This is another of the great books of the Kent Family Chronicles, an eight book historical perspective of life in America from Revolutionary days through the 1800s. This particular one is the first of the two Civil War novels in this series. I had previously read all of the books of the series as...
Book 7 of 8 of the Kent Family Chronicles brings us full force into the labor union issues of the 1870's. Lots of horrors of those days we can't even begin to imagine. Gideon Kent, oldest son of Jephtha, great grandson of the original Philip Kent, has moved from a one sheet union rag to reporter/...
As the sixth volume of the Kent Family Chronicles, The Warriors doesn’t lose any of the passion and action of the preceding five books. One of the great things about this series (in my opinion) is that it is difficult to say that one was so much superior to another. The books relate the times in ...
I did not know the history of Charleston...did not know it played a role in the Revolutionary War, nor the early influence of this southern city. I had just spent a week in Charleston; the narrative descriptions of the city truly made my visit even more memorable. The story was filled with conf...
In the 1960s John Jakes, the best-selling author of The Kent Family Chronicles and The North and South Trilogy and who has been bestowed the title the godfather of the historical novel, wrote "Arena" under the penname Jay Scotland. Now Olmstead Press/An e-reads]Book is proud to re-release "Arena,...
I read the book, The Rebels by John Jakes. The story begins on June 17, 1775, at the Battle of Bunker Hill, in which Philip Kent participates. One major event, the marriage of Philip and Anne Ware, took place in the interim. In September of that year Anne gave birth to her first child, whom they ...
From the author of such American epics as the Kent Family Chronicles and the North and South trilogy comes this special anthology of frontier fiction—featuring three brand new stories and a special introduction by the author.
This was a darker book than the previous one, but featured Amanda, possibly my favorite character in the entire series. We follow her from the Alamo to NYC where things are heating up for the Civil War. As usual, Jakes does a great job showing both sides of the conflicts from a personal view. ...
California Gold begins thirty years after the Gold Rush as James Macklin (Mack) Chance leaves the Pennsylvania mining town where he grew up and heads for The Golden State to make his fortune. After working and walking his way across country, Mack arrives in Oakland and is in for a rude surprise w...
John Jakes is to historical American fiction what Stephen King is to horror: a one-man industry. Jakes, the author of over 60 books, including the eight-part Kent Family Chronicles, the North and South Trilogy, and innumerable short stories of the American West, returns to his well-trod Civil War...
All but Billy were seasick on the stormy trip to Charleston. They rested a few days at Cooper’s house and improved rapidly. After supper the second evening, Judith entertained them by playing the piano. Then she gathered the guests around her and they had a grand time for almost an hour, singing ...
She felt at ease; womanly. No one paid them any heed as they strolled up Church in the mellow spring light. "I'd love for you to meet my family," Theo said. "I'd like that, too." "I have eleven brothers and sisters." "Good heavens," she cried. He grinned. "I love them, but it did make for a crowd...
Patches of blue showed in the west—clearing weather—but light rain still dappled the river. There was steady barge traffic. The boats of the watermen scooted back and forth carrying passengers between the public stairs at the bridges. South of the river in Lambeth and Southwark further east, rows...
'In the new factory we'll do something about this system of bringing the parts to the car. It doesn't work anymore, we can't produce enough. Took me years to grasp that manufacturing is the key to this game. To build a lot of cars you need a different set of skills than you do to build one protot...
The secretary apologized for his delay in answering, but as Mr. Kent could well appreciate, pressing matters occupied the department. Gilbert and Jared both understood the nature of the pressing matters. Regrettably, Hamilton said, no appointments for midshipmen were available at the moment. Shou...
The light spilling into the room sparkled the dark eyes of the baby Philip Kent swung high over his head, then down again. “Philip, you’ll frighten him!” Anne said as she came in. The child, stocky as his father, and with the same thick, dark hair, disproved it with a delighted gurgle as Philip s...
In this kind of weather who could avoid it?" He stretched on the bed in the familiar position, hands laced under his head. He closed his eyes. Another melancholy monologue about to begin? Eleanor kept her head bent over her writing to conceal her disappointment. All at once Leo coughed and opened...
All at once the wind turned chill. The rain slanted harder. He huddled close to the building until someone answered. A woman. Of middle age, but still attractive. She raised a candle in a holder as she peered at Phillipe from the gloomy foyer. “Yes?” “Good evening. Is this the house of Dr. Frankl...