though this civilization is often with a great price. This is not to say that he doesn't write a compelling story: he does, but he does not use heroes or villains to populate his world. This is a good book, but a reader new to Michener should learn to try and not get too attached to specific characters, as Michener treats them rather unsentimentally, and they often die in undramatic fashion. Also, although there are some unpleasant people, Michener does not make them truly evil; he usually can show that these characters believe they have justifiable reasons for their actions. Writing as objectively as possible in a novel, he judges no one but rather allows the reader to make the judgements. Many will be put off by the size of this book, but this is actually a reasonably fast read. In the end, the reader will feel both entertained and educated, and that is perhaps the best that can be asked of from a novel.
Rating:
Summary: Story of conflict between Zulu, Afrikaaner & English.
Review: THE COVENANT is a very atypical Michener novel. While the historical perspective of a vast, undiscovered land ( i.e. HAWAII, ALASKA) is vintage Michener, the pain and passion of his characters is handled in an almost dispassionate way as though the author was aware of the controversy surrounding this troubled land. I was saddened by the inevitability of the conflict between the native Zulu's and and the "crusading" Voortrekker Afrikaaners. I think that I better understand the impact that English rule had upon this land. Like CARIBBEAN, COVENANT tells the story of a racially troubled area and the beliefs of the courageous people that struggled to survive and make a life for themselves in a wildly dangerous, but beautiful land.
Rating:
Summary: Did not want to put it down.
Review: The Covenant was my first Michener novel. Loved it. I particularly liked how he mixed the development of his characters with the African history. I could see the characters and feel their passion. I finished the book knowing more about Africa and enjoyed a great story. Definitely intend to read more of his novels.
Rating:
Summary: It's a very good book
Review: This book is about The history of south africa told through the eyes of 3 families. Each families contrast and interaction thru time make this book a classic. Mr. Michener has created somthing really wonderful with this book.
Rating:
Summary: It's a very good book
Review: This book is about The history of south africa told through the eyes of 3 families. Each families contrast and interaction thur time make this book a classic. Mr. Michener has created somthing really wonderful with this book.
Rating:
Summary: ...Where one could commit crimes for the love of the land
Review: This is a masterpiece. A masterpiece of history bur also a masterpiece of human nature. Often, in a 1200 pages book, the author loses himself (and us) with useless details. Not in this one. Each page conveys the essence of that book: The Love of The Land. One would think that Michener came from South Africa since he depicts that love with such purity and such passion. He also sucessfully avoided falling into the trap of taking side which, when you write on such a contreversial country, is very tempting. You will discover South Africa and learn to love it, even if you never have set foot in Africa or never particularly cared about that region. This is how powerful this book is. Learn to love that land through the eyes of the Nxumalos, a family of Zulus who emigrated south thousands of years ago to find food and adored the land in all of nature's expressions. See it also through the destiny of the Van Doorns, a dutch family who, exploited through many generations by a country ran by the sense of business, returned to the fondamental values of god and the soil and made this land theirs, convinces that god granted them this new Eden. Finally, follow the Saltwoods, A family of English noblemans who after wondering what Britain presence should be in South Africa became part of that intricate cultural web. No race or culture is evil, history dictates what we are and will be. Passing on that book is passing on a great opportunity to understand the complex history of a country rich in emotions but also in understanding the events that led to the Appartheid and racial tensions in South Africa. Mr. Michener, while you are there, write us an history of the paradise !!!
Rating:
Summary: A book with enduring appeal.
Review: This is one of Michener's finest. The character development over the course of the novel is captivating. The chapters dealing with the "chosen" Dutch/German emmigrants are the best. The author was 10-15 years ahead of the real political changes that were to occur in South Africa. A definite read for those wanting to understand the history of that part of the world
| 
