MovieChat Forums > Centennial (1978) Discussion > A Question about the Novel

A Question about the Novel


I'm thinking of reading the novel. Can anyone tell me how close the mini-series stuck to the book?

Also, how old were the characters of Clay Basket, Pasquinel, and McKeag supposed to be at the beginning?

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The novel was good But there are some differences

Sláinte
Not in my right mind and proud of it




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The mini-series followed the book very closely, at least as far as the basic narrative goes. But the book had many wonderful details that couldn't be included in the mini-series, for the sake of time and pacing. It's a huge book, but it's very richly drawn, and certainly worth the time it takes to read it.

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I believe McKeag was 19 when Pasquinel found him in the Pawnee camp. Clay Basket was only 11 when they arrived in the Arapaho camp. That was a major difference in the film. I recommend reading the book, even though there are some differences. I bought my copy when the series came out in 78-79 and am only now reading it for the second time. Some parts are better in the film, some better in the book.

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read the book...you wont regret it

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Presumably, you've already made the decision, but for anyone else reading this with a similar question, I'd say be prepared for considerable geology and zoology lessons in the beginning.

The book literally starts from the beginning with the natural forces that formed the Rockies. It then goes on to describe the lives of beavers and buffalo in great detail. This is all before a single human ever shows up. It picks up a bit once it tells Lame Beaver's story, but even that is mostly narration and description with little or no spoken language.

It's not until Pasquinel that it becomes a more traditional novel with characters having conversations which is probably why the mini-series chose to begin there and only told some of Lame Beaver's story as exposition.

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