Heaven and Hell: (Previously published) (North and South Trilogy) [Abridged, Audiobook] [Audio Cassette]

John Jakes (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 12, 1987 | Series: North and South Trilogy

The Mains and the Hazards fight to restore peace to their families, homes and hearts as the country struggles in the decade after the Civil War. 2 cassettes.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

As one might expect, this final volume in Jake's North and South trilogy makes splendid reading. Dealing with Reconstruction as the earlier volumes dealt, respectively, with pre-Civil War rumblings and the war itself, this novel resumes the saga of the Hazards of Pennsylvania and the Mains of South Carolina, both families now sadly depleted and bound together as much by hate as love. The Union has triumphed but there's no peace, as radical northern Republicans seek to impose punitive rule on the South and succeed in bringing impeachment proceedings against President Johnson; the Ku Klux Klan goes its ludicrous and hideous way; and in the West, army generals, most notably Custer, savagely subdue the Indians. The principal fictional characters threading the accurate groundwork of major national events are, on the Hazard side, steelmaker George, his abolitionist sister Virgiliastet and his corrupt, incompetent brother Stanley who (significantly) goes into politics. In the Main family, there are Orry's octoroon widow Madeline, a prime target of the Klan, his unscrupulous sister Ashton and, most insistently and compellingly, Charles, whose adventures include scouting for Custer, until he becomes disgusted by the Washita Massacre, and, with Indian help, tracking the crazed abductor of his small son. Idealism and corruption, tenderness and brutality, innocence and insanity, all figure in the narrative, a highly colored amalgam of heaven and hell, with the latter predominating. Literary Guild dual main selection; Doubleday Book Club main selection; first serial to Cosmopolitan.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

The saga of the Hazard and Main families continues in this conclusion of the North and South trilogy. The story centers on Charles, Orry Main's cousin, a Southerner totally devastated by the Civil War. Displaced and just having lost his beloved Augusta, Charles heads West with his infant son hoping to make a new life. With Charles as the focal point, the narrative continually shifts to all the other family members, including George Hazard in Pennsylvania, Madeline Main struggling to rebuild Mont Royal, etc., and unbeknownst to any of them, a madman bent on destroying both families. With a cast of diverse and colorful characters, the author spins an entertaining tale full of historical detail.Maria A. Perez-Stable, Western Michigan Univ. Libs., Kalamazoo
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Random House Audio; Abridged edition (October 12, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0394563557
• ISBN-13: 978-0394563558
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,813,193 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The End of a Story, April 30, 2001

By 

K. Morgan (United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Heaven and Hell (North and South Trilogy) (Mass Market Paperback)

Heaven and Hell, the last book in the North and South trilogy was absolutely wonderful. This book is mainly about Charles and his life in the West. And also his trying to find a place in the world after the war. Madeline is also a major character in this book with her journal entries to Orry. And the evil Bent has to make his appearance throughout. (I could have done without Bent!!) The lives of Stanley, Virgilia, Billie, Brett, and the love-to-hate-her Aston aren't covered as much in this book. I would have loved to learn more about Billie and Brett. Also would have liked to read more about Marie-Louise and her Yankee husband Theo. I found the parts of the book about them to be very touching.

If you've already read the other two books you must read this one to find out what happens. You will be in for quite a few surprises. This book is definitely worth reading. A classic!!!

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I am constantly re-delighted with this series., November 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Heaven and Hell (Mass Market Paperback)

I have read all three books in this series and re-read it many times. It is one of the most fair of any portraits of the old south. More believable than romaticized. In fact, I have all 3 books as well as the first two installments of the mini-series. Unfortunately, Due to a really severe snow storm in 1993 I was unable to get the final third installment, "Heaven & Hell" taped. Video clubs or ABC or any other affiliates swear it never aired. So, if any of you fans have it please e-mail me & we'll get something done. I was suprised this is out of print as well. It should be required reading for all history classes.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pretty good, October 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Heaven and Hell (Mass Market Paperback)

I can't believe this series is out of print! When I was in high school, I encountered these in my mom's book collection, and thought the whole series was just great. "Heaven and Hell" is definitely the weakest of the three, but it's still pretty good. A few points stand out...

Wished that Cooper's character could have mellowed a bit, his transformation from "North and South" to this book seemed fairly unbelievable. Maybe that was the point though, that sometimes people react very differently than you might expect.

Since I always liked Billy and Brett, I wished I had known more about their life in CA.

And finally, the last time we see Ashton (wishing she was a little girl again), it is the first time we ever saw her acting like a human. After you read that line, any re-reading of the series will be tempered by the knowledge of her last scene.

A good read!