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)

Loved this so much

One of my favorite books to date about WW2. So much detail with fascinating characters. I love how the character’s stories cross over. Narration is fantastic. Highly recommend!!!!

excellent background of the start and end of WWII

you have to pay close attention since there are many intertwined characters in the book. it bringd out many opposition tactics of bullying, abuse and torture used by oppressive groups to allow Nazis and communisrs into power. At times it was a pwerful message of past lessons learned and how aggressive political parties can use physical abuse of peoples property and person to force there believe system. Very valuable lesson from this book that people should learn from in order to not yield to aggressive tactics.

Best history lesson ever!!

It was easier to understand why things happened in WW2 when seen through the eyes of those who lived through it. I loved the romance, suspense and will be starting the third book now.

Didn't Disappoint

After Fall of Giants I had high expectations - Winter of the World did not disappoint. I enjoyed this book very much; it took me back in time in a way that no history book could. Although the characters are fictional, it gave an insight into what people may have been thinking, feeling and surviving (or not) before, during and after WWII. It really is unfathomable and mind-blowing to anyone growing up in the post-war era. Although many of the horrifying parts were difficult to read, the characters and their stories were so compelling that I was eager to continue listening and following them until the very end.

winter of the world, Ken Follet

beautiful, in every way!
Very flowing and real
very highly reccomend it no matter what genre of the books one likes

Epic Saga

so far I have read the first 2 books in the Trilogy 2x, now have a good grasp on what's happened, Totally enjoyed them the whole way, and am now ready to spend a credit and get Edge Of Eternity, Fingers Crossed it will be as good as the first 2...

Another stunning history lesson by Ken Follett

I am a voracious reader and Ken Follett is the greatest author I've ever read. For people who dislike studying history but who love great fiction, this book and the other two in the trilogy will painlessly and gloriously give you both. I feel honored to have read this great book.

The history is good - lay off the sex scenes

Ken Follett does a great job with the history, and for history buffs who have a hard time getting into fiction, this is the series for you.

However, why does Follett feel the need to CONTINUALLY get into detailed sex scenes? It’s really unnecessary and becomes annoying after every chapter includes so much raunch. But really - there’s so much to these characters that the “intimacy” (if you can even call it that - every one of these scenes is remarkably cheap and slightly sickening) that it takes away from the genius of the book.

This book was a fabulous historical fiction

This was well done and very well read.I
I remember much of it from growing up during the Second World War.

No words

Ken Follett never disappoints. The details about the lives of his characters, meshed with the real world events of WW2, produces such a rich read.