In Homeland, internationally acclaimed bestselling author John Jakes brings to life an epic saga of the American immigrant experience in this story of a family dynasty in turmoil at the dawn of a new century. From the uncontrolled chaos of Chicago's infamous Pullman Strike, to the birth of the moving picture, and the bloody carnage of the Spanish-American War, the Crown family raced with the currents of a changing world-and their own limitless desires-and claimed America as their own....
Homeland (Open Road Media)
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
The bestselling author of North and South returns with a new first-rate historical series that begins in 1890s Berlin, where young Pauli Kroner ekes out a living as a kitchen helper in a posh hotel. When his consumptive aunt dies, the orphaned Pauli books steerage to America, hoping to be reunited with his wealthy uncle, Joseph Crown, who fought for the Union Army and now heads a brewery empire in Chicago. Surviving a long, perilous journey, Pauli meets his American relatives, among them Aunt Ilsa, whose progressive views cause almost as much friction in the family as eldest son Joe Jr.'s alliance with the socialist labor movement. Pauli unexpectedly falls in love with Julie Vanderhoff, strong-willed daughter of a Chicago meat-packing millionaire who hates foreigners, further complicating the drama. Jakes portrays the Crowns, leading civic figures in Chicago, moving among a crowd of influential and important people, including Jane Addams, Teddy Roosevelt and Eugene Debs. Chock-full of fascinating period detail, his captivating story brings to life the sounds, smells and tastes of turn-of-the-century America in a manner comparable to Michener's Hawaii and Doctorow's Ragtime . An absolute must for the beach. Author tour; major ad/promo.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From School Library Journal
YA-In 1892, an orphaned German teenager, Pauli, comes to America to live with his uncle's family in Chicago. He arrives with the typical immigrant's vision of a flawless new homeland. During the next 10 years he experiences firsthand labor strife; poverty, greed, and crime in the city's slums; and suffering in the Cuban battlefields of 1898. Increasingly, his idealistic picture of the country changes until the end of the book when he sees his new homeland as a place where "men are free." Likewise, the three-dimensional main characters have strengths and weaknesses, good points and faults. Theodore Roosevelt, Eugene Debs, Thomas Edison, Clara Barton, and Jane Addams make their appearances, and readers witness the growing labor-union movement, the women's-rights struggle, national expansionism, and the beginning of the moving-picture industry. The book's major drawback is its length. However, readers who are willing to invest the time will find it an interesting view of the U.S. at the turn of the century.
Shirley B. Blaes, R.E. Lee High School, Springfield, VA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Shirley B. Blaes, R.E. Lee High School, Springfield, VA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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More About the Author
John Jakes (b. 1932), the author of more than a dozen novels, is regarded as one of today's most distinguished writers of historical fiction. His work includes the highly acclaimed Kent Family Chronicles series and the North and South Trilogy. Jakes's commitment to historical accuracy and evocative storytelling earned him the title of "the godfather of historical novelists" from the Los Angeles Times and led to a streak of sixteen consecutive New York Times bestsellers. Jakes has received several awards for his work and is a member of the Authors Guild and the PEN American Center. He and his wife, Rachel, live on the west coast of Florida.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
At a time when the world stood on the brink of a new century, America struggled to find its place upon the global stage, and huddled masses of immigrants streamed across its borders with little more than the clothing on their backs and a yearning to breath free. It was a time of innovation and invention, a birth of a new technological age, when labor collided violently with management; fathers with sons and America found itself in a war to set a country free.
"Homeland," John Jakes' epic tome is not set during the turbulent decade of 1990's (as one might expect after having read my introductory paragraph) but rather a full century earlier. Beginning where his "Kent Family Chronicles" left off in 1891, and ending in the first year of the twentieth century, 1901, Jakes begins a new cycle of novels with a new family, the Crowns of Chicago.
Jakes casts his protagonist, Pauli Kroner, as a young urchin, wandering the streets of Berlin. Orphaned, Pauli lives with his consumptive aunt, Charlotte, who, in a last act of selflessness sends Pauli to live with his uncle, Joseph Crown, who has amassed his fortune in the brewing trade of Chicago. But all is not happy in the Crown household. The forces of change at work in America are straining the family. Uncle Joe barely tolerates the progressive attitude of his wife Ilsa and has constant verbal clashes with his oldest son, Joe Jr., who has taken up sides with the socialist labor union movement, an issue which precipitates one final clash between father and son, after which Joe Jr. runs away and Pauli finds himself expelled from the household for aiding his cousin in his escape. Now known as Paul Crown he must eke out an existence in the streets of Chicago, and soon finds himself standing at the doorstep of the fledgling moving picture business as a camera operator and an eyewitness to history.
From the Pullman strike and the fairgrounds of Chicago's Colombian Exposition to the Cuban battlefields of the Spanish-American War John Jakes intricately weaves the historical events of the last decade of the nineteenth century throughout his novel and peppers it with historical Characters such as Theodore Roosevelt, Jane Addams, Clara Barton, Eugene Debs and Thomas Edison to name but a few.
John Jakes has earned the title "Godfather of the Historical Novel," and with "Homeland" the Crowns of Chicago can rightfully take their place beside the Kents of "The Kent Family Chronicles," the Hazard and Main families of the "North and South" trilogy, and the Chances of "California Gold."
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Does picking up a book that is 1200 pages long discourage you in any way? It didn't discourage me because it was John Jakes who wrote it. Before picking this up to read it, I see he says this is his best so far. As for being his best, I can't really say that because it wouldn't be fair on his other works, I will simply say this: It is a FANTASTIC read. Full of action, suspense, romance, intrigue, and of course, richly layered with accurate and precise historical information in a way that only John Jakes can. An absolute must for anyone who likes historical novels.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Mass Market Paperback
John Jakes has scored big on this one. This book is a real page turner! The characters are genuinely interesting and how they come together is amazing! John Jakes is a master. Can't wait to read the sequel. I never thought I could read a book that's 1200 pages, but this one doesn't seem nearly that big as you absorb every word late in the nite!!!!!!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Ultimate Page-Turner
Hated for it to end. This book has everything. Don't start it in late evening; you won't get enough sleep.
Published 2 months ago by E. Schmoll
5.0 out of 5 stars
HOMELAND BY JOHN JAKES
I like this historical novel Homeland by John Jakes. BUT why is my kindle keep going back to the beginning of the book everytime I shut it down. Read more
Published 3 months ago by mom
5.0 out of 5 stars
John Jakes fan
Iv'e liked his ability to weave history in with characters and their stories, so I say "It's a great read for all of his works". Read more
Published 4 months ago by John R Kelly
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Start of Another Sprawling Jakes Saga, Thank Goodness
These are the sorts of stories that I love most, and John Jakes is one of the best at writing them. In this first book of a proposed series, he introduces us to Pauli Kroner, soon... Read more
Published on March 24, 2008 by Graceann Macleod
5.0 out of 5 stars
Homeland
This is a great book by John Jakes. Jakes tells the tale of the Crown family and the changes to society i the industrial age. Read more
Published on March 2, 2006 by Rebecca L. Sebring
4.0 out of 5 stars
another winner for john jakes....
jakes continues to write awesome historical fiction. this was great and the only reason i didn't give it 5 stars was that many of his others were better..... Read more
Published on September 7, 2005 by Jeffrey Roberts
5.0 out of 5 stars
An enjoyable epic
Homeland is not a literary masterpiece, but it is a thoroughly engrossing look at turn-of-the-century America through the eyes and adventures of one family. Read more
Published on September 9, 2002 by Marisa James
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great historical fiction
This is the first work of John Jakes that I have read and will definately look for his others.
I have read similar novels abour immigrants and the turn of the century, but this... Read more
Published on November 21, 2001 by Samantha W. Mckevitt
5.0 out of 5 stars
Be prepared for an enjoyable journey
This book took me back in time to events that were very important in American History. I often find myself thinking that today's world offers many difficult and unique challenges;... Read more
Published on September 2, 2001 by "peaceloveandunderstanding"
4.0 out of 5 stars
my review
In this saga, the author uses the backdrop of the end of the 19th century, with all its upheavals inventions and revolutions, to write about a family that comes to America from... Read more
Published on May 18, 2000 by Ana Maria Barrenechea
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 11
books:
See all 11 books this book cites
- Progress and Poverty (Everyman's Library) by George on page 173, and page 636
- Buffalo Bill Museum by Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Back Matter
- Love and War (North and South Trilogy) by John Jakes in Front Matter
- Wealth Against Commonwealth (Notable American Authors) by Henry Demarest Lloyd on page 309
- Heaven and Hell: (Previously published) (North and South Trilogy) by John Jakes in Front Matter
See all 11 books this book cites
