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Hi, Rusty!
Now, I have heard of James Michener...if I have got this right....
Wasn't the musical "South Pacific" based on one of his books?
Although I wouldn't know the title of said book?
I could, of course, be completely mistaken here....I have nothing to go on...I am just thinking that I must have read/ heard that somewhere?
I believe that he bases his books on historical facts?
Am I thinking of the right author here?
I might look into that book you mentioned......"Until they Sail"....I might like it?
It is getting time Amazon and I have a 'conference' !
The nest has been empty every single time I have looked today!
It looks rather windy, too?

Hello, Elle,
Yes, he wrote Tales of the South Pacific, which is where the musical South Pacific came from. An excellent book.
Until They Sail, may even be one of the Tales of the South Pacific.
I can not quite remember.
Michener was an orphan.
He ended up as a close friend of the Polish Pope, and advisor to more than one US president.
He was also one of the team who selected the men who would crack the Japanese codes after Pearl Harbour.
Yes, he wrote historical novels mainly.
That's who I learned about Peter the Great and the Pribilofs from!

Hello, Elle,
I have did a bit of hunting with Mr Google's assistance.
Until They Sail is a short story in Michener's classic Return to Paradise.
Not sure if it is available on it's own.
It was made into a film and the sisters were played by, Jean Simmons, Joan Fontaine, Piper Laurie, and Sandra Dee.
Paul Newman is in it, too.
Michener served in the US Navy during the war and knew the Pacific Ocean very well.

Hi, Rusty!
Thank you for all that interesting information about James Michener.
Yes, I obviously had the right man didn't I?
Now, I remember the Pribilofs!
(You haven't "sent" anyone there for a while!)
I am intrigued by James Michener.....I shall take a look on Amazon......I may buy one of his books.
Perhaps "Return to Paradise" as you can recommend that.
I haven't come across the film "Until They Sail", but should like to read the story.
I think you should try one or two other books by Nevil Shute.
I know you don't generally like fiction, but there are some stories worth reading, as you have found.
"On The Beach "is unusual for Nevil Shute.
Basically, it is about a group of disparate people , in Melbourne, brought together while they wait for the arrival of deadly radiation spreading towards them, the aftermath of a nuclear war that happened the previous year.
The story is about how each person deals differently with impending death, as the radiation approaches.
Give reading it a try?
I shall watch the new version of Eggheads later to see if I can solve the enigma of the Leader board!

Hello, Elle!
Michener was an amazing man!
He always mentions that he was very grateful to the US for providing him with an excellent education.
He also studied across the water from me at St Andrews Uni.
I like most of his work.
My favourites are Centennial, Chesapeake, Alaska, and Tales of the South Pacific.
I thnk Eilidh Doyle has a good chance of winning the Diamond League.
No TV for me today, maybe tomorrow!

Hi, Rusty!
Mmm...... now I don't know which book of James Michener's to go for.....
I'd thought the one that contained the short story "Until They Sail", as that appealed to me.
But of course it is only one short story among many!
But this isn't among your favourite recommended reads.
I have certainly heard of "Chesapeake" - in fact, it is the only one that I do know of...although actually I had no idea that it was written by Michener.
And there is something to be said about reading of the origin of the South Pacific film.
I am keen to try a new (to me) author........
What do you think? Which would I like?
"Make Me an Egghead" has me beat - three names at the close of the week - when on my reckoning there should have been five - and the high scorer who was missing yesterday is now back on top of the board!!!
And Jeremy shows no surprise at this astonishing turn of events?!
You mentioned Eilidh Doyle (I like her!) and Lynsey Sharp competing, earlier ....I thought you said you hadn't watched the DL in Lausanne?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Make_Me_an_Egghead

See "results" for how leaderboard works

Good evening, Elle!
Um, I would not know which to suggest.
The ones I mentioned were excellent, in my view.
There is lots of history in Chesapeake.
I think my over all favourite is Centennial.
It was made into a successful TV mini-series some years ago.
Many strong characters in it.
Clay Basket, Pasquinel, Alexander McKeag.
Lots whose names I cannot recall.
Richard Chamberlain played the main part.
Centennial was the name of a town in Colorado.
But, for you, there are some great stories in Tales of the South Pacific and Return to Paradise(inc Until They Sail)
You won't like all of them, but there are many grand tales there.
There was a bit about Eilidh in my paper.
Blog is updated!

Thanks for the info, Eirlys!