Fall of Giants
Book One of the Century Trilogy
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4.3 • 3K Ratings
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- $14.99
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
Ken Follett’s magnificent historical epic begins as five interrelated families move through the momentous dramas of the First World War, the Russian Revolution, and the struggle for women’s suffrage.
A thirteen-year-old Welsh boy enters a man’s world in the mining pits. . . . An American law student rejected in love finds a surprising new career in Woodrow Wilson’s White House. . . . A housekeeper for the aristocratic Fitzherberts takes a fateful step above her station, while Lady Maud Fitzherbert herself crosses deep into forbidden territory when she falls in love with a German spy. . . . And two orphaned Russian brothers embark on radically different paths when their plan to emigrate to America falls afoul of war, conscription, and revolution.
From the dirt and danger of a coal mine to the glittering chandeliers of a palace, from the corridors of power to the bedrooms of the mighty, Fall of Giants takes us into the inextricably entangled fates of five families—and into a century that we thought we knew, but that now will never seem the same again. . . .
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Even in a story packed with history, Ken Follett manages to keep things edgy and engaging. Combining richly descriptive details with a barely restrained emotional intensity, the first book in his Century Trilogy is set in the early 20th century. Following a teenage miner in Wales, two Russian orphans, and an American law student, Follett balances sweeping storytelling with intimate accounts of these characters’ lives. He brilliantly intertwines his story lines with big early-20th-century moments, from King George V’s coronation to the Russian revolution, while still managing to pull emotional strings by vividly personalizing the political.
Customer Reviews
Ken Follett Does It Again
Well written, the interweaving of multiple main characters is the best I have ever witnessed. The grand tale encompasses a most trying time of the 20th Century...and Follett kept me on the edge of my seat for the entire book.
Sadly, when the magnificent story ended, I realized it would be Fall of 2012 before I could continue with this awesome saga.
Well worth the money. Enjoy.
Fall of the Giants
As in all of Follett's books the characters are strong and keep you intrigued. In this book about WWI the characters come from different countries and Follett gets you, the reader, emotionally involved in each of their lives before the war. When the war breaks out, you the reader, find yourself just wishing the war would end. You don't choose sides because you are so invested in the different characters. This is the craft of Follett's writing. I definitely recommend tis book.
Not What I'd Hoped For
Am I the only one who felt like I was plowing through a textbook when I read this? I do enjoy historical fiction and I'm a diehard fan of Follett, but it seems to me the I could've done with fewer historical details and more of a story. The plausibility factor of these characters encountering each other by "chance" across continents, wars, and general upheaval was a challenging, but obviously useful tool for constructing a cohesive story. I practically inhaled Pillars of the Earth with its unforgettable, very human characters. Wish I could say the same here.