Very few authors can write a 1000 page novel that I just glide through -- John Jakes is one of them. I love his Civil War novels. Jakes states in his afterword that this book ultimately isn't about war or slavery, but about change. This story abounds with it -- some for the better, some for the worse, and some somewhere in-between. There is redemption and loss, and above all, strength and love. Many of the more recognizable features of the Civil War are barely touched upon, such as Gettysburg and the final surrender at Appomattox, but this allows more exploration of the lesser known happenings. I can't wait to watch the mini-series and then eventually move on to the final book. ( )

From the first Union rout in Virginia to the last tragic moments of surrender, here is a gigantic five-year panorama of the Civil War! Hostilities divide the Hazards and the Mains, testing them with loyalties more powerful than family ties. While soldiers from both families clash on the battlefields of Bull Run, Fredericksburg and Antietam, in intrigue-ridden Washington and Richmond, strong-willed men and beautiful women defend their principles with their lives ... or satisfy illicit cravings with schemes that could destroy friends and enemies alike!

"Massive, lusty, highly readable,.. a graphic, fast-paced amalgam of good, evil, love, lust, war, violence, and Americana." -- The Washington Post Book World

-From John Jakes' website: http://www.johnjakes.com/northandsout... ( )

NOT READ--1ST 10 PAGES MISSING