Bravo, Mr.
Jakes! You've done it again! The author of "North and South", Heaven and Hell" and "The Bastard" series has remained one of my favorite authors.
The book, Homeland"takes off where "The Bastard" books ended.
He intertwines a story about the "Crown" (formally Kronner) family who immigrated to America in the 1800's from Germany.
It's about the struggle to survive the Civil and Cuban wars along with the start of labor unions and the violence that went along with them.
Joe Crown, the patriarch, owns a brewery in Chicago.
His son, Joe, Jr.
works at the brewery and does menial jobs.
It is by his choice.
He also is a sympathizer with the union movement, which will have severe consequences.
Paul is his nephew who has recently come to America and finds his calling in an entirely different profession.
As a photographer, he covers many historical events during the turn of the twentieth century.
Joe's daughter, Fritzi, aspires to become an actress, an occupation frowned upon by Joe.
Joe's wife has become involved in the temperance movement, much to the chagrin of her husband.
Historically, the author writes about Teddy Roosevelt and the "Rough Riders", the eccentric Henry Ford, the Vanderbilts and many other notable people of thetime period.
Any teacher wanting to capture a student's interest in this time period should encourage the reading of this book.
It weaves fiction with history and sidesteps the humdrum of historical memorization.
John Jakes weaves fiction and history into a saga that captures your attention while teaching history.
Definitely, a read and learn book!
Jakes! You've done it again! The author of "North and South", Heaven and Hell" and "The Bastard" series has remained one of my favorite authors.
The book, Homeland"takes off where "The Bastard" books ended.
He intertwines a story about the "Crown" (formally Kronner) family who immigrated to America in the 1800's from Germany.
It's about the struggle to survive the Civil and Cuban wars along with the start of labor unions and the violence that went along with them.
Joe Crown, the patriarch, owns a brewery in Chicago.
His son, Joe, Jr.
works at the brewery and does menial jobs.
It is by his choice.
He also is a sympathizer with the union movement, which will have severe consequences.
Paul is his nephew who has recently come to America and finds his calling in an entirely different profession.
As a photographer, he covers many historical events during the turn of the twentieth century.
Joe's daughter, Fritzi, aspires to become an actress, an occupation frowned upon by Joe.
Joe's wife has become involved in the temperance movement, much to the chagrin of her husband.
Historically, the author writes about Teddy Roosevelt and the "Rough Riders", the eccentric Henry Ford, the Vanderbilts and many other notable people of thetime period.
Any teacher wanting to capture a student's interest in this time period should encourage the reading of this book.
It weaves fiction with history and sidesteps the humdrum of historical memorization.
John Jakes weaves fiction and history into a saga that captures your attention while teaching history.
Definitely, a read and learn book!