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The Gates Of Trevalyan
Family. Faith. Love. War. The Gates of Trevalyan brings the turbulent years before, during and after the Civil War to vivid and passionate life. Trevalyan, the beautiful central-Georgia plantation where idealistic young Jenny Mobley and aristocratic Charles King marry and build a life together, becomes a symbol of the heartache and division brought by the nation's bitter wounds.Author Jacquelyn Cook weaves the King family's story into a tapestry featuring the most compelling figures of the time--from charismatic statesman Alexander Stephens and his doomed love for Elizabeth Craig to Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis and many others. Richly detailed and intensely researched, THE GATES OF TREVALYAN breathes the spirit of great storytelling into a fascinating historical era.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2008
48 people are currently reading
269 people want to read
About the author
Jacquelyn Cook
17 books8 followersWriters from Margaret Mitchell to Eugenia Price and John Jakes have shown that the market is enormous, dependable and insatiable for authentically researched historical novels of the antebellum, Civil War and Reconstruction period of the American South. For the past twenty years and more, Jacquelyn Cook has been publishing successfully into this lucrative and appreciative market. To date, her historical novels have sold close to 500,000 copies and counting.
The River Between, first published in 1985 as the first volume of Cook's five-volume, multi-generational saga known as The River Series, has sold nearly 165,000 copies, is still in print and selling more than 20 years after it's first release. The second in the series, The Wind Along the River, published the following year, has sold nearly 100,000 copies and counting. As recently as 2003, the entire River Series was collected into a single volume called Magnolias, and has sold some 64,000 copies to date. In addition, Wal-Mart ordered a special printing of 14,000 copies of Magnolias, and sold 8,000 copies in the first month.
Cook's credentials to write about this period could not be better. While she is known and celebrated for the deep and accurate research that she does for each of her books, another part of the appeal she brings to her readers is that the story of the American South runs in her blood. Born into a family that is Georgia bred for generations, she was raised on stories handed down from her great grandmother, who experienced Sherman's march, and so many other first hand experiences that were passed down to Cook as part of her own family heritage.
Cook sold her first story to Home Life Magazine in 1963. While she and her husband raised their two children, she free lanced for a wide assortment of newspapers and magazines. Coincidentally, she wrote some articles for the same editors at The Atlanta Journal Sunday Magazine who had published some of Margaret Mitchell's early freelance work. Cook is past president of the Georgia Branch of the National League of American Pen Women, and past president of the local chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. She won the Writer of the Year Award, 1970 from the Atlanta Writers Club. In 1987 she took second place in national competition from the National League of American Pen Women in the adult book category for her novel, Image In the Looking Glass. In 1995 she won First Place from the Georgia National League of American Pen Women for her historical novel The Gates Of Trevalyan. Over the years she has won many awards from the Georgia Writers Association, the Southeastern Writers Association, and the Dixie Council of Authors and Journalists, for her articles on history, religion, humor and fiction. Cook lives in Sumter County, Georgia on her own working farm that, like Greenwood, produces cotton and cattle.
The River Between, first published in 1985 as the first volume of Cook's five-volume, multi-generational saga known as The River Series, has sold nearly 165,000 copies, is still in print and selling more than 20 years after it's first release. The second in the series, The Wind Along the River, published the following year, has sold nearly 100,000 copies and counting. As recently as 2003, the entire River Series was collected into a single volume called Magnolias, and has sold some 64,000 copies to date. In addition, Wal-Mart ordered a special printing of 14,000 copies of Magnolias, and sold 8,000 copies in the first month.
Cook's credentials to write about this period could not be better. While she is known and celebrated for the deep and accurate research that she does for each of her books, another part of the appeal she brings to her readers is that the story of the American South runs in her blood. Born into a family that is Georgia bred for generations, she was raised on stories handed down from her great grandmother, who experienced Sherman's march, and so many other first hand experiences that were passed down to Cook as part of her own family heritage.
Cook sold her first story to Home Life Magazine in 1963. While she and her husband raised their two children, she free lanced for a wide assortment of newspapers and magazines. Coincidentally, she wrote some articles for the same editors at The Atlanta Journal Sunday Magazine who had published some of Margaret Mitchell's early freelance work. Cook is past president of the Georgia Branch of the National League of American Pen Women, and past president of the local chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. She won the Writer of the Year Award, 1970 from the Atlanta Writers Club. In 1987 she took second place in national competition from the National League of American Pen Women in the adult book category for her novel, Image In the Looking Glass. In 1995 she won First Place from the Georgia National League of American Pen Women for her historical novel The Gates Of Trevalyan. Over the years she has won many awards from the Georgia Writers Association, the Southeastern Writers Association, and the Dixie Council of Authors and Journalists, for her articles on history, religion, humor and fiction. Cook lives in Sumter County, Georgia on her own working farm that, like Greenwood, produces cotton and cattle.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 4, 2014
SO SLOW
I agree wholeheartedly with a previous reviewer that this book is very slow moving and gets bogged down with too many political elements. The inclusion of many true life people shows that the author did a great deal of research, none of which adds to the story. I did manage to finish the book, but suggest you not waste your time. It is not like "stepping into a time machine", as one reviewer said, unless this particular time period is one of history's most boring.
I agree wholeheartedly with a previous reviewer that this book is very slow moving and gets bogged down with too many political elements. The inclusion of many true life people shows that the author did a great deal of research, none of which adds to the story. I did manage to finish the book, but suggest you not waste your time. It is not like "stepping into a time machine", as one reviewer said, unless this particular time period is one of history's most boring.
October 18, 2025
"Land and trees will never lose their worth. They’ll always be there to support you.”
1844-Seventeen year old Jenny lives a modest life, and she's matched with the wealthy Charles King. She wants to find love and choose a husband for herself, and she finds herself unsure of her purpose in life. She finds friendship in politician Alexander Stephens.
I found the politics to be so boring. I wanted this to be more about Jenny and Charles. I need to move on to something else.
⭐️
1844-Seventeen year old Jenny lives a modest life, and she's matched with the wealthy Charles King. She wants to find love and choose a husband for herself, and she finds herself unsure of her purpose in life. She finds friendship in politician Alexander Stephens.
I found the politics to be so boring. I wanted this to be more about Jenny and Charles. I need to move on to something else.
⭐️
December 10, 2008
This story takes place after the Civil War in southern Georgia, particularly the Trevalyan plantation where our two main characters Jenny Mobley and Charles King make their home as they start their married life together. It won’t be easy as they adjust to each other. Jenny forms a friendship with her maid Tacey as well as having an eye for handsome, Alexander Stephens. It is a time when the only thing left to do is make friends.
The Gates of Trevalyan is a historical novel that encompasses some romance, friendship and some very famous figures like Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis to name a few. While I enjoy reading historical novels as that genre was one of the first types of books that I had a pleasure reading. Unfortunately I can’t say this is the case with this book. It moved very slowly throughout the whole book. I did finish reading this novel but had a hard time doing so. Even the characters that should have been interesting, I found to be dull and I never felt a connection with them. It did seem though that author, Jacquelyn Cook did have a good vision and I was able to see part of that vision. So the good thing is that I might someday check her out again.
The Gates of Trevalyan is a historical novel that encompasses some romance, friendship and some very famous figures like Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis to name a few. While I enjoy reading historical novels as that genre was one of the first types of books that I had a pleasure reading. Unfortunately I can’t say this is the case with this book. It moved very slowly throughout the whole book. I did finish reading this novel but had a hard time doing so. Even the characters that should have been interesting, I found to be dull and I never felt a connection with them. It did seem though that author, Jacquelyn Cook did have a good vision and I was able to see part of that vision. So the good thing is that I might someday check her out again.
December 7, 2014
This book seemed to go on and on.
Although the writing and stories were very good for me I feel the political details took away from the storyline and the main characters.
Although the writing and stories were very good for me I feel the political details took away from the storyline and the main characters.
September 6, 2019
I enjoyed this book very much. It was very well researched and the fictional Jenny Mobley, Charles King and others were believably woven into historical events. I also read 'Sunrise' - the first book in the series, which even though was not about the same group of characters, helped to get me informed and up to date about the current events of the time. Both books can easily stand on their own. I will say that it was very obvious to me at least, that this book was written by a southern writer. She rarely if ever refers to the slaves on the plantation as slaves, but rather as servants. Interesting to whitewash it like that. I suppose people of that era and geographical area did so on a regular basis. In other books I have read on the subject even slaves refer to themselves as slaves.
Also - the hatred the main characters feel towards the North, it seemed at bit much as there were atrocities occurring on both sides, not just the North against the South. But again this book is from the Southern perspective so I guess I can let that go. All in all a good read. Recommended.
Also - the hatred the main characters feel towards the North, it seemed at bit much as there were atrocities occurring on both sides, not just the North against the South. But again this book is from the Southern perspective so I guess I can let that go. All in all a good read. Recommended.
February 1, 2018
Although this book is a work of fiction, the author abviously did an extreme amount of research into the Civil War. If you're not interested in a lot of history, this book won't be for you.
There are some interesting characters in this book, but it is mostly about the history of the Civil War. It's not a great book, but it is a good book.
There are some interesting characters in this book, but it is mostly about the history of the Civil War. It's not a great book, but it is a good book.
July 14, 2017
This read more like a history book.
November 8, 2014
Civil War in Georgia
I enjoyed reading about people's lives in Georgia leading up to, during, and after the Civil War. I lived for a time in the Atlanta Metro Area which these people would have never dreamed of how it is today. It was interesting to read about familiar towns and counties and Atlanta itself as they were then. Other interesting topics touched on were the historic figures, the spies, and the horrors of reconstruction. Also SHERMAN's March to the sea. I agree with the sentiments of some southerners that, while slavery was not good and the slaves should be freed, just turning them loose unprepared to fend for themselves would not be a good thing either. I think we have seen the tragic results of that.
I enjoyed reading about people's lives in Georgia leading up to, during, and after the Civil War. I lived for a time in the Atlanta Metro Area which these people would have never dreamed of how it is today. It was interesting to read about familiar towns and counties and Atlanta itself as they were then. Other interesting topics touched on were the historic figures, the spies, and the horrors of reconstruction. Also SHERMAN's March to the sea. I agree with the sentiments of some southerners that, while slavery was not good and the slaves should be freed, just turning them loose unprepared to fend for themselves would not be a good thing either. I think we have seen the tragic results of that.
January 17, 2011
The Gates of Trevalyan follows a cast of characters as they try to live and survive the Civil War and its aftermath in Georgia. The book does have an idealistic view of slavery and there are situations that are not completely realistic. That being said, I did enjoy reading the book. Cook draws you into the lives of characters and it s easy to care what happens to them. I found it interesting to read about places that are very familiar to me. This book is not for everyone. It is a good book for someone who wants to explore a light historical fiction and doesn t mind a little romance thrown in the mix.
December 26, 2013
As a historian and librarian, thought that I would really love this book. In the beginning, as I was introduced to main characters Jenny Mobley, Emily Hill, and Charles King, I was still hopeful. In many ways this is the classic Gone With the Wind story with large Georgia plantations and all of the trappings of Southern culture and slavery. Unfortunately, for me, the story got lost in the military and political history. I was able to finish the book only by skimming the long drawn out details. I will say that the history seemed to be well researched.
January 30, 2015
I enjoyed the writings of books of south and enjoyed reading this book.
The author did an amazing job on the history and in research of the book. I appreciate the letting the readers about later happened to the people later in life. I liked the references for the book as well, that made more interesting.
The author did an amazing job on the history and in research of the book. I appreciate the letting the readers about later happened to the people later in life. I liked the references for the book as well, that made more interesting.
April 17, 2015
the story was ok and it def made you think about things from both sides. but it was slow and drawn out. and in what may have been an effort to show various sides of a complex situation, it bounced around between characters a lot and even on some of the story lines that the author seemed to want to make pertinent you only got a surface view which left the characters seeming fickle
June 1, 2015
An Tale of History and of Romance.
"The Gates of Trevalyan" by Jacquelyn Cook, is historical tale of the South, before, during, and after the War between the States. Woven throughout the storyline is a history of three generations that lived, survived, and bravely suffered for their beliefs.
"The Gates of Trevalyan" by Jacquelyn Cook, is historical tale of the South, before, during, and after the War between the States. Woven throughout the storyline is a history of three generations that lived, survived, and bravely suffered for their beliefs.
January 11, 2015
I skimmed my way through this because it didn't draw me into the story. I have no plans to try another of Ms. Cook's books.
January 27, 2015
good book.
July 7, 2015
An educational read
Amazing history of America. The full story of the civil war and what it was about, and the dedication of our forefathers
Amazing history of America. The full story of the civil war and what it was about, and the dedication of our forefathers
April 14, 2017
The Gates of Trevalyan
Excellent book!!! I highly recommend this book! If you love the South and reading stories about love and war then look no further. A fast read with a great story line!!
Excellent book!!! I highly recommend this book! If you love the South and reading stories about love and war then look no further. A fast read with a great story line!!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews