He is best known for creating the fictional "Bucks County" in his 1954 novel "The Bridges at Toko-ri." While the book itself focused on the Korean War, Bucks County served as a fictionalized version of the real Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where Michener grew up.
This use of a fictionalized version of a real place is a common theme in his work. He often embedded his stories in real-world locations, drawing heavily on their history and culture.