Love and War: Volume Two of the North and South Trilogy

By: John Jakes

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 42 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

The Main and Hazard families clash on and off the Civil War’s battlefields as they grapple with the violent realities of a divided nation.

America's master storyteller continues his reign with Love and War, a story steeped in passion and betrayal. With the Confederate and Union armies furiously fighting, the once-steadfast bond between the Main and Hazard families continues to be tested. From opposite sides of the conflict, they face heartache and triumph on the frontlines as they fight for the future of the nation and their loved ones.

With his impeccable research and unfailing devotion to the historical record, John Jakes offers his most enthralling and enduring tale yet.

©1982 John Jakes (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Very good story --- but not equal to vol. one!

Though this second volume was very good it seemed to fall short of the first. There is a great deal of unnecessary dialog that I felt was to NO point or purpose in the story! The aforementioned seemed to make the story/book a bit to looooooong.

Irrespective of the above comments I GENUINLY look FORWARD to volume three!!!

Love and War

Any additional comments?

Audiobook. Over forty hours of listening. Love and War is the second book in a three part trilogy regarding the American Civil War. Although historically accurate, the primary purpose of this story is not to convey history. It is rather to convey the effects of history of the lives of ordinary people. Sweeping and accurate, Love and War pulls the characters from North and South through the war years as human, flawed, and victims all.

Expect the epic-tale style of writing, a different type of presentation than the modern novel. Better, in my opinion, affording the reader the opportunity to savor the time and thoughts of the characters and the author.

Listened to this audiobook at 1.5 speed. Grover Gardner, although a terrific narrator for the series, is a bit slow for my taste.

Love history.

if you enjoy history you will like this book about the civil war. It is long and I liked that.

so many parrellels to today.

the conflicts. the polarisation of the political parties. the blindness that opposites hold on to

Excellent!

I enjoyed this volume as much, if not more, than the first book in the series. Rather than mind-numbing details about the various battles, we see how the war affects the emotional well being of the characters as they live through their respective trials and tribulations.
As a devotee of historical fiction, I can't believe I've never read this series. I vaguely remember the mini-series as a teenager but apparently was not sufficiently impressed to pick up the book. I'm glad I have now. I look forward to the third volume.

Gripping Civil War story

The characters in this story are so well drawn that I “feel their pain” or joy as written. I find myself sitting in a parking lot to finish a chapter before finishing my errands. The families, the impact of the war on them, the hair raising episodes from time to time all make this a story to remember. John Jakes can tell a great story, well researched as to the war itself. Grover Gardner is a superb narrator!

Didn’t won’t this to end

I cried when Orry lost his life. I have laid in bed at night thinking about all the things that our country went through, men and women of all color. This book this Trilogy is a must have.

Where America Once Died

This is not a history of the Civil War. It is a novel set in the circumstances of the war. A tale of two families and the trials and tribulations they suffer because of the state of the union, leading to and in the conduct of the war. As such the book consists of fictional narrative (of considerable length) having a plot that unfolds and entertains. As a story; it is a very enthralling and takes the reader-listener on a very involving journey.

One does not learn the political theory or history but we do learn of the misdeeds of those who took advantage of the tragedy. The how, when where and whys of the corruption that proliferated by war and its profiteers and heathen combatants. The story provides no quarter of protection from evil. It very well explains the human losses that the war caused – not only in lives, and that great loss was ably demonstrated, but the human angst that comes from the many exigencies war brings. All adding up to a difficult to put down read-listen.

Wonderfully written, wonderfully read, and all in all a good journey travelling with the many characters and their war years.

Good Follow Up

While it is a good follow up and worth the listen, there are such heartbreaking moments that alter the course of the whole story. It is hard to imagine how the author will continue the story when the main elements have altered completely. This story almost completely ties up all the original stories that one could speculate that this should have been the last book in the story.

Family turmoil during the civil war.

What did you love best about Love and War: Volume Two of the North and South Trilogy?

The time period was well researched and the author managed to put key characters in key places during the war.

Which character – as performed by Grover Gardner – was your favorite?

You cannot go wrong with Grover Gardner as the narrator. Charles Main was my favorite character.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The death of Orry Main was completely unexpected and disappointing. I would like to have seen how he developed post war but it goes to show you that death can come for anyone at any time.

Any additional comments?

If your only experience with this story was the t.v. mini series you owe it to yourself to read the story, as the author intended.