South Pacific by Michener

James A. Michener, an obscure textbook editor working in New York, found himself thrust into the South Pacific as a naval officer within three years of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. By the end of the same decade, Michener had transformed into a celebrated author well on his way to global recognition. His debut novel, Tales of the South Pacific, even earned him a Pulitzer Prize, which later served as the inspiration for the Broadway hit South Pacific, also a Pulitzer recipient.

Stephen May, an acclaimed biographer of Michener, sheds light on this incredible journey in his work, Michener’s South Pacific. During his appearance on the fiftieth-anniversary DVD release of the film adaptation of the musical, May realized there were many aspects of Michener's life and early works that remained unknown to him.

In his book, May meticulously explores the crucial and tumultuous period in Michener's life and career, analyzing letters, journal entries, and naval records to uncover how a reserved and middle-aged lieutenant, affectionately known as "Prof" by his comrades, evolved into one of the most successful writers of the twentieth century.

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