The Source (novel)
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The Source
Author James A. Michener
Illustrator Jean-Paul Tremblay
Country United States of America
Language English
Genre(s) Historical novel
Publisher Random House
Publication date 1965
Media type Print (Hardback & Paperback)

The Source is a historical novel by James A. Michener, first published in 1965. It is a survey of the history of the Jewish people and the land of Israel from pre-monotheistic days to the birth of the modern State of Israel. The Source uses for its central device a fictional tell in northern Israel called "Makor" (Hebrew: "source").

A parallel frame story set in modern-day Israel supports the historical timeline. Archaeologists digging at the tell at Makor uncover artifacts from each layer, which then serve as the basis for a chapter exploring the lives of the people involved with that artifact. The novel begins with a Stone Age family whose daughter begins to realize that there is a supernatural force, then leads us to the beginnings of monotheism, the Davidic kingdom, Hellenistic times, Roman times, etc. It follows the story of the Family of Ur from the age of cavemen to modern times, with its descendants now living in the Galilee. Some consider The Source Michener's most popular book.

Chapter List

  1. The Tell
  2. The Bee Eater
  3. Of Death and Life
  4. An Old Man and His God
  5. Psalm of the Hoopoe Bird
  6. The Voice of Gomer
  7. In the Gymnasium
  8. King of the Jews
  9. Yigal and His Three Generals
  10. The Law
  11. A Day in the Life of a Desert Rider
  12. Volkmar
  13. The Fires of Ma Coeur
  14. The Saintly Men of Safed
  15. Twilight of an Empire
  16. Rabbi Itzik and the Sabra
  17. The Tell
  18. The Sancity of Makor

Recurring symbols and themes

Fertility/The phallic

In the early civilizations, the concept of fertility sprouts from agriculture, and the desire for a fruitful harvest. During the earliest layer of history, the giant stone idol named El is created to please the earth, and bring good crops.

As society moves away from a rural and agricultural existence, fertility is given less and less importance. The phallic is present from the Stone Age ("The Bee Eater"), until 606 BCE ("The Voice of Gomer").


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Works by James A. Michener
Novels:

The Fires of Spring (1949) • Return to Paradise (1951) • The Bridges at Toko-Ri (1953) • The Floating World (1954) • Sayonara (1954) • The Bridge at Andau (1957) • Hawaii (1959) • Caravans (1963) • The Source (1965) • The Drifters (1971) • Centennial (1974) • Chesapeake (1978) • The Covenant (1980) • Space (1982) • Poland (1983) • Texas (1985) • Legacy (1987) • Alaska (1988) • Caribbean (1989) • Journey (1989) • The Novel (1991) • Mexico (1992) • Recessional (1994) • Matecumbe (2007)
Non Fiction:

The Future of the Social Studies (1939) • The Voice of Asia (1951) • Rascals in Paradise (1957) • Report of the Country Chairman (1961) • Iberia (1968) • Presidential Lottery (1969) • The Quality of Life (1970) • Kent State: What Happened and Why (1971) • Sports in America (1976) • About Centennial: Some Notes on the Novel (1978) • United States of America (1982) • Collectors, Forgers - And A Writer: A Memoir (1983) • All We Did Was Fly to the Moon (1985) • Six Days in Havana (1989) • Pilgrimage: A Memoir of Poland and Rome (1990) • The Eagle and The Raven (1990) • My Lost Mexico (1992) • The World is My Home (1992) • Writer's Handbook (1992) • Creatures of the Kingdom (1993) • Literary Reflections (1993) • William Penn (1994) • Ventures in Editing (1995) • Miracle in Seville (1995) • This Noble Land (1996) • A Century of Sonnets (1997)
Short story collections:
Film, TV and
theatrical adaptations:
about Michener:
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