Fall of Giants

Book One of the Century Trilogy

By: Ken Follett

Narrated by: John Lee

Length: 30 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

Fall of Giants is Ken Follett's magnificent new historical epic. The first novel in The Century Trilogy, it follows the fates of five interrelated families—American, German, Russian, English, and Welsh—as they move through the world-shaking dramas of the First World War, the Russian Revolution, and the struggle for women's suffrage.

Thirteen-year-old Billy Williams enters a man's world in the Welsh mining pits…. Gus Dewar, an American law student rejected in love, finds a surprising new career in Woodrow Wilson's White House…. Two orphaned Russian brothers, Grigori and Lev Peshkov, embark on radically different paths half a world apart when their plan to emigrate to America falls afoul of war, conscription, and revolution…. Billy's sister, Ethel, 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 Walter von Ulrich, a spy at the German embassy in London….

These characters and many others find their lives inextricably entangled as, in a saga of unfolding drama and intriguing complexity, Fall of Giants moves seamlessly from Washington to St. Petersburg, 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. As always with Ken Follett, the historical background is brilliantly researched and rendered, the action fast-moving, the characters rich in nuance and emotion. It is destined to be a new classic.

In future volumes of The Century Trilogy, subsequent generations of the same families will travel through the great events of the rest of the 20th century, changing themselves—and the century itself. With passion and the hand of a master, Follett brings us into a world we thought we knew, but now will never seem the same again.

Exclusive interview: Ken Follett and John Lee Talk about Fall of Giants.

©2010 Kevin Follett (P)2010 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"A big Book, Follett''s hugely ambitious saga is a sweeping success. Ken Follett has hit another one out of the park with the initial installment of the hugely ambitious Century Trilogy. His fans will rejoice at the richness, complexity, historical sweep and simmering lust in a saga spanning the years 1911 to 1923." ( Newark Star Ledger)

"A dark novel, motivated by an unsparing view of human nature and a clear-eyed scrutiny of an ideal peace. It is not the least of Follett''s feats that the reader finishes this near 1000-page book intrigued and wanting more." ( Chicago Sun-Times)

"[Follett] meticulously reconstructs an era and leads us through the follies and occasional heroics of its protagonists real and imaginary. He is masterly in conveyers so much drama and historical information so vividly...Grippingly told, and readable to the end." ( New York Times Book Review)

Excellent!

Loved every minute of this book! A must additional to your book collection. Ken Follett is an amazing writer.

outstanding and a great way to understand history

this masterpiece from Follet is a perfect example of how history thrives in story. the mingling of historical and fictitious characters does nothing so we can the historical narrative. this book and its author is simply outstanding.

Excellent - compare to Winds of War

I've been looking for something similar to Winds of War and this is it but from more of the perspective of the opposite side of the world. Excellent.

Great read/listen.

I love this book. I like how all the main characters know each other. I like how it tells view points from all walks of life. I mean they got the rich, the poor, the good, the bad, the smart and the damn stupid. I also like how he managed to put a bit of humor in this book even though it was on such a serious topic. However, my favorite aspect was how most of the characters tried to become better even though outside forces was attempting to prevent change. Read or listen and you will enjoy!

Narrator was AMAZING!

Takes a little while to get going, but it's worth it to hear this incredible performance! Long and satisfying in the end.

Great Read

Where does Fall of Giants rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

So far this book is in my top 10

What other book might you compare Fall of Giants to and why?

I can't really compare this book to another because this is my first read from the World War period. I really enjoyed it.

Have you listened to any of John Lee’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No.

If you could rename Fall of Giants, what would you call it?

Tragic lives of war

next volume please!

although this was long it was worth it, I'm downloading next volume now, can't wait

Compelling and masterfully told saga. A great listen.

Very impressive tapestry that weaves together the international rivalries and social relations of the pre WWI period. Told with novelistic skill. A page turner and a history lesson all in one.

World War I from Multiple Perspectives

An excellent re-telling of the period leading up to World War I through the lives of a family of Welsh coal miners, two Russian steelworkers, a family of English aristocrats, a father and son who both work for the German Foreign Office, and the son of an American senator who is working for Woodrow Wilson. This book really does a good job of describing, from each perspective, how World War I started, how everyday citizens were affected as the war progressed, and how each either prospered or suffered once the war had concluded. While not an action-packed thriller, I enjoyed seeing everything from so many different perspectives.
I thought the narrator did a great job with all of the various accents. He presented the story very clearly.

Great book

If you like history, read this. Another great read from Ken Follett. Looking forward to the next one as always.