The Chandler Heritage

by Ben Haas

Spanning three generations and nearly a hundred years, this is a novel about a great Southern family dynasty, like the few that even today still wield immense power over the lives of thousands of people and entire towns. Packed with memorable scenes and characters, The Chandler Heritage is an utterly enthralling saga from its first page to its very last. A magnificent piece of story-telling, it is compulsive reading throughout.We first meet the founder of the Chandler dynasty as a twelve-year-old fatherless boy, hopelessly mired in the poverty of his North Carolina valley during the black days following the Civil War. But then young Bolivar Chandler makes an astonishing discovery—that miracles do happen—and he decides that, given sufficient determination, anything is possible. Pursuing his goal single-mindedly, he grows up to be a stern, God-fearing man who eventually dominates the entire cotton industry from his personal fiefdom—the town name, naturally enough, Chandlerville.

Paperback

First published January 1, 1971

About the author

Benjamin Leopold Haas was born in Charlotte , North Carolina in 1926. Mr. Haas stated in an interview that he inherited his love of books from his father, who would bid on hundreds of books at unclaimed freight auctions during the Depression. His imagination was also fired by the stories of the Civil War and Reconstruction told by his grandmother, who had lived through both. “My father was a pioneer operator of motion picture theatres”, Ben wrote. “So, I had free access to every theatre in Charlotte and saw countless films growing up, hooked on the lore of our own South and the Old West.” Dreaming about being a writer, 18-year-old Ben Haas sold a story to a Western pulp magazine. He dropped out of college to support his family. He was self-educated. He served in the U.S. Army from 1945 to 1946. He made Raleigh his home in 1959. Ben and his wife had three sons, Joel, Michael and John. Ben held various jobs until 1961, when he was working for a steel company. He had submitted a manuscript to Beacon Books, and an offer for more came just as he was laid off at the steel company. He became a full-time writer for the rest of his life. Ben wrote every day, every night. “I tried to write 5000 words or more every day, scrupulous in maintaining authenticity”, Ben said. His son Joel later recalled, “My Mom learned to go to sleep to the sound of a typewriter”.
His son John told me “It sounded like machine-gun fire coming out of his office”. Writing nonstop over the next 16 years, Ben Haas would create somewhere around 130 books under his own name and a dozen pen names.

Full Name: Benjamin Leopold Haas

Known Pseudonyms:
John Benteen
Thorne Douglas
Ben Elliott
Richard Meade
Quinn Reade
Jack Slade
Ben Stone

Reviews

[Peter Heinrich · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this on a recommendation and wondered a little at its low, low profile. Have you heard of it? Neither had I.

Turns out the author was a prolific writer under several pseudonyms, mostly of westerns, gritty noire, and heroic fiction. Still, Haas and his work barely register on the interwebs.

Well, maybe this story isn't Shōgun of the South, but I enjoyed it anyway. The characters, for the most part, are well-defined and engaging (sometimes vivid). Nevertheless, the book is primarily plot-driven. When the action begins to flag, you can count on a scandal or explosion in the next few pages.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

The prodigal son of a calvinistic textile mill owner comes home from WWI to take over the business. Haven't looked at it in thirty years;I'm sure its dreck. But I still vividly remember the story and the characters. That's gotta count for something.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in the 70's so really don't remember much but know I liked it because it is still on my shelf. It was one of those big books-over 500 pages and covers 3 generations of a southern family. If there weren't so many books to read and I had the time, I probably would reread this one.

[Rosalynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I must admit I read this only at my mothers urging and to meet my namesake, but as I went on I found this book really pretty good.