Love and War by John Jakes

This epic component, part two of the Civil War trilogy by the author, deals with the Hazzard and Main families. It shows us how the war affects all of them and it is seen through the eyes of each member of these families. Attitudes evolved and the livelihoods of those involved were affected both negatively and in a positive way.

The war itself was fought for many different reasons. Chiefly, the slavery issue was the main one. Secondly, the war was fought to keep the union in tact though an imperfect arrangement at the time. For whatever reason, this conflict caused families to tear apart at the seams, with differing ideas and different alliances. Friendships were broken and neighbors fought other neighbors.

George Hazzard and Orry Main were very close friends although both were on opposing sides of the war. George was from PA and Orry from SC. George's younger brother Billy was a union soldier and Orry's cousin Charles Main was a confederate soldier. They had been friends at WestPoint but now they had taken sides and nothing would ever be the same. Brett Main had married Billy Hazzard but now this southern girl was living in the north with Billy's kin. They were deeply in love but Billy was a union troop fighting her southern neighbors. Meanwhile, Orry Main, who had lost an arm in the Mexican War, was now fighting on the side of the confederacy.

Brett had to adjust to the attitudes of northerner who didn't like her just because of her southern background. They knew who she was by her accent and how she dressed. The Hazzard family liked her a lot, however and knew she was a kind and sweet person. Brett's attitude about slavery changed dramatically after she met former slaves and helped those fleeing her native south. She was learning to understand. She had grown up with slavery at her family plantation and didn't see the harm that was being done since she was always good to the slave hands and treated them fairly. Now, she was beginning to see the injustice in the practice of bondage. Her husband Billy learned to be more compassionate after being captured and having spent time at Libby Prison. They were learning from their experiences in a positive way.

Stanley Hazzard was a war profiteer. He and his wife bought a footwear factory and made inferior boots to fill a contract he had obtained via his political cronies. Ashton Main and her husband invested in a ship with the help of her lover. The boat would sneak past enemy lines and bring in goods that they could sell for incredible profits. The war didn't teach Stanley or Ashton much. It was something that fit right into their flawed personalities.

A villainous character, by the name of Elkanah Bent, was an upper classman of George and Orry back at West Point. He had an incredible hatred for them from their school days after they had pointed out his faults to others. Bent then spends his whole life trying to get back at Hazzard and Main any way that he can. He even seeks out the younger Billy Hazzard and Charles Main. Bent locates them all on several occasions throughout the story and his mischief and unusual behavior gets worse and worse as he tries to ruin their lives. His military career is not going well because of his extreme manner and ill thoughts in regards to soldiers that fall under his command. He seems to blame Main and Hazzard for all his misfortunes in reaching his goals. He always thinks of them negatively instead of considering his own poor actions to be the reason for his failure.

George gets a military post in the nation's capital while Orry serves the confederacy. Orry is killed in battle and his love, Madeline tries to keep the family plantation running. The slaves are excited at Mount Royal as at other plantations in the south. The rebelling workers make the place hard to manage but she does a good job just the same. She is determined to care for his home as if he were still part of her life.

Everything was proceeding favorably until a former escaped slave, who held a grudge against Orry's father, returns to the area just as the union army comes through and starts looting homes. When it is an opportune time, this angry slave attacks and sets fire to the Mount Royal. Many of the remaining slaves, who are loyal to Madeline, try to help. They stay and try to support and protect Madeline. Unfortunately, the main house was burned to the ground the way it had happened to other nearby homes.

This book shows how the Civil War had a profound effect on everyone regardless of their different personalities. It gives a clearer view through the lives of these two families from both sides of the war. Jakes creates some vivid characters that help to draw you in and keep you satisfied and interested.