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)

My first audiobook

This audiobook was my first ever audiobook I had ever owned( I still have the disks) and I fell in love. Even though I may have been too young for such descriptive acts and details, I still loved it. Even with my most recent play through i feel that I am herring new and unheard parts that I missed before. I will say to anyone that this is a great book to start someone off into, “ Big Boy” books of massive size. Overall will always be my top book.

Terrific Listen

John Lee does an amazing job with the accents and personalities of the characters. His female voices are even good . None of his accents seem forced or artificial. The story itself reaches out to you and you are immediately swept away into the coal mines and then whisked into the magnificent home of the Fitzherberts. Ken Follett has always been one of my favorites because he is able to draw you into the scene and you almost believe you are there with the characters. Follett puts an incredible amount of energy into researching his stories and John Lee brings it all too life!

Excellent historical fiction

I was pleased with the use of real chars y lenses with the fictional. It made this a very believable story. (Of real life)

I have read and reread and reread this fantastic series

I learned so much listening to these audiobooks! The author brings their stories to life and brings out themes that we can all appreciate and connect to in our modern world. I recommend these to anyone interested in the history of the world wars. SO GOOD. Will not disappoint!

Wonderful story

The authors grasp of history is amazing and the narrator, Jon Lee brings the characters alive. The battle scenes/ descriptions are electrifying and echo the horrors of war. So easy to have insights into history when it comes alive before you…I am disappointed that the story has ended.

Time machine

An amazing experience. What a work of meticulous details. Impressive reading performance. Literally a trusted resource of social and political history.

I like to learn about historical events in this way.

The interweaving of history and fiction by Ken Follett makes him one of my favorite authors.
And he writes a compelling ensemble of characters that you can’t help but become close to. Thank you for yet another fantastic book

Ken Follett and John Lee / Audible's Dream Team

Ken Follet is a master. His books are modern day classics. Well researched and written a joy to experience. John Lee has to be the best Narrator in the business. He could make a dryer instruction manual sound interesting. In Fall of Giants, as in his other works, Lee’s consistency and character distinction are impressive indeed. Where this complex and intertwined story line with numerous characters would have been a disaster in another’s hands in Lee’s capable grasp the story unfolds clearly and beautifully. A book to savor.

Wonderful

I am now a fan of Ken Follet. Jon Lee makes the listen great. He is able to make the book come alive. Can not wait for the next book

War and Piece

Exceptionally good, this is a War and Piece of the XX-th century. Events of the first world war, Russian revolution, prohibition in US are described from the point of view of participants, and I started to understand how it all happened much better than from reading historical books before. Can not wait for part II and III.