North and South (North and South Trilogy Part One) [Mass Market Paperback]

John Jakes (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2000

In the years before the Civil War, the Mains and Hazards achieve their triumphs and suffer their tragedies against the panorama of American history. 2 cassettes.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

In the years before the Civil War, the Mains and Hazards achieve their triumphs and suffer their tragedies against the panorama of American history. 2 cassettes. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From AudioFile

Set during the Civil War, this ambitious epic interweaves the lives of two families representative of both the North and the South. The story includes weighty themes, such as abolition, love, religion, revenge and death. Unfortunately, the recording doesn't live up to the story. The dialogue sounds unrealistic, and the Southern accents, especially those of slaves and women, are poor. Too many characters make for confusion, which is increased by the intermittent contributions of a second narrator. On the plus side are interesting sound effects, such as gunfire, wind and train whistles. A.G.H. (c) AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 812 pages
• Publisher: Signet (June 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451200810
• ISBN-13: 978-0451200815
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (51 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #36,936 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #17 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Family Saga
  • #23 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > War

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic novel of America just before the Civil War, October 25, 2003

By 

Roger J. Buffington (Huntington Beach, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: North and South (North and South Trilogy Part One) (Mass Market Paperback)

North and South is the first novel in a trilogy dealing with the American Civil War, and it is truly a remarkable work; well worth reading. I myself have read the novel many times over the past twenty years. The novel focuses on two families--the Hazards of Pennsylvania, and the Mains of South Carolina--during the period from approximately 1840 through the beginning of the Civil War. These two families, bound by close ties of friendship (the sons of each are best friends at West Point and serve in the Army together during the Mexican War) and marriage, find these ties tested by the powerful forces of political and social strife that rocked the country during this period, ultimately leading to civil war.

This is a great story. Author John Jakes does a tremendous job of transporting the reader into the period immediately before the Civil War. The country was torn by political strife that could not be resolved by the ordinary institutions of civil government, and Jakes does a masterful job of explaining this within the format of a novel, and showing how this atmosphere affected ordinary people, and their friendships and relationships. The Hazards and the Mains are unforgettable. Jakes shows how decent people (as well as people not so decent) interacted with the institution of slavery on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line.

One of the best parts of the novel deals with the period during the 1840s when the two main protagonists are classmates together at West Point. This is a well-researched tale that is very insightful as regards life and strife at the military academy during a pivotal period of American history. It helps the reader understand the important role that West Point played in the nation's history during the Mexican War and, of course, the Civil War. And perhaps today.

This novel rates the overused label of "classic" and in my opinion represents one of the very best novels of the Civil War. It is, incidentally, the best novel of Jakes" "North and South" trilogy.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Historical Read, January 5, 2001

By 

David Farber - See all my reviews

This review is from: North and South (North and South Trilogy Part One) (Mass Market Paperback)

I just finished North and South and can't wait to move on to Love and War. When I first picked up the book, I didnt realize the book was almost entirely taking place in the years that led up to the outbreak of war. I absolutely loved the prologue, the story of Orry and George at West Point, life in the south at Mont Royal, and Charles and Billy becoming so similar to their brothers. This book was great in that not only did you learn about what the times were like but you also get a fantastic fictional story out of it. The characters and storylines are so strong you can almost feel what it was like to live in both the north and the south and you can commiserate with the characters. I liked the way Jakes writes: it flows and is an easy read. This was the first book I read by Jakes and I look forward to finishing the North and South series and also beginning the Kent Family series. I recommend this one highly.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars no matter what you are into, March 1, 2003

By 

curtis smith (flemingsburg, kentucky United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: North and South (G K Hall Large Print Book Series) (Hardcover)

No matter what you are into North and South is for you. This is one book that has everything a person could want in a book. If you like action-its there, romance-there, you will find it a tough book to put down!