Charleston

I purchased this book at the airport simply because John Jakes' name was on it. Having loved the Bicentennial Series I knew what a great storyteller he is. I was disappointed with the North and South series but found CHARLESTON very engrossing. I completed it in a matter of hours because I could not put it down. For anyone planning on visiting Charleston I would suggest reading this book first. Historical fiction can be accurate and boring, inaccurate and fun, or accurate as well as engaging. This is one of those. Time flies when reading this!

i was surprised at all of the bad reviews from this book because i have never read a bad john jakes book, and i have read just about all of them i expected to be a little disappointed, but i thought it was as good as usual. it's a typical multigenerational saga from jakes divided into three books. the novel tells the saga of the bell family beginning with the american revolution and ending just after the civil war in 1866. i will agree with that there are no immediate likable characters like a philip kent but l liked alex and i liked ham. also there is no real villian like an elkanah bent in this novel. also, the novel seems a little short. one of the reasons why the characters are not that likable is that we never really get a chance to know them. the kent family chronicles was 8 novels in a 100 year span. we got to know the characters. this novel covers about 90 years in just 1 novel. i think it would have been better if it was 2 or three novels. however, it was still excellent, and i look forward to reading more of mr. jakes' novels.

This book relates to the people of Charleston and those of us who are only visitors and admirers. Charleston is a city whose past is forever on display. This book captures the essence of this citie's past . The feel,the smell and the comfort that is Charleston is felt by the reader. Friends who read this book, but have never been to Charleston, found it hard to visualize and were lost only in the citie's history. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to have visited and have become enemored by it can feel it's presence" in" every page . Bravo John Jakes

Charleston is a sweeping and magnificent historical novel. It recounts the tale of two families: the Bells and Larks as they endure the seasons of their lives in Charleston. The historical sweep of the novel encompasses the Revolutionary War through the aftermath of the Civil War. Three generations of these families live, learn, and grow. For long-time readers of Jakes' work, he mentions the families from his North and South series - the Main and Haazards. He also includes references from On Secret Service. The story is epic and compelling. The reader will be emotionally invested in the characters as they move through the generations. An engrossing historical tale of one city...of Charleston.

From the introduction to the end, the master of historical fiction is back, John Jakes; author of The Kent Family Chronicles and the North and South trilogy, has set out a sweeping, multi- generational novel. He rightly warns listeners/readers of his use of the infamous "N" word, as it is set in the historical context of the novel. [I am listening to the audio version and look forward to buying the print version (when it comes out in paperback in 2003)].