It is not the boring chronological list of meetings and events, not at all. Michener, a person and a writer, first-hand. So I borrowed The World is my Home from the library eager to know more about James A. To give a glimpse of this book I will just quote one sentence showing the Pope’s attitude to the restoration of political and religious freedoms in Central and Eastern Europe: “He did not gloat over the collapse of communism he gave thanks.” The second part of Pilgrimage is about Michener’s meetings with Pope John Paul II which began when the latter was known as Karol Wojtyla.
There are so many similarities in the biographies of these two noble men, I thought, and probably, when my grandfather went for a walk in the fields on summer evenings and switched on his pocket radio to listen to Radio Liberty, it was James Michener who directed the broadcasting. I thought of my grandfather who was born the same year as James Michener, 1907, was brought up in a small village in the western part of Russia, graduated from the university, worked as a teacher, and participated in combat during World War II.
It was surprising to know that in 1970 to 1980 Michener was a senior member of America’s Board for International Broadcasting-two radio stations in Munich which broadcast to the countries behind the Iron Curtain. Moreover, I was pleased to find almost complete coincidence with my views and evaluation of the events. I anticipated it would be like some Hollywood movies-interesting for those who knew nothing about the country and ridiculous for those who loved it-but it was not. As I had known a lot about Poland, it was kind of a validity test, and Michener passed it 100%.
I had already read his Pilgrimage: A Memoir of Poland and Rome and was hooked. Reading The World is My Home by James Michener was a rare case when I read a memoir not being acquainted with the other works of a writer. Pilgrimage: A Memoir of Poland and Rome The World Is My Home: A Memoir March is still monochrome along Alum Creek, Westerville, Ohio
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