Winter of the World

The Century Trilogy, Book 2

By: Ken Follett

Narrated by: John Lee

Length: 31 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

Picking up where Fall of Giants, the first novel in the extraordinary Century Trilogy, left off, Winter of the World follows its five interrelated families - American, German, Russian, English, and Welsh - through a time of enormous social, political, and economic turmoil, beginning with the rise of the Third Reich, through the great dramas of World War II, and into the beginning of the long Cold War.

Carla von Ulrich, born of German and English parents, finds her life engulfed by the Nazi tide until daring to commit a deed of great courage and heartbreak...

American brothers Woody and Chuck Dewar, each with a secret, take separate paths to momentous events, one in Washington, the other in the bloody jungles of the Pacific...

English student Lloyd Williams discovers in the crucible of the Spanish Civil War that he must fight communism just as hard as fascism...

Daisy Peshkov, a driven social climber, cares only for popularity and the fast set until war transforms her life, while her cousin Volodya carves out a position in Soviet intelligence that will affect not only this war but also the war to come.

©2012 Ken Follett (P)2012 Penguin Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Gripping....powerful." (The New York Times)

"[Follett] is so good at plotting a story, even one that takes on such a complex topic such as the World War II era. That's what makes Winter of the World so hard to put down. You want to know what happens next." (The Associated Press)

"A consistently compelling portrait of a world in crisis." (The Washington Post)

compelling and informative

Any additional comments?

This story is compelling and tightly woven with flawless interweaving of historical events. This is a great historical novel. My only comment is that the numerous plot coincidences were a little contrived but served the story well in the end. I couldn't stop listening and looked forward to ironing every week!

History Lesson that's fun!

What did you love best about Winter of the World?

The narrator is easy to listen to, and his character voices are realistic. The story makes the events of the time real and personal

Great Book!

The story is very well developed, tackling in a captivating way stories that describe some of the most difficult stages of the twentieth century.

loved this

loved this. I can't wait to start the third book in the series. As usual Follett creates wonderful, complicated, flawed, and very human characters.

Had me on the edge of my seat

You would think that everything that could be written about WW2 has been, but Ken Follett did an amazing job bringing out a side of war that is rarely seen. This book made me cry, laugh, and sit in my car long after I got to my destination just so I could finish the chapter. The story continues to weave on from the character’s in the first book making you feel like you are growing along side their families. The trials and tribulations that these characters go through is grueling but there is always good in everything and I think the author captures that quite well.

Feel WWII through the eyes of Axis/Allied families

High School and college history was so boring to me. I studied to pass the exams but this novel by Ken Folletet allowed me to better appreciate how WWII evolved , escalated, and ended. I also got a better insight into the human effects it fostered, e.g. hybris and ethonocentricity in its worst form. I learned that the human pain of this period of world history is a lesson to us all to not repeat the worst of human actions while inspiring us to foster the best of human bravery and tenacity for the sake of freedom.

Great read!!

Very insightful and engaging story. Great sequel to Fall of Giants. If you enjoy historical fictions this series is perfect for you.

great follow up to fall of giants

Would you listen to Winter of the World again? Why?

yes...a lot to absorb in one listening

Who was your favorite character and why?

all good

Which scene was your favorite?

?

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

?

Any additional comments?

as i walk my many miles every day, listening to the book made me lose time of walking...and that was a good thing...walked more miles than i realized

Wonderful read

We look back on history with nostalgia, but this series makes you realize just what kinds of upheaval the world has gone through in the 20th century . It's an excellent read and I'm looking forward to the third book.

Long story, but worth listening!

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

A very detailed view of the time in which the story takes place. You feel as if the characters could really have been real people involved in the historical events. I have read two of the three books in the series. Important to "read" them sequentially.

What other book might you compare Winter of the World to and why?

Just as good as Follets other narratives. Very engaging.

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

John Lee has a pleasant voice to listen to and was able to juggle different accents with ease.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Too long for listening in one sitting, but hard to put down!

Any additional comments?

If you are a fan of short stories or novellas, this is not the book for you. But if you enjoy a rich, detailed and engaging story, that will span many hours of enjoyment, then give this book a try!