The Great Alone

In the spirit of James Mitchner and Edward Rutherford, Janet Daily creates a multi-generational saga of Alaska, from the time the first European stepped on it shores through current times. I loved it!

This was an amazing history of the entire area of what is now Alaska. It covers the time frame from the Russians taking over the area closest to Russia and settling that area buy kill the male natives and taking the women as the (wives). It carries on until Alaska becomes a state. Really an amazing book with lots of twists and turns. Having been to Alaska 4 times it is really a wonderful place with very few roads. Enjoy

Wonderful historical novel set in Alaska's Aleutian Islands, following one family's descendants through invasion after invasion of Russians hunting furs, British doing the same, then the sale of the of Alaska to the Americans, all the while each invading culture leaving its stamp on the islands and pushing the native population aside. But this is not another "ain't it awful what the white people did" novel, which I am getting pretty sick of. Instead it embodies a tome of research for which I am grateful, as I previously knew very little about Alaska and I enjoy a good read with well drawn characters and an exciting plot. Janet Dailey puts me in mind of Mitchner, but with more soul. I don't understand the title, though.

If you like historical fiction and Alaska, this is the book for you. If you like historical fiction and know little about Alaska, this is the book for you. You get the idea...this book takes you through generations of Alaskans from indigenous people of early Alaska to the twentieth century. The various ethnic groups and nationalities of Alaskans and the major occupations of the people in our wilderness state are visited by following generations of one Alaskan family. The trials and tribulations of survival in the rugged countryside of our largest state make the reader understand the diversity of our country and make one proud to be an American. You will enjoy the roller coaster ride of events in this well written Janet Dailey novel. Afraid it's too long or too much? Start it and see how quickly it moves along. Great Book!

Reading this book was more like living through history than actually reading a book. Even as good as it was though, I found it difficult to follow so many different people's stories. To make it easier to follow, I wish that Ms Dailey had put in a family tree. Having said that, I truly loved this book.

Even though I have been to Alaska, I had no idea the real history of Alaska, and was absolutely blown away by all I learned in reading this story.

It was wonderfully written! But, if you're looking for an easy read, or a fun romance, you will be disappointed. Now, if you're looking for history and the people in its making, you will love this book. I did.

Bravo! Outstanding!

Janet Dailey' writing was completely what I looked for in this novel in every way. The violence gave me pain. It was in war: between Indians and Russians and English and United States and Germany and Japan. I can't remember all of the enemies nor all of the battles, for all of the starving and freezing, Very graphic, very, very PAINFUL.. Sexual, yes. Plain, and painful and explicit. Also, sweet and everlasting. For one night and also FOREVER. 1ST PERSON??? 2ND.PERSON??? 3RD PERSON??? ALTERNATING PERSONS??? OR ME ONLY??? Really. Read and throughly enjoy. I had never read anything by Janet Dailey. I'd Heard of her books but they didn't sound like my "kind of reading". This book is full of HISTORY, LOVE, TIME, GOL--LEE just read.

A very long generational novel that takes place during the barbaric age when boats from Russia carried men who had little regard for anything, invades a peaceful people. The main character begins with Tasha who endured unimaginable hardships as her Island was invaded by murderers and rapiest. Each generation from that time on had it's own share of struggles until it comes full circle. The story is told in four parts and I found myself wanting it to end way before it did. Some interesting moments but much too long to suit me.

I have this book in hardback & intend to keep. I usually read all books on Kindle unless I want to keep. Janet Daily is one of the greats in the historical fiction field. Her research is so well done & woven in with the characters that you believe everything is real. Books of this caliber should be required reading in our schools. If it's interesting our children will read

It certainly covered a lot of history starting with Russian explorers finding a way to Alaska, the sale of Alaska to the United
states, the Japanese attacking Pearl Harbor and the islands occupied by the US close to Alaska. Learned a lot from the history of the discoveries and the people involved

The book started rather slow, but it turned out to be a terrific story that encompassed several generations in the early settling of Alaska. The author told the story very well and I was sorry when the end of the story came.

Not only is the story line very enjoyable, but the history of Alaska is fascinating, and enjoyable. I have never before truly learned the sequence of Alaskan history, nor how it came to be.
This is a must for readers, historians, those interested in archeology, and anyone who believes that all people are created equal.

Now, July, 1999, I've just read this "Great Alone." While the personal relationship stories are told well enough (but not unusual in style) the historical research necessary to have covered this long historical period, with unusual details, has impressed me greatly. I lived in two of the towns that figure in the book during the late 1940s, had done considerable reading about these areas, but learned a lot that I hadn't known. I always trust "my" authors to have done their homework (or have someone do it for them), and Ms.Dailey has certainly won my admiration for background material

My compliments to Ms Dailey for her research and story telling. This is a wonderful story of love lies and adventure. Historically correct and spanning several centuries we follow a family though good times and bad. All the while learning about the wild and wonderful state of Alaska. Very well done!

Multi-generational lives of Alaskan natives and invaders, fur traders and gold diggers, lots of historical references. Aside from the well-developed characters, the centuries timeline and culmination of Alaska/Japanese battles during WWll are worth the read.