The Americans

By: John Jakes

Narrated by: Marc Vietor

Length: 26 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's Summary

The definitive volume in Jakes’s best-selling series finds the Kent family reaching to finally embrace its legacy - and its futureIn the final installment of the Kent Family Chronicles, the remaining Kents seek to fulfill Philip Kent’s original American dream.

As Gideon Kent’s health deteriorates, he fears for the future of his family. Their dynasty, now in ruins, stands as a tarnished symbol of all the Kents have lost in the unstable years of war and expansion. It falls to young Will to bring the family together - a task of epic scope. Only expert storyteller John Jakes could craft such a gripping finale to this beloved family saga, bringing the Kents’ drama - and the nineteenth century in America - to its riveting conclusion.

©1980 John Jakes (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

The Americans

Any additional comments?

These comments address The Kent Family Chronicles, the entire series of eight books, in audiobook format. All books are narrated by Marc Vietor. The entire series is approximately 125 hours of listening. Shortest book is 15.5 hours, longest over 26 hours. Vietor does a good job with narration, although the uniqueness of male voices is problematic. Most significant, you’ll have little difficulty determining who-says-what-to-who. Tempo and pacing fine, albeit the narration is a bit slow for my taste, bumped it to 1.25.

The entire series is a broad spectrum history of the United States from just pre-Revolutionary War through the 1890s and a chronicle of the Kent family through this time. Beginning with Phillip through the generations to the children of Gideon, a great-great-grandson. Members of the clan fight in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Civil War, are at the Alamo, the California Gold Rush, the Great Chicago Fire, the Johnstown Flood, and much more. The author skillfully intersperses vignettes of imagined and factual history. For example, two of the fictional characters of the series are sheltered for a few days at the home of the Lincolns in rural Kentucky - a baby is part of the family, young Abraham. One of the fictional characters is counseled by Benjamin Franklin. Fiction, Phillip’s childhood friend is Marquis deLafayette, non-fiction: deLafayette’s role in United States and French military. The series is rife with this type of paradigm, but it is not difficult to determine what is true and what is fiction. All the instances that involve the Kents and John Jake’s other fictional characters are products of his imagination. Much of the rest is a fun methodology of conveying historical events.

The stories are very listenable. I found no need to re-wind or fast-forward; no segment boring or irrelevant. Theses books are not ‘love stories’ in the typical sense, albeit familial relationships, the crux of The Kent Family Chronicles, must include love stories, n'est-ce pas? In those areas where a sexual encounter is defined it is relevant to the plot and tastefully written. This does not occur often, but the clan does proliferate :-). A word to the prudish: there are a couple of rapes vividly described.

Very typical of the time written, the 1970s, writing is a bit verbose. Several of these books were adapted for television mini-series, popular at the time.

John Jakes is a terrific historical fiction author, recommended. Enjoy!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

gratifying conclusion!

a wonderful conclusion to a great historical series. highly recommended reading for those Love American history

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

I'm Sorry That It Has Ended!

Great series. Hats off to the author. Excellent job. I feel as if I am a part of the Kent family. I wish there were more books as I do not know what to do with my time now!!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Great Serves

Great story and a great narrstion. Best book series in a long time. John Jakes is fantastic

The Kent's

What a great series!!! I love how John Jakes puts the Kent Family in every major event in world history. The very lowest of times and all the great times shared as a family. I'll keep my fingers crossed for book 9..

Gideon Kent 2

Any additional comments?

BOOK: (Amazon Summary) The Kent Family Chronicles conclude with Gideon Kent in failing health and his heirs unready to uphold the family legacy of service when their country needs them most.

NARRATION: Marc Vietor narrates the entire series which is a plus. I like the consistency of hearing the same voice throughout the story line. The voices are well done, female and male are easily distinguishable.

Loved it

Possibly the best of the series. Wondering when the next book will be available! Can't wait to hear more of the Kent family.

The American story thru one family's journey.

A great listen. taking the listener through the years if American history through the lives of the Kent family & their brushes with the American story.

American History

I've done all of the Kent Chronicles. What I've learned is American history. Jon Jakes has an amazing knowledge of history. I listened and learned. However, the breasts, please, all the men notice the breasts. I say, "get over it". A question I'd like to ask is why is every main character a physical fighter. Regardless, it's a good series. Put your headphones on and do some housework or gardening. It's a great time filler.