On Secret Service
by John Jakes
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Two couples learn that love does not take sides when Lon Price, a secret agent with the Union army, falls for Rebel sympathizer Margaret Miller, and Confederate Major Fred Dasher becomes enchanted with actress Hanna Siegel, a young woman masquerading as a Union soldier.Tags
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Member Reviews
"On Secret Service", by John Jakes, was another one of his enjoyable historical fictional novels. The setting takes place before, during, and after the Civil War. There are strong characters on both sides of this time in our history. Mr. Jakes does a wonderful job of showing both sides of the storyline. It took me a little longer to get through this novel, because in my opinion, it dragged on a bit. Even though I liked the characters, it seemed unbelievable that characters from opposite sides of the war would have the relationships that they did. If you are a fan of historical fiction and are interested in this time in our history, I would recommend.
A regular potboiler, despite having some real historical characters woven into the stilted and unlikely action. Almost without exception the two-dimensional, fictional characters behave in an imprudent and unlikely manner, held together only by a set of coincidental events and happenings that defy reasonable probability. If this were to be the yardstick, I'd be very unlikely to consider reading more by this author.
I really enjoyed this book. It takes you right into the events leading up President Lincoln's assassination. I got sucked into the events and found myself hoping that the book's protagonist would be able to thwart the assassination, though I knew it couldn't happen.
I enjoy historical fiction immensely. This book had a lot of great info regarding the civil war that I enjoyed learning about. Have always enjoyed John Jakes Writing.
I enjoy historical fiction immensely. This book had a lot of great info regarding the civil war that I enjoyed learning about. Have always enjoyed John Jakes Writing.
Plodding at times but overall a good read
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267+ Works 20,406 Members
John Jakes was born in Chicago in 1932. He studied acting at Northwestern University, where he began writing professionally during his freshman year. Later he enrolled in a creative writing program at DePauw University and received a master's degree in American literature from Ohio State University. Early in his career Jakes wrote copy for a show more pharmaceutical company and various ad agencies, and authored dozens of short stories encompassing western, mystery and science fiction themes. In March 1973, Jakes commenced work on The Kent Family Chronicles, a multi-volume set portraying American history through the lives of a fictional family. Later works include North and South (1982), California Gold (1989), Homeland (1993), and American Dreams. Six of his major novels have been filmed as television miniseries, and North and South remains one of the highest rated miniseries in the history of television. Jakes is actively involved in the adaptation of North and South for the Broadway stage. John Jakes has been hailed as the godfather of the historical novel, and America's history teacher. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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- Canonical title
- On Secret Service
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- Members
- 545
- Popularity
- 54,421
- Reviews
- 6
- Rating
- (3.51)
- Languages
- Danish, English, German
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 17
- UPCs
- 1
- ASINs
- 5
