My Lost Mexico

by James A. Michener

Traces the history of Michener's novel, describing how an early manuscript version was lost thirty years ago

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel, Writing, Biography Memoir

176 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

James Albert Michener is best known for his sweeping multi-generation historical fiction sagas, usually focusing on and titled after a particular geographical region. His first novel, Tales of the South Pacific , which inspired the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific, won the 1948 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

Toward the end of his life, he created the Journey Prize, awarded annually for the year's best short story published by an emerging Canadian writer; founded an MFA program now, named the Michener Center for Writers, at the University of Texas at Austin; and made substantial contributions to the James A. Michener Art Museum in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, best known for its permanent collection of Pennsylvania Impressionist paintings and a room containing Michener's own typewriter, books, and various memorabilia.

Michener's entry in Who's Who in America says he was born on Feb. 3, 1907. But he said in his 1992 memoirs that the circumstances of his birth remained cloudy and he did not know just when he was born or who his parents were.

Reviews

[Debbie Zapata · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, I cannot quite decide what to say about this book. I loved Michener's novel Mexico. Mom knew this, and when she saw this one at a recent library book sale, she added it to her stack of goodies just for me.

On one hand, it was interesting to see the detailed way in which Michener approached his work: outlines, planning, lots and lots of notes, research and plotting before the actual writing started.

On the other hand, there was the story of the manuscript being lost. Mom would correct this word usage, though. It was not lost, it was only misplaced. For thirty years. And Michener didn't care because he had given up on the project as an unworkable story. But when the manuscript was found (placed?) he got excited about it all over again.

I cannot believe that someone somewhere did not think to look in the place where the manuscript was eventually found, but then what do I know, right? Stranger things have happened.

We have one more hand to deal with here: the GR blurb touts the never before published novella The Texas Girls, included in the pages of this book. This lasts from page 103 to page 152. I did not read the novella itself, just Michener's footnotes explaining certain points at certain places. In the
chapter after this section the author explains that his publishers asked him to delete the entire section from Mexico, that it was intrusive and did not fit into the story properly. And that he agreed with them.

He admits that, oddly enough, this was the very criticism he had received thirty years earlier and which produced the fit of pique and hurt feelings where he decided to give up on the novel and pack it away. Only now he was a more mature writer, better able to deal with such a rebuke. He cut the whole section and was able to figure out how to rework the other parts of the story that would be affected by this part going missing.

So the only reason he adds it here had to have been that he simply liked it still and needed to see it in print. And I suppose his publishers at this point were willing to indulge him. After all, he was James Michener, right?

But I still wasn't interested in reading something that he himself admitted did not belong in a book that I thought was stunning for everything that was in it.

If you are a Michener fan, by all means read this book. Just the peek at the thought process is fascinating.

BUT do not read this until after you have read Mexico. There are no major spoilers here, but there are enough plot details discussed that if you read this book first, the trip through Mexico will not have the same magic as it should.

[Paul Parsons · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of Michener's last works in which he chronicles his struggles with publishing "Mexico." He started the book in the early sixties, but abandoned it due to criticism from his publisher. Thirty years later, the manuscript was found and prepared for release; though it was rejected by two well know publishing houses first. Happens even to the best.
In the reading, Michener refers to John Fulton, an American, who obtained the highest ratings among bull-fighters. He also sold drawings from his shop in Seville, Spain in the 1960s. A light bulb went off in my head and I raced down to the garage, where I store many of my old artifacts from my two years in Spain, 1968-69. Sure enough, hanging in my garage was a cheaply framed print, signed by Fulton, "Toro de la Marisma."

[John Majors · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michener's account of losing, then rediscovering and reworking his "Mexico" manuscript 30 years later. Lots of insights into the pre-writing and research process.

[Erik Tanouye · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got this at Book Off. Would be four stars except the Texas Girls chapter is too long

[Paige Kilian · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Chuck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Michener is one of my favorite authors, but that opimion does not come without critcism. Although I enjoyed Centennilal and Chesapeake as remarkable books, I find all of his writings lacking humor and romance. This book tells the story of his writing the novel "Mexico". The uniqueness to the story was that it was written following a number of successful books in the 1950's. One would have thought that Michener would be secure in his skills by that time, but that was not the case. This novel was shelved because of criticism and the lost for decades. When published it was succesful as was an ancillary portion known as "The Eagle and the Raven". This particular book describes the research and the story of the "lost" novel in detail.

[Benjamin Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

For fans of Michener's book, "Mexico", this is an excellent little companion book to read the behind the scenes, "Making of" book. Lots of photographs, drawings, and copies of hand-written notes tell the tale of the tale. Very interesting to see how even such a prolific author as Michener struggled to complete his novel of Mexico.

[J.R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting account detailing how Michener began the novel,'Mexico' abandoned the manuscript for 30 years, then came back to complete what became an international bestseller.

See my review at Amazon.

[Bryan Thomas Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story of Michener's experiences while researching and writing the book Mexico and a few of his others. I found it fascinating. Unlike most of his novels, this is more like an average novel in size and a quick read.

[Gregory · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read. I picked it up because it was recommended to me. I am familiar with James A. Michener. This book provides a peek inside his mind and the process of how he wrote his novel.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very good history of James Michener's Mexico, as well as a look into the writing process.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have to say I really enjoyed this one! Interesting to get the background on the workings of an author like Michener. Lots of information,explanations, diagrams and pictures.

[Paul · Rating 1 out of 5]

A stupid book. Just to give you an idea, a large portion of it is devoted to a chapter he left out of his book Mexico because it didn't fit. It doesn't fit any better here.

[Phillip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice quick read with interesting insights on writing of Mexico and James Micherer's writing style and thought process.

[Richard Schick · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all time favorites as it taught me something I had always wondered, how does Michener write these novels?

[Juanita · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating look at the way Michener collects and then turns his ideas into the fabulous books he has written.

[Rudolfo · Rating 5 out of 5]

fascinating account on how this accomplished author makes books. 10 rewrites, for example.