The Americans Author:John Jakes The Kent Chronicles - Volume 8 — The Americans takes the Kent family into the 1890s as Gideon Kent, now a prosperous publisher and father of three children, sees little hope for America's future in his wild and willful offspring: Carter, the stepson who drifts across the continent in search of easy riches - Eleanor, the beautiful actress who esc... more »apes the demands of life through her theatrical roles - and Will, Gideon's brightest hope, but only if the boy can free himself from the tormenting memories of his late mother's madness. From the frenetic San Francisco political scene to the tragedy of the Johnstown flood and to the crushing poverty of a New York slum, These three young Kents struggle to find their place in the rapidly changing world and - like their ancestors- weave themselves into the very fabric of American society.« less