John Jakes

John Jakes (1932 - 2019) was an American historical fiction writer best known for his series "The Kent Family Chronicles" and "The North and South Trilogy." Born in Chicago, Illinois, Jakes served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. After his service, he worked as a journalist and public relations executive. He began writing historical novels in the late 1970s and quickly gained a wide readership. Jakes's novels often spanned multiple generations and explored the social and political issues of their time. His writing style was noted for its meticulous research, rich characters, and suspenseful plots. He won numerous awards, including the American Library Association's Book of the Year Award for "North and South" (1982) and the Golden Spur Award from the Western Writers of America for his novel "The Bastard" (1974). Jakes's works have been translated into more than 20 languages and have sold over 90 million copies worldwide. His novels have also been adapted into several television miniseries.