Just not very interesting. Got a third of the way through the book before anything started happening.

I read this book while on a cruise to Alaska, and I found that it went right along with much that I learned about the history of the Klondike gold rush, especially during our visit to Skagway. This short novel certainly added to the experience. Very well researched and interesting, as Michener's books always are. ( )

The Klondike gold rush of 1897 draws four aristocratic Englishmen and an Irish servant from across the Atlantic to Edmonton, Canada. Their leader, Lord Luton, despises the United States and holds stubbornly to his plan to make the entire journey through Canada, meaning the group will need to travel 2,100 by river then over mountains to the gold fields.

Many hardships are encountered such as overwintering in the Arctic Circle, avoiding gigantic blocks of ice when the rivers thaw, and losing health and energy to scurvy and starvation. Yet the story is told in a way that feels academic. The dialogue is wooden, the descriptions of the natural world uninspiring, and the characters stereotypes. The poem-filled epilogue seems unnecessary, as if Michener just couldn't bring himself to put out a book that was only 260 pages long.

Then, Michener uses a nearly 30-page closing chapter to explain how the book evolved. Originally meant to be a portion of his bestseller, "Alaska," it was removed for length and the fact that none of the action actually takes place in Alaska. Michener claims he rescued "Journey" as a salute to Canada, but I have a feeling he didn't want to waste the research hours he had already spent. ( )

The story of a group of 4 English aristocrats and their Irish servant who attempt to get to Dawson City, Alaska, from Montreal, Canada, via the MacKenzie River. The leader of the group, Lord Luton, despised America and hence the group agreed that they would travel only in Canada. This was a big mistake by a pig-headed leader as the Canadian route was more difficult. This was even told to them by Indians that they met. However, the group supported Luton, they stayed together, and became great friends and companions. Three of the party died: 1 by drowning and 2 from scurvy. Only Luton and the servant (gamekeeper) arrived in Dawson City after a 2 year trek. I've read that this book, short by Michener's standard, at only 389 pages, was taken from his much longer novel, Alaska. I've not yet read Alaska, but this book is able to be enjoyed on its own merit. 389 pages ( )

This is a great story. Especially for readers like me who can’t seem to get through one of his lingered works without taking ‘breaks”—reading other books in between. Michener’s Books are always well-researched, creating charater’s which draw the reader into believing the story is true. Given my lack of knowledge of the gold rush—only knowing it happened, this story brings to life the realities of the people swarming to the site, knowing nothing of the terrain (I defitely never thought of mosquitos in the Arctic)! The moral I took from the story is that no matter how much you think you know, always listen to other’s point of view and weigh it equally with your own. All people are created equal and others recommendations are offered as help. To refuse to consider them is to refuse help—no one person can survive alone in this world—we need each other. ( )