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The Lawless (Kent Family Chronicles #7)
by
John Jakes
The Kent Family Chronicles continue as Jeremiah Kent becomes an infamous shootist in the Wild West-bringing him closer to a destiny that will end in bloodshed.
Paperback, 704 pages
Published
March 1st 2005
by Signet
(first published 1978)
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Book 7 of 8 of the Kent Family Chronicles brings us full force into the labor union issues of the 1870's. Lots of horrors of those days we can't even begin to imagine. Gideon Kent, oldest son of Jephtha, great grandson of the original Philip Kent, has moved from a one sheet union rag to reporter/publisher of the family New York Union newspaper, in the hopes that he can make his mark in helping American labormen with wage/compensation issues. In reporting on union issues he always sends himse...more
This is volume 7 of the Kent Family Chronicles. The story takes place in the 15 years following the Civil War. It starts out with Matthew in Paris. He is the artist who won't change his views to be with his girlfriend and son. Most of the book deals with Gideon and his horrible marriage with Margaret. I felt sorry for Gideon with all he had to deal with due to Margaret's insanity. Don't get me wrong, Gideon didn't handle things the way he should have but I couldn't attack him too much based...more
I believe this book (#7 in the series) is the best one yet. It exposes the reader to the strain of Gideon's family life, his unrequited love for Julia, and his struggle to become a "self-made" man. Gideon wasn't much of a student in his childhood and he finds he must work harder in his adult life to obtain the skills necessary to join the family publishing company. A reader can feel the pain of his wife's alcohol addiction along with the emotional withdrawal of his children. A hateful ...more
One more book to go in John Jakes' Bicentennial Series! The Lawless is well titled as this installment of the Kent Family Chronicles seems to have more violence, certainly more brutal, lawless violence. It tracks the stories of Jephtha Kent's three sons: Gideon, the newspaper publisher fighting for union rights; Matt, the tortured artist living in France; and Jeremiah, roaming the wild west under various assumed names. Jeremiah is thought dead by his family, disenchanted Matt refuses to retur...more
more of the kent family chronicles, this book covers the end of the civil war, the greed and corruption after it, the building of the trans continental railroad, and the settling of the west. as always the historical timeline and data are impeccable, set in a family story that makes america more real, at least for me.
John Jakes' reputation for historical accuracy, his writing style, and the story he tells of the fictional Kent family combine to makes the entire 8-volume family saga absolutely wonderful. Reading this series was key in getting me "hooked" on the historical-fiction genre.
Many sidebars as we follow various member of the Kent family - mostly that of Gideon who takes over the Newspaper part of the family business. Some very challenging experiences to be met.
Just when I htought I was getting tired of the Kent family. This was pretty good. Just one more to go and I will be finished this series.
Honestly, this is how I truly learned American history. These books follow generations of the "Kents" and their lives in America.
Love, Love, Love the book and the series. This one isn't as good as the rest but you must read them all.
Loved this book in the series. All these books are awesome!
I read this series the summer before my 8th grade year. And I remember I really liked them. On the pre-test for American History I aced it, got the highest in the whole school, and I credit it all to these books. They are a great way to learn American History. I found the whole series at a yard sale this summer, and bought them, excited to read them again. But they weren't as good the second time. In fact, I didn't even finish the series. Maybe you have to know nothing about American Hist...more
Nicole Gust
added it
One of his better books of this series.
This book, while still managing to hold my interest-seems to be the weakest link in the Kent Family chain. At least for me anyway.
More of the Jakes bicentenial series.
This book runs from 1869 to 1877
Kent Family Chronicles Volume 7 Great!
15 tapes each 90 minutes.
Good book-boy that Kent family is just as dysfunctional as they come--lot's of interesting history in a fictional story.
Wow! So happy to have enjoyed this book SO much!
I found myself skimming through a few sections, including the final chapter about Eleanor.
Overall, this was a good book. If you are reading the series, you might want to take a break before reading this one. I will be doing the same before I finish the last book.
Overall, this was a good book. If you are reading the series, you might want to take a break before reading this one. I will be doing the same before I finish the last book.
Don't know if I was growing weary of the story; but this wasn't one of my favorite entries; perhaps it's because I'm not drawn to stories set in the Wild West.
Another in "The Bastard" series. I lived on these in junior high and revisited them in high school.
Craig&kerri
rated it
Recommends it for:
adults who enjoy great story and history
Recommended to Craig&kerri by:
Craig-my husband
Of all the Kent Family Chronicle books, I think this was my favorite.
pne of my two absolute favorites in this series
Tiffany
marked it as to-read
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
historical fiction fans, people interested in US history
Book VII of The Kent Family Chronicles. Post-Civil War.
Kent chronicles volume VII
Fun- One of my guilty pleasures.
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AKA Jay Scotland, Alan Payne, Rachel Ann Payne & J.X. Williams
John Jakes is the acknowledged contemporary master of the family saga. He is the creator of the legendary eight-volume Kent Family Chronicles, the Main and Hazard families of The North and South Trilogy, and the Crowns of Chicago, German-Americans whose stories interweave the history of the twentieth century in Homeland and its se...more
More about John Jakes...
John Jakes is the acknowledged contemporary master of the family saga. He is the creator of the legendary eight-volume Kent Family Chronicles, the Main and Hazard families of The North and South Trilogy, and the Crowns of Chicago, German-Americans whose stories interweave the history of the twentieth century in Homeland and its se...more
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