Charleston is a novel written by John Jakes that takes place in the early 19th century in Charleston, South Carolina. The story follows the lives of two families, the Bell family and the Hazards, as they navigate the tumultuous events leading up to the Civil War.
The Bell family is a wealthy plantation-owning family, while the Hazards are a middle-class family with strong abolitionist beliefs. As tensions rise between the North and the South, the two families find themselves on opposite sides of the conflict.
Throughout the novel, John Jakes weaves a tale of love, betrayal, and political intrigue as the characters struggle to survive in a rapidly changing world. The novel explores themes of race, class, and power, making it a compelling read for anyone interested in American history.