A review by sergeant_lemon_pepper
The Bastard by John Jakes

dark medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

0.0

I'm not sure if anyone reads these books anymore. I hope not. They may seem like rousing historic adventures, but they are deeply misogynistic. In every single book, there is at least one gratuitous rape scene described in pornographic detail for at least a page. It is obvious by the prurient tone, and level of detail, that the purpose of these rape scenes is to sell books. Or maybe to make sales while expressing a hatred of women. In one of the books, a slave rapes a southern belle in a scene that manages to wallow in racist stereotypes along with the usual sexism. If you think the series hits rock bottom there, it gets even worse in "The Furies" when a ten year old girl gets raped with excruciating detail. I'd give a lot to go back in time and stop myself from reading these books back when I was a kid who didn't know better. My review and content ratings here are for the entire series; this first book "The Bastard," as bad as it is, is actually the least offensive in the series. It gets worse with each book. At best, author John Jakes is pandering to the worst in human nature to sell books. At worst, he's a pedophile. 
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