• Fall of Giants

  • Book One of the Century Trilogy
  • By: Ken Follett
  • Narrated by: John Lee
  • Length: 30 hrs and 38 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (19,894 ratings)

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Fall of Giants  By  cover art

Fall of Giants

By: Ken Follett
Narrated by: John Lee
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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.

©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)

What listeners say about Fall of Giants

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Excellent story and an even better performance!

John Lee performs the story, emotion and characters so well. I feel like I am watching a movie as I listen.

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Sublime.

such a wonderful and immersive book. As my review title suggests. It is sublime in every way.

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Outstanding

I have to admit that I never enjoyed history as a young student. This helps!

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hooked

Enjoyed this expansive. ivel. Can’t wait to get into book II. Follett respects the period’s history and stays close to the actual facts while including his fictional characters. I soooo appreciate his diligence, care and intriguing story. lunes. NICE!!4

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Very Interesting History-based fiction

Be sure you keep good notes on who are the characters, because if you go the whole three books you're going to have a little trouble who's who.

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great story

this Epic Novel has a great story told by a great story tell her and performed very well. I am looking forward to the next book

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Just wonderful

Would you consider the audio edition of Fall of Giants to be better than the print version?

Historically interesting, and the characters, although fictional are real to the time. Never a dull moment!

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Excellent

The history was presented in such a great way with such well-developed characters. I love historical fiction, and this book is one of the best I've come across. The narrator was flawless, which, of course, has such a huge affect on the quality of audio books. This one's a win all around.

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fabulous story

Another amazing book by Ken Follet, only enhanced by Lee's performances. Not to be missed!

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Great story with sharp historical relevance.

Follett, as always, is brilliant. The reader is believable and only adds to the story.

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