Fall of Giants

Book One of the Century Trilogy

By: Ken Follett

Narrated by: Dan Stevens

Length: 12 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

Ken Follett's World Without End was a global phenomenon, a work of grand historical sweep beloved by millions of readers and acclaimed by critics. Fall of Giants is his 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....

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 Ken Follett (P)2010 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Action-packed with blood on the battlefield and conspiracies behind closed doors, Fall of Giants brings the nuances of each character to life and shifts easily from dirty coal mines to sparkling palaces. There is so much to love here, and the good news is the end is just the beginning: Fall of Giants is the first in a planned trilogy." (Amazon.com review)

Great book

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

I read the book and listened to the audio. I prefer the audio because the uses accents and makes it a very interesting experience.

If you could take any character from Fall of Giants out to dinner, who would it be and why?

It would be Ethel. I would ask her why she didn't get more money out of Fitz when she learned she was pregnant.

Glad I got the abridged version

I loved Follett's Pillars of the Earth, but the sequel--title of which I can't even remember--was so bad I almost didn't want to try Fall of Giants. Follett seems to channel Stephen King in that he loves loves loves lots of words. In the unabridged version of that PofE sequel, he repeated himself endlessly from chapter to chapter, as if I'd forget details from one second to the next. I have a feeling I avoided that agony by trying the abridged version of Giants.
That said, his dialogue is unrealistic, his characters--shallow images, almost to the point of caricature. Some of the history is really interesting, realistic, graphic--and the main reason I liked Pillars, and why I continue to listen to Giants. I probably will not listen to the sequels unless I'm really pressed for something to read, which is unlikely. However, as another reviewer commented, Dan Stevens is superb in his reading and his ability to change voices. He, actually, is the only reason I've continued listening.

I did not find this book rewarding to me,

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

no, as it was long and repeated over and over again the war situation and I personally was not impressed in this particular book

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

One couple got together in the end and all was well, the least was too many people and too much war for me

What aspect of Dan Stevens’s performance would you have changed?

He was a good performer but the story was a bit hard to keep up with

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

no, I dont think so

Any additional comments?

others may enjoy but I did not care for it and I usually love all Ken Follett reads

Abridged!

Why is this book abridged! I love the book, was very disappointed about the parts left out

Very good

Always enjoy listening to books especially those about World War I. Mr. Martin does a great job near rating. Not just a pretty face ;)

Fantastic for fans of history

One of the greatest stories I've ever been told. The narrator is fantastic and his use of voices for each character helps keep the epic story relatable.

The story is fantastic the characters unforgettable and all written with an ease that makes the whole thing an absolute joy to listen to

Fascinating! Awesome book

I think this book was better than pillers of the earth, and that's saying something. It was absolutely fascinating to read about life in the early 20th century. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and REALLY hope book 2 comes out soon. Don't worry, book 1 finishes at a good point, you aren't left with a cliff hanger.

I read the abridged version of this book and regret it, the book was so good I wondered what I may have missed by going with the abridged version.

Brilliant performance of an excellent novel

In my experience, no one reads better than Dan Stevens. A perfect pairing for Ken Follet's absorbing story, which "leaps off the page" and left me wanting more. Two more volumes in Trilogy; I'll get those in print, and imagine Stevens performing them.

Excellent and sweeping saga

There aren’t many fictional stories that cover the days leading up to the Great war nor the consequences. Follett‘s book is very well done, and really shows what it was like for people of all classes from various parts of the world. Dan Stevens narration was excellent.

Amazing story, writing and narration!!!

I recently finished the third book in the trilogy. I fell in love with the story and Ken Follett's amazingly talented storytelling. I LEARNED MORE ABOUT WORLD HISTORY FROM THIS TRILOGY THAN DURING 20 YEARS OF SCHOOLING...In a way that entertaind me and taught me at the same time. Highly recommended!