Introduction

North and South is the title of three American television miniseries broadcast on the ABC network in 1985, 1986, and 1994.

Set before, during, and immediately after the American Civil War, they are based on the 1980s trilogy of novels North and South by John Jakes.

Outline

Spring 1848 to summer 1854.

George marries Constance and Orry is his best man. Orry and Madeline become secret lovers. A terrible fire erupts at Hazard Iron and kills many of the workers due to George’s older brother, Stanley, making a greedy decision. All authority over Hazard Iron is handed to George, greatly displeasing Stanley and his wife, Isabel. Orry’s father dies five years later, leaving Orry to inherit the family plantation. His first act is to fire the brutal Salem Jones as overseer. Jones vows revenge. Orry’s cousin Charles, who does not have good relations with the Main family, is challenged to a pistol duel in a dispute over an engaged woman. Orry, as Charles’ second, begrudgingly helps Charles to survive the duel and they become close. The Mains visit the Hazards in Pennsylvania. Billy and Charles plan to attend West Point together, just as Orry and George did. Orry’s sister Ashton purposely courts George’s younger brother Billy, whom Brett has come to fancy. Orry and George begin a partnership cotton mill at Orry’s plantation in South Carolina; they do so on George’s condition that Orry not use slave labour in the mill. Virgilia is furious that her family has allowed slave owners into their house and tries to humiliate them, angering the rest of her family.

North and South Series

You can find a full index and overview of North and South here.

Production & Filming Details

• Release Date: 1985.
• Rating: PG.
• Running Time: 90 minutes.
• Country: US.
• Language: English.

Video Link(s)