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The American Chronicles #3

The Lost Generation

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As the country heads into the Roaring Twenties, Kendra Mills risks her life to fight crime, novelist Eric Twainbough finds fame, Demaris Hunter follows her dreams to Hollywood, and Kerry O'Braugh fights her way out of reform school. Original.

422 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

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About the author

Robert Vaughan

442 books133 followers
Robert Vaughan is an American writer. He has also written a series of contemporary and historical romance novels under several pseudonyms including "Paula Moore" and "Paula Fairman". His father served in the military and Robert followed him in the 1950s, entering army aviation. He served until the Vietnam War and won numerous medals including the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, the Air Medal with several oak-leaf clusters, the Meritorious Service Medal, and several other medals.
His early books reflected his military background: the first novel was about the US Army along the DMZ in Korea, followed by a trilogy set in Vietnam. There are more than 9 million of his books in print under various names. He was inducted into the Writers’ Hall of Fame in 1998.

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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
419 reviews42 followers
July 15, 2017
This third novel of The American Chronicles series basically covers " The roaring 20's".

He switches back and forth to differing main characters but I found it easy enough to follow.
We have the early days of motion pictures; the beginnings of modern aviation; Prohibition and the resulting bootleggers and crime bosses.

The strong point of this series is the author gives a good sense of how it felt and looked at that time. The characterization is adequate but not deep. But the events and story telling is very well done. The historical details are accurate.

One personal note: I like that parts of this book take place in St. Louis, Missouri. A refreshing change from so many stories set on the east or west coast.

If your are interested in this time period, this book and those in the series so far-are well worth your time.
Profile Image for Theresa.
149 reviews10 followers
January 20, 2011
The World War is over and the jazz age is here. Prohibition is in effect in the United States and runaway inflation is destroying what is left of Germany.

Kerry O’Braugh has moved his bootlegging and speakeasy business into St Louis. His goal is to take over the business in St Louis.

Eric Twainbough is living in Paris and trying to write a novel when he meets Brunhilde “Tanner” Tannenhower, who is traveling through Europe after finishing her college degree. The two quickly fall in love, marry and have a son.

They stay connected with Tanner’s cousin, Karl, whose family is struggling to make ends meet in Hamburg, Germany. Eventually, he moves the family to Bavarian and joins the National Socialist Party because he believes it will bring Germany out of its economic woes.

David Gelbman’s nephew Simon is struggling to adjust to life after the war and life with only one leg. He spends much of his time enjoying the debauched entertainment in Berlin.

Back in the US, Rocky Rockwell has settled in St Louis and with the backing of Bob Canfield is working to build an aviation company.

We also meet the latest graduations of Jefferson University – Demaris Hunter, who aspires to be a Hollywood actress, and Kendra Mills, who aspires to be a hard-hitting newspaper woman.

I enjoyed this book more than the second book. There’s not so much of the rah-rah America. The stories of life with prohibition in the US and the rise of the Ku Klux Klan are well done. In Europe, there is much foreshadowing of what’s about to happen and makes you want to tell all the Jewish characters to run and the German characters to re-immigrate to the US.
Profile Image for Mimi.
1,873 reviews
September 8, 2014
Continuing to be a strong series - I really contemplated a lot the "Lost Generation" of the title - those who had fought in World War I.
A bit more salacious than previous installments, but still an enjoyable storyline - I'm looking forward to the next one. It handled a lot of the issues that the 20s brought well and had a good story behind the topics.
Profile Image for Judith Lucci.
Author 63 books426 followers
September 4, 2015
This is the third novel I have read by Robert Vaughan and he is joining my list of favorite authors. The Lost Generation is a multi-generationally historical saga that propels us through the history of America in the early 1900s. Vaughn does an admirable job at taking the reader through the A American Gng War, Prohibition in Chicago as well as challenges in post war Europe and America. The author's writing style is clear and descriptive, his characters are believable and authentic. So, I'm a fan and if you like historical saga, you will be too! Recommended highly
5 reviews
September 24, 2015
Another excellent read

History is always interesting, but when it can be combined with a fictional narrative that is factual, then history comes alive. Dick Vaughan has done exactly that with this series, with each book building on the last one. Each book is filled with information in a personal way that is informative as well as entertaining. And each book is better than the last. I am looking forward to the next volume.
Profile Image for Cindy.
2,008 reviews4 followers
May 25, 2010
This not the best. I don't think I will take on this series. The characters are plastic and predictable. Lots of good history thrown in but this book still doesn't want me to look further.
Profile Image for Dark Star.
474 reviews1 follower
March 25, 2014
Loving these books. Great characters that continue with the saga. Very engaging story! Looking forward to the next book in the series.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews

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