On Secret Service [Hardcover]

John Jakes (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 5, 2000

Called "the godfather of the historical novel" by the Los Angeles Times, John Jakes transports readers to a divided America and the last great untold story of the Civil War. Jakes, whose North and South trilogy includes all number one New York Times bestsellers, writes about the Civil War like no one else, and constructs a story of the shadow war waged by Union and Confederate spies and counterspies, by undercover agents and provocateurs on both sides of the line. From the involvement of the Pinkertons to the creation of the Secret Service to Lincoln's assassination, Jakes focuses on four young people caught up in the chaos of war: a spy, a rebel, an actress, and an officer, their lives swept away in a tumult of love, hatred, political intrigue, violence, and constant danger.

Set against the fiery backdrop of the Civil War, from fierce battles to the stunning violence of the New York Draft Riots to that fateful night at Ford's Theater when even the President's handpicked men could not stop an assassin's bullet, On Secret Service is rife with real people and accurate period detail--historical narrative at its finest--and is another classic from the master of the genre.

"John Jakes . . . is, quite simply, a master of the ancient art of storytelling." --The New York Times Book Review

"Jakes makes history come alive by weaving strands of fiction with carefully researched and brilliantly presented historical figures and events."--The Washington Post Book World (on American Dreams)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

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 stomping grounds in the engrossing On Secret Service. The story of a war within a war on various levels--the North v. the South, the Union's Pinkerton Detective Agency v. the Confederacy's agent provocateurs, youthful idealism v. youthful lust--On Secret Service chronicles the lives and times of four young Americans, from the war's early tremors in January 1861, through its bloody conclusion, Lincoln's assassination, and John Wilkes Booth's murder in May 1865.

The main players are Lon Price, the ardent abolitionist and rising-star operative of the Pinkerton Detective Agency, and Margaret Miller, the beautiful, initially vacuous daughter of the South whose chief concern is that the war be over quickly so as not to interfere with Washington's upcoming social season. After a chance encounter in a Washington park, they are as repulsed by each other's political views as they are drawn together by an undeniable physical chemistry. As hostilities increase, the Pinkertons are pledged to the service of the Union and Lon becomes, ipso facto, a charter member in the U.S. Secret Service. When Margaret's stridently pro-slavery father is gunned down by a Pinkerton operative at a clandestine "Secesh" meeting, Margaret throws off her socialite mantle and vows revenge. She pledges allegiance to the South's most notorious female spy, the wealthy, well-connected, and equally well-endowed Rose Greenhow.

A parallel relationship develops between Margaret's unlikely best friend, the boyishly slight Hanna Siegel, a devout abolitionist who longs to prove herself on the battlefield, and the conflicted Captain Frederick Dasher, late of West Point, now of the First Virginia Cavalry, and protégé to Brigadier General "Jeb" Stuart. Played out before a scrim of battles, lives, fortunes, and reputations won and irreparably lost, Lon, Margaret, Hanna, and Fred cat-and-mouse their way through America's costliest war.

While the respective outcomes are somewhat predictable, what is not predictable is the degree to which the reader is captivated by Jakes's encyclopedic command of historical fact and his unmatched storytelling. The mingling of well-drawn fictional characters with nicely fleshed-out historical figures raises to rare levels circumstances that would, in lesser hands, seem mere contrivances. --Michael Hudson

From Publishers Weekly

The author of the bestselling North and South trilogy remains in familiar territory as his latest sweeping historical novel retells the story of the Civil War, and also examines specific aspects of espionage, the development of the Secret Service and the controversies surrounding the Lincoln presidency and assassination. The chaos and drama of romantic love, also figure in the saga, centering on two young couples: Lon Price, a fledgling member of the newly founded Pinkerton agency, encounters beautiful actress Margaret Miller while investigating the secessionist movement, and Confederate lieutenant Frederick Dasher suffers a largely unrequited love for Miller's friend Hanna Siegel, also an actress and a secessionist. The Price/Miller pairing is by far the more interesting of the two, especially as Jakes explores the evolution of Pinkerton's secret service and how it linked with and diverged from the government's efforts to infiltrate the Confederate Army. Most of the scenes take place in and around Washington, and Jakes spreads himself a bit thin by covering the entire war rather than focusing exclusively on a smaller number of clandestine campaigns. The author saves the best for last in dealing with Lincoln's assassination, bringing the drama to life by giving each of his protagonists a crucial role as the conspiracy unfolds with expert pacing and suspense. Jakes uncovers the little-known history of espionage and counterespionage during the War Between the States with his signature combination of meticulous research and epic narrative, once again proving himself the foremost historical novelist of our national conflict in a title marking his 50th year as a professional writer. (June)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Adult; First Edition edition (June 5, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 052594544X
• ISBN-13: 978-0525945444
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #651,573 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Familiar Battleground for A Veteran Storyteller., June 13, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: On Secret Service (Hardcover)

I was only in grade school when North and South and the other chapters in Jakes' Civil War trilogy (Love & War and Heaven & Hell) were television events that would draw the older members of my family around the television--like campers around a fire listening to a great storyteller. My memories of plot and characters have since faded, but to the day I have always associated John Jakes with the Civil War. When I saw that Jakes had written a new Civil War novel I was compelled to pick it up. Absolutely epic! Jakes recreated a world that has always fascinated me, and come to think of it - it was Jakes who inspired my interest so many years ago. Detailed down to the smell, Jakes captures lightning bugs of emotion, anguish, tragedy and romance, only to have them released for his readers with the turn of each successive page. Most impressive to me was that even though the story was set on familiar ground, the perspective offered was one I had yet to experience. I am shocked that The Pinkertons and the original Secret Service have had as little historic exposure as they have. I had no idea the NY riots even took place, and watching them unfold was bearing witness to a few clouds of deception being revved up into a hurricane of the darkest human emotion and behavior.

Fantastic story! A Must Read! Highly Recommended!

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars John Jakes Does It Again!, June 9, 2000

By 

Nancy R. Katz "NancyK18" (NJ) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: On Secret Service (Hardcover)

Having devoured John Jakes's American series, the North and South trilogy and The Crown Family Saga, I couldn't wait to read his latest book, On Secret Service. And this furthur illustrated to me why I consider John Jakes to be one of my favorite historical writers as he once again delivered to me a first rate reading experience.

As he has done in his previous books, Jakes introduces us to two fictional characters who are involved with notable and famous people as they embark on adventures and participate in historical events. The book begins in Washington and then we, as readers, witness some of the battles of the Civil War, to the beginnings of the Secret Service. And eventhough we may know the climax of the book, it is getting there that is most fascinating.

This is a large book filled with an unforgettable cast of charatcers, during a momentous time in American history. I suggest you have lots of time to read when you begin this book. You won't be able to put it down.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's like being an eyewitness to the events of the Civil War, June 9, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: On Secret Service (Hardcover)

I'd never read a John Jakes novel before, but when I saw this in the bookstore I figured it was about time. What a treat! Not only did the characters and story draw me in and keep me turning the pages until way past my bedtime, but the way the history is portrayed is great--so much information woven in so skillfully that you don't even realize what you've learned until you've finished. The machinations of the spies are as devious as Cold War Berlin. The NYC draft riot chapter blew me away. I've lived in New York all my life, and somehow this subject has managed to escape notice--no placques, no commemorations--and no wonder. It is one of the uglier moments in this nation's history. Aside from the historical aspects, this is a thrilling read with lots of exciting action, and a surprisingly sexy love story! I see that his NORTH AND SOUTH trilogy is back in print now--guess I'm going to have to read these too. I really recommend ON SECRET SERVICE. I'm going to give it to my dad for Father's Day!