The saga continues in 1984's Love and War, which follows the Mains and Hazards for the duration of the American Civil War (1861-1865). It was later ranked the #8 hardcover fiction best seller of 1982 by Publishers Weekly.
North and South debuted at #12 on The New York Times Best Seller list, and reached #1 within four weeks on February 28, 1982. Orry and George say their final good-bye before the war, hoping for the best for each other. Beauregard open fire on Fort Sumter, setting off the Civil War. A few nights later, Confederate forces under the command of Brigadier General P.G.T. Stationed only a few miles away from the Main plantation at Major Robert Anderson's garrison at Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, Billy is given leave and marries Brett the next day. Army as the American Civil War draws near. Two years after the Mains and Hazards rendezvous in Pennsylvania, Billy joins the U.S. Brett and Orry are sent on their way to South Carolina unharmed. On the train back to South Carolina, the train is stopped by raiders under the command of the radical abolitionist John Brown in Harper's Ferry, West Virginia, then part of the state of Virginia. Louis, where Billy is stationed with the Army Corps of Engineers. In 1858, as Orry is planning a trip to Pennsylvania, Brett begs him to take her with him so they can continue to St. Later, Billy is a classmate of Orry's cousin Charles at West Point. Soon, Orry's younger sister Brett falls in love with George's younger brother Billy. George and Orry eventually meet up again and resume their friendship as tensions strengthen between the North and South. George is later released from the Army due to his father's death, and he and Constance return to George's home in Pennsylvania and marry. George and Orry end up in the Battle of Vera Cruz, where Orry's arm is badly wounded and eventually amputated. On the way to Mexico, George courts a young Irish woman in Texas named Constance. The companions graduate and become officers in the United States Army during the Mexican-American War. During their time at the academy, Orry and George are tormented by a sadistic Ohio cadet named Elkanah Bent, but in time are able to effect Bent's expulsion from West Point. They soon become close friends, frequently confronting their regional differences within the frame of their friendship. Orry Main from South Carolina and George Hazard from Pennsylvania meet on their way to the United States Military Academy at West Point. Over the next two decades (1842-1861) the men fight in the Mexican–American War, suffer various family conflicts, and witness the increasing discord between the North and the South regions of the United States. Published in 1982, North and South introduces the rice-growing Mains of South Carolina and the ironworking Hazards of Pennsylvania, whose respective scions Orry and George meet and become friends at West Point. Novels North and South (1982) North and South
The first installment, 1985's North and South, remains the seventh-highest rated miniseries in TV history. The novels were each adapted into television miniseries starring Patrick Swayze and James Read in 1985, 1986, and 1994. As of 2007, ten million copies of the trilogy remain in print. All three novels were also ranked within the top ten hardcover fiction best sellers for their respective years by Publishers Weekly. All three novels debuted on The New York Times Best Seller list, with North and South reaching #1 within four weeks on February 28, 1982. The trilogy was completed with Heaven and Hell in 1987. The first novel, North and South, was published in 1982, and was followed by Love and War in 1984. The slave-owning Mains are rural gentleman planters while the big-city Hazards live by manufacturing and industry, their differences reflecting the divisions between North and South that eventually led to the Civil War. The saga tells the story of the enduring friendship between Orry Main of South Carolina and George Hazard of Pennsylvania, who become best friends while attending the United States Military Academy at West Point but later find themselves and their families on opposite sides of the war.
Template:Other Template:Infobox book series North and South is a 1980s trilogy of bestselling novels by John Jakes which take place before, during, and after the American Civil War.