by John Jakes
First published 2012
Orry Main arrives at West Point from his South Carolina plantation, where he meets George Hazard, a fellow cadet from Pennsylvania. The two young men form a deep friendship during their military training at the United States Military Academy. They serve together in the Mexican-American War, their bond strengthened by shared combat experience. But as tensions mount between North and South in the 1850s, their friendship faces increasing strain. Orry's Southern roots and George's Northern upbringing pull them toward opposing viewpoints on slavery and states' rights. When the first shots ring out at Fort Sumter, the Civil War begins and the two friends find themselves wearing different uniforms. Orry fights for the Confederacy while George serves the Union cause. Their personal loyalty clashes with their regional allegiances as the nation tears itself apart. This opening volume of John Jakes's trilogy explores how war can divide even the closest bonds.
Genres: american-civil-war, american-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, military-fiction, 19th-century, american-history
Vibes: emotional-atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: South Carolina, Pennsylvania, West Point, United States, Fort Sumter
Period: 1850s, Mexican-American War, Civil War
812 pages · Kindle Edition · Open Road Media