John Jakes, a renowned author, was born and raised in Chicago. He earned a degree in creative writing from DePauw University and later obtained a Master's degree in literature from Ohio State University.
Jakes worked as a copywriter for advertising agencies for 16 years before deciding to pursue a full-time career in fiction writing. His early work was published in pulp magazines such as Amazing Stories in 1950.
In 1973, Jakes received a significant advance from a paperback publisher to write The Kent Family Chronicles, a series of eight novels that spanned 200 years of American history. The series was a massive success, with over 30 million copies sold.
Throughout his career, Jakes wrote under various pseudonyms, including Jay Scotland, Robert Hart Davis, and J. X. Williams. He is perhaps best known for his North and South trilogy, a Pulitzer Prize-nominated epic saga that explores the relationships between two families during the American Civil War and its aftermath.
The trilogy was adapted into a miniseries by ABC-TV, featuring an all-star cast including Patrick Swayze and James Read. The production received widespread acclaim, with many praising Jakes' meticulous research and ability to create believable characters.
Jakes lived in Hilton Head, South Carolina, before relocating to Bird Key in Sarasota, Florida. He was married to Rachel, who briefly appeared in the miniseries as Mary Todd Lincoln. The couple had four children.
Jakes passed away at the age of 90 on March 11, 2023, leaving behind a legacy as a masterful storyteller and a testament to his enduring popularity as "America's history teacher" and "the people's author".
