The Bastard - John Jakes - A Short Summary & Review
The Bastard - John Jakes - A Short Summary & Review
By: a.d. elliott | Take the Back Roads - Art and Other Odd Adventures
A Rite of Fancy Book Recommendation and Review
A short summary:
The Bastard begins the Kent Family Chronicles, tracing the life of Philippe Charboneau, the illegitimate son of an English duke and a Frenchwoman. Denied legitimacy yet raised with ambition, Philippe becomes entangled in the social and political upheavals of the eighteenth century. His journey carries him from European courts to the turmoil of the American Revolution.
As allegiances shift and wars reshape continents, Philippe adopts the name Philip Kent and aligns himself with the emerging American cause. Through duels, romances, betrayals, and battlefield clashes, the novel blends personal ambition with national transformation. Identity, both inherited and chosen, drives the narrative forward.
Favorite quote from the book:
Questions to ponder while reading:
My review:
John Jakes writes on a grand scale, and The Bastard reflects that epic ambition.
There is no shortage of action. The novel moves briskly through intrigue, romantic entanglements, political maneuvering, and military conflict. Readers who enjoy sweeping historical fiction will appreciate the scope and cinematic pacing.
The cast is far from morally pristine. Many characters are flawed, calculating, or driven by ego and survival instinct. At times, their ambition makes them difficult to like. Yet that moral complexity adds texture rather than detracting from the story. Revolution, whether personal or political, is rarely tidy.
Despite the unlikable people, I found myself engaged throughout. The energy of the narrative outweighs its rough edges. It is a bold, unapologetically dramatic beginning to a larger saga, privileging momentum and spectacle over subtle introspection.
The Bastard may not offer delicate character studies, but it delivers historical immersion with vigor.
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About the Author
a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller traveling through life
She shares her journeys at Take the Back Roads, explores new reads at Rite of Fancy, and highlights U.S. military biographies at Everyday Patriot.
You can also browse her online photography gallery at shop.takethebackroads.com.
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