Book One, Chapters 1-12
Adapted from the bestselling 1970 Irwin Shaw novel, Rich Man, Poor Man proved to be a highly successful mini series, winning four Emmy Awards and ending as the second highest show for the 2976-77 television season.
Running from February 1st to March 15th 1976, this televised novel chronicled the lives of the first generation immigrant Jordache family, focusing on the relationship between two strong-willed brothers, Rudy (Peter Strauss) and Tom (Nick Nolte) as their lives followed diverse routes, bringing one to great wealth and power and the other to the brink of destruction, pushed and pulled by ambition, greed, rebellion, love and lust as they confront a variety of memorable characters.
Set against such historical backdrops as McCarthyism, the Korean War, Campus riots and the black revolution while covering risque topics including adultery and alcoholism, Rich Man, Poor Man proved to be ground-breaking in its format and has staked a place in television history.