The first volume in the addictive saga of the American Revolution by the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of the North and South trilogy. Meet Phillipe Charboneau: the illegitimate son and unrecognized heir of the Duke of Kentland. Upon the Duke’s death, Phillipe is denied his birthright and left to build a life of his own. Seeking all that the New World promises, he leaves London for … promises, he leaves London for America, shedding his past and preparing for the future by changing his name to Philip Kent. He arrives at the brink of the American Revolution, which tests his allegiances in ways he never imagined. The first volume of John Jakes’s wildly successful and highly addictive Kent Family Chronicles, The Bastard is a triumph of historical fiction. This ebook features an illustrated biography of John Jakes including rare images from the author’s personal collection.
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Great lesson in history, with a good story and characters.
Like the author and this did not disappoint. Wish the other books in the series were available at discounted rates.
Good way to learn some history without having to read a text book.
Sure, Jakes has sold a ton of books, and that probably speaks for itself, but this first volume of the Kent family saga is low-level literature with cardboard characters and store-bought emotions. It’s interesting chiefly for the historical persons Jakes puts into his mix. I finished this volume but I’ll not be following the saga, thank you very …
John Jakes is the best historical fiction writer around. Start with this book, finish this series, then move on to every one of his others. You will learn about historical events without even realizing it.
This is a typical historical epic. The characters are realistic and the plot is interesting.
The author blends the character of this book into world and early American history. The main character(who’s name I have forgotten now) meets many special people like Ben Franklin and Paul Revere as an example. Even though this is fiction it is very factual as far as our 1700s history in the USA. Msgt Denis L Neal USAF Ret
Interesting, but a little slow. It spent so much time talking about other people who really may have been important historically, but really have little to do with the book.
Great story, wonderful characters.
Read the whole series. Seems true to history and written in fiction makes it very enjoyable.
Interesting view of history with a good storyline. True historical fiction in the best sense of the genre
A great book to read. It has a lot of important historical information and you felt you were there as one of the characters.
I read the whole series many years ago. As a person who loves history, each book kept me fascinated as the characters progressed through life. I was sorry when the series ended.
This book was a little gritty…probably pretty much like the time in which it was set. It brought events and the atmosphere in George III’s England and Boston’s rebellious air in the 1770’s to life. I found the opening about time in France and England fairly slow, but that provided the background to understand happenings later in the book.
Well written and engaging.
Characters were a bit stereotypical and one dimensional but I enjoyed the details and terminology of the lives of those living during the Revolutionary years.
A thought provoking insight into history with great characters you’ll want to follow through the end of this multi book series.
Hooks the reader and makes them read the next book
The whole series is really great. After reading the first book, you will want all of them. Through the fictional people in the books you will meet many historical people and will come away feeling like you really know them.
I love historical novels and this one was very good. The first book in a series that I loved….