John William Jakes was an American writer, best known for historical and speculative fiction. He was referred to as the godfather of historical fiction due to his bestselling books American Civil War trilogy, set during the American Revolution and Civil War period. Before Jakes became a bestselling novelist he started out selling stories to pulp magazines while still in college in the early 1950s. He studied creative writing at DePauw University, graduating in 1953. After graduating he had some... moreJohn William Jakes was an American writer, best known for historical and speculative fiction. He was referred to as the godfather of historical fiction due to his bestselling books American Civil War trilogy, set during the American Revolution and Civil War period. Before Jakes became a bestselling novelist he started out selling stories to pulp magazines while still in college in the early 1950s. He studied creative writing at DePauw University, graduating in 1953. After graduating he had some of his stories published and by 1953 he had more than 28 speculative fiction stories published. In 1961, worked as a copywriter for several advertising agencies while he wrote fiction at night and on the weekends. Throughout his career Jakes published more than 30 novels with the Kent Family Chronicles as one of his well known books that brought him recognition in the world of readers released in 1970. Some of Jakes' books were so familiar so much that the North and South trilogy was adapted into an ABC mini series. Jakes was named a Florida Literary Legend at the Florida Heritage Book Festival and Writers Conference In 2013.
