{"product_id":"john-jakes-a-critical-companion-hardcover","title":"John Jakes: A Critical Companion - Hardcover","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eMary E. Jones\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJohn Jakes, often called the people's author and godfather of the historical novel, has made American history come to life in his series The Kent Family Chronicles and The North and South Trilogy. Through these novels, Jakes conveys the sweep of American history, both its glory and its grim scenes, from the American Revolution to the opening moments of the 20th century. Never glossing over the nation's flaws (slavery, materialism, a double-edged Manifest Destiny), Jakes nevertheless affirms American values. This is the first full-length critical study of his work. It examines in detail Jakes' 13 major novels to date and assesses his methods as America's history teacher. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn Part I, following a chapter on Jakes' life, Jones examines the early novels and Jakes' use of the genres of historical fiction, the western, and the historical family sage. Part II, The Kent Family Chronicles, devotes an individual chapter to each of the novels in this series, \u003ci\u003eThe Bastard\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Rebels\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Seekers\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Furies\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Titans\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Warriors\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Lawless\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eThe Americans\u003c\/i\u003e. Part III, New Beginnings, features chapters on \u003ci\u003eNorth and South\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eLove and War\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eHeaven and Hell\u003c\/i\u003e, and chapters on \u003ci\u003eCalifornia Gold\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eHomeland\u003c\/i\u003e. The examination of each novel in this study includes sections on plot development, character development, and thematic issues. Jones also offers an alternative critical perspective from which to read each novel--such as feminist literary criticism, New Historicism, Marxist criticism, and Deconstructionism--that gives the reader an alternative viewpoint from which to consider the novel. A complete bibliography of all of John Jakes' work, works about John Jakes, and a listing of reviews of all the novels examined in the book concludes the study.\u003ch3\u003eBack Jacket\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eJohn Jakes, often called \"the people's author\" and \"godfather of the historical novel\", has made American history come to life in his series The Kent Family Chronicles and The North and South Trilogy. Through these novels, Jakes conveys the sweep of American history, both its glory and its grim scenes, from the American Revolution to the opening moments of the 20th century. Never glossing over the nation's flaws (slavery, materialism, a double-edged Manifest Destiny), Jakes nevertheless affirms American values. This is the first full-length critical study of his work. It examines in detail Jakes thirteen major novels to date and assesses his methods as \"America's history teacher\". The examination of each novel in this study includes sections on plot development, character development, and thematic issues. Jones also offers an alternative critical perspective from which to read each novel - such as feminist literary criticism, New Historicism, Marxist criticism, and Deconstructionism - that gives the reader an alternative viewpoint from which to consider the novel. A complete bibliography of all of John Jakes' work, works about John Jakes, and a listing of reviews of all the novels examined in the book concludes the study.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMARY ELLEN JONES is Director of American Studies and Associate Professor of English at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio. She is author of \u003ci\u003eThe American Frontier\u003c\/i\u003e (1994), \u003ci\u003eSeeds of Change: Readings on Cultural Exchange after 1492\u003c\/i\u003e (1993), and \u003ci\u003eChristopher Columbus and His Legacy\u003c\/i\u003e (1992).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 248\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.9 x 9.56 x 6.42 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e November 01, 1996\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51754285367584,"sku":"9780313295300","price":104.4,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0974\/9764\/5344\/files\/fd2a21aa534ba9fa5cc196efb66546f9.webp?v=1780037102","url":"https:\/\/ebocreations.com\/products\/john-jakes-a-critical-companion-hardcover","provider":"The E-Book Oasis LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}