North and South facts for kids

North and South is a famous novel written by John Jakes. It is the first of three books in a series. The story is about two close friends who end up fighting on opposite sides during the American Civil War.

The Story of North and South

The book North and South tells the exciting story of two families. One family, the Hazards, lives in the North. The other family, the Mains, lives in the South. The main characters are Orry Main from the South and George Hazard from the North. They become best friends while attending the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Friendship and War

As the story unfolds, the friendship between Orry and George is tested. The United States is heading towards a terrible conflict. The differences between the North and the South grow stronger. These differences are mainly about slavery and states' rights. Eventually, the country breaks apart, leading to the American Civil War.

The Main Characters

• Orry Main: He is from a wealthy plantation family in South Carolina. Orry believes in the Southern way of life.
• George Hazard: He comes from a successful industrial family in Pennsylvania. George supports the Northern ideas and the Union.

Even though they are best friends, Orry and George find themselves on opposite sides of the war. The novel shows how the war affects their lives and their families. It also explores the challenges faced by people during this difficult time in American history.

The Book Series

North and South is the first book in a trilogy. A trilogy means a series of three books.

• The first book, North and South, was published in 1982.
• The second book is called Love and War. It was published in 1984.
• The third book is named Heaven and Hell. It came out in 1987.

These books follow the lives of the Main and Hazard families through the Civil War and its aftermath. They show how the war changed America forever.

TV Miniseries Adaptations

The North and South books were so popular that they were made into TV miniseries. A miniseries is like a very long movie shown in several parts.

• The first miniseries, based on North and South, aired in 1985.
• The second miniseries, based on Love and War, came out in 1986.
• The third miniseries, based on Heaven and Hell, was shown in 1994.

The main characters, George Hazard and Orry Main, were played by famous actors. James Read played George Hazard. Patrick Swayze played Orry Main. Patrick Swayze's character does not appear in the third part of the miniseries. These TV shows helped bring the story to an even wider audience.

See also

In Spanish: Norte y Sur para niños