North and South: North and South Trilogy, Book 1

North and South is the first novel in John Jakes' trilogy of the American Civil War. This first book tells the story of the close friendship the develops between George Hazard Of Pennsylvania and Orry Main of South Carolina. Hazard belongs to the industrial class of the mighty North, while Main is a member of the Southern caste of slave holding plantation owners. The backgrounds of these two men are fraught with seemingly insurmountable differences. Despite this, Main and Hazard become close friends during their time at West Point, as well during their service in the Mexican American war. After that conflict the two friends are followed throughout the tumultuous 1850's, right up to the firing on Fort Sumter and the start of the Civil War. The tragedy of the Civil War is magnified as these two intimate companions choose sides, wish each other luck, and go to war.

Over the last 25 years I have read this trilogy three times and I have been waiting very impatiently for an audio version. And it has arrived in all it's glory. Having the superb Grover Gardner narrate is simply icing on a three layer cake.

Im glad they redid the North and South books..I've already bought the old DVD series with Patrick Swayze, I bought the preorder of book two,i cant wait to start it..With all the true events of the civil war and the that time John Jakes does a great job putting two families from different walks together.. The love and hate the two families have for each other will test the times..And it wont be easy,this is a must read...

I am really enjoying this book, but I love this period in history. Interesting characters. Every so often it gets a bit slow, but it always picks up again.

I first read this book decades ago and enjoyed it immensily. I also watched the mini series and enjoyed that immensly as well. Now finally someone has introduced an unabridged audio version of it, I'm thrilled. Having read the other reviews of this book I have to agree that this book is a classic. Actually it is an epic classic especially when considered with the other two books in this series. Jakes does a fabulous job of fictionalising historical events as this book and the two that follow it so apetly demonstrate. The narrator isn't bad, but he isn't good enough to do these books justice, although to be honest I'm not sure who would be. One of the other reviewers compared this book or series with the Winds of War - War and Rememberance series. He was right on the mark like taht series this series is also epic.

Jakes weaves fact anc fiction and makes it come alive. After reading and listening to Gone With the Wind several times, I was pleasantly surprised to see names and characters in both books. Reality meets fiction in a wonderful mix. Can't wait to finish part 2 and get started on part 3. Well worth the time to listen.

I read it many years ago and the audio version brought it to life. Great listen

the feeling you are there with the characters, both in Pa and in the South

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I liked this because I love Civil War novels. The cloe relationships betweent the Northern & Southern families added a new dimension.

Read this book when it first came out many years ago, so this was like brand new to me I really didn't remember much of the story. I enjoyed it then, I loved it now, history, romance, mystery has it all. The characters are wonderful, I lived in the North for many years and now in the South for many years and I can tell you everyone tells a different story about the war depending on where you live - North or South. Just started Book 2 and it's just as good.

Interesting to feel you know how pre-Civil War citizens felt & behaved.... not much different that people today.

I love historical fiction when it is done right. This novel was great in that way. True historical events happen to and around the fictional characters. I hear a deep and complex story of interwoven families; live and grow with them. All the while, they are impacted by the current events around them. The impending Civil War. I like to learn a little bit while I am being entertained!! I only left off a star because there was no one particular character that I fell in love with.