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)

Gripping, expertly blends fact with fiction

Narrator did excellent job, especially with different voices Engaging, well written characters.
Very well researched, I learned a lot about WWI era politics even though this was a work of fiction. Author was very historically accurate and did a wonderful job blending fictional characters and real events, and it was incredibly fascinating seeing WWI unfold through the eyes of British, Russian, German, and American characters with different ideals and different social classes.

Wonderful

The narrator was wonderful. Ken Follett never disappoints. I am always looking for historical novels to read. I would highly recommend it

So many layers…

This book requires me to pay attention but I love getting the authors perspective of a pivotal time in history. Cannot wait to read the next one in this trilogy.

An epic acheivement

Expanded my knowledge of the historical time period of WWI. Well written and performed but long as Follet's books usually are.

I loved this book!

this book is great. I love how all the characters are loosely woven together, but they don't know each other. If you like historical fiction, you'll like this too

First time

This is the first Ken Follett book that I have read. I am certain that it won’t be my last.

Great History Lesson, but...

I enjoyed Fall of Giants. I thought it was a very good novel that closely followed the build-up to and prosecution of World War I from multiple perspectives. Overall it seemed, from my reading of various non-fiction historical accounts of WWI, very accurate. In fact I found this approach to be one of the most accessible ways to understand WWI that I have encountered.

I thought the multiple interweaving storylines were each interesting and unlike some other reviewers, I didn't have an issue keeping track of different characters or their motivations. In fact, if I consider the novel stand-alone, my only significant criticisms would be the lack of a clear antagonist (other than circumstances) as all the characters seemed noble in their own way and personally I would have liked to see more of the "bad" Russian brother, who seemed the most interesting of the main characters.

But that is the problem, isn't it? It is very difficult to consider this novel independently given Follet's other massive historical novels - Pillars and World's End - were just so remarkable. Fall of Giants doesn't really compare to either book, but I felt it deserved 4 stars because it is enjoyable in its own right. I understand that this is the beginning of a trilogy and perhaps the subsequent books will allow for even more interesting developments and be on par with Pillars and World's End. But even if they don't achieve those heights, they still could be very good books - and there is nothing wrong with that.

I can certainly recommend listening to this book, just keep your lofty expectations in check.

Feels like an imitation "Winds of War"

I do like Ken Follett and I especially like the way John Lee narrates his work. BUT, this book just fell short for me. Yes, it's a good listen but I felt like it was a cheap imitation of "Winds of War" - Herman Wouk's magnificent book about the run-up to WWII. In spite of the shortcomings, it is interesting to hear about WWI - the forgotten war when it comes to books and movies.

Surprised at the bad reviews.

I can understand the less than favorable reviews from the media. However, I am really surprised at the bad reviews from "fans". If you reread the introduction to the POTE, it also was bagged by the book reviewers and made a success by word of mouth. Mr. Follett's has a remarkable way of creating and describing characters that are interesting and seem to progress the plot effortlessly. What the reviewers (and also the producers of that POTE mini-series) miss is the story’s main thesis. POTE is about building a gothic church. The fact that the same dozen characters are around to develop a single church is just not realistic. It is very similar to Victor Hugo's 'Les Miserables'. After reading that one would think France only had two dozen citizens in the whole country. The story is not about Jean Valjean, it is about redemption, and the writer uses his license to create an unrealistic development to explain his theme. As readers, we are expected to accept this method, enjoy the ride and reflect on the theme as it relates to the main character and sub characters... Mr. Follett does this remarkably well in POTE. Tackling the development of the historical crisis of WWI is a challenging task for a history professor. Attempting it in the method Mr. Follett has done in POTE, requires tremendous creativity and wit. I feel that he has done so quite successfully. The building of a single church seems simple compared to the complexities and multiple nationalities required to progress this story. I am hooked. I am looking forward to the further developments of the characters, and their children, as they are faced with the up coming events of WWII. It is remarkable how close the wars take place and also how they are so linked. It is so easy to study only WWII and miss its context to WWI. I applaud Mr. Follett's efforts and highly recommend this book. Also, Mr. Lee as narrator can do no wrong – once again, he is wonderful.

Sprawling and Engrossing

We loved this book. Follett is a straight forward and hugely inventive story teller. The characters are on the broad end but totally engaging. It is wonderful to have history tied in with human lives you care about, made up or not. Familiar and not familiar events from World War I are mixed in with infidelity, loyalty, class, bravery, stupidity and love of Russian, German, English, and American characters. And Welsh, lest we forget. Talk of " the sweep of history". John Lee populates this world with individual voices that become instantly recognizable. He is a wizard. I am crushed that Book 2 is not done yet. I will be first in line in 2012 when Audible puts it out.