Series Review: Kent Family Chronicles

I recently finished the Kent Family Chronicles series by John Jakes. The series follows the Kent family from its beginnings in 1770s Europe through to the 1890s in the United States.

The first book, The Bastard, begins with the founder of the family, Philippe Charboneau and a family dispute that leads him to seek a new life in the English colonies prior to the Revolutionary War, changing his name to Philip Kent at the same time. The Rebels follows the fate of the new Kent family through the Revolutionary War from the mid to late 1770s. The Seekers covers the period from the mid 1790s to the early 1810s, including the aftermath of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. The Furies kicks off at the Battle of the Alamo, following the family through the mid 1850s and the lead up to the Civil War. The Titans primarily covers the family's fate during the Civil War. The Warriors follows the Civil War to its finish. The Lawless addresses the years immediately following the Civil War, including the aftermath of the war on the Kent family. The final book, The Americans, follows the family through to the 1890s and attempts to wrap up the family saga.

John Jakes.
Image from Amazon.com

One of the things I love about this series, which I wholeheartedly recommend, is that it touches on a lot of lesser known historical events, such as the Chicago Fire and the Johnstown flood, often placing the protagonists in the middle of the events. He also finds a plausible way to bring in major characters from history, including presidents. He also writes in a way that lets you guess what historical figure you are about to "meet," dropping hints to help you out, which is fun. He also brings in lesser known historical figures, not just well known ones. He also does a great way of keeping you apprised of the political situation in the country without getting bogged down in an overwhelming amount of detail.

He also does a good job of having some morally gray characters - not all of the Kents are squeaky clean. However, they are definitely gray - there's little in the way of true "bad actors" in the Kent family. Similarly, the book does get a bit repetitive in the sense that every generation has some moral quandary they must grapple with. In many cases it makes sense - for example grappling with slavery in the lead up to the Civil War. However, having everyone grapple with major moral issues is a little far-fetched.

However, the outcomes are just varied enough to keep them from being totally predictable, and the backdrop of interesting historical events keeps them worth reading all the way through. The characters are also different enough to make each book feel unique; they have different careers, different experiences, different opinions.

Overall, this series is well worth the read in my opinion. The links to the individuals book are available above, or you can buy the whole series here. If you enjoy historical fiction in the United States, or family sagas, this is sure to be worth your time.