Fall of Giants

Book One of the Century Trilogy

De: Ken Follett

Narrado por: Dan Stevens

Ken Follett’s magnificent new historical epic begins as five interrelated families move through the momentous dramas of the First World War, the Russian Revolution, and the struggle for women’s suffrage.

A thirteen-year-old Welsh boy enters a man’s world in the mining pits. . . . An American law student rejected in love finds a surprising new career in Woodrow Wilson’s White House. . . . 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 a German spy. . . . And two orphaned Russian brothers embark on radically different paths when their plan to emigrate to America falls afoul of war, conscription, and revolution.

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, Fall of Giants takes us into the inextricably entangled fates of five families—and into a century that we thought we knew, but that now will never seem the same again. . . .

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Follett is masterly in conveying so much drama and historical information so vividly . . . grippingly told." —The New York Times Book Review

"Follett entwines fiction and factual events well. . . . This is 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 thousand-page book intrigued and wanting more." —Chicago Sun-Times

"A good read. . . . It's a book that will suck you in, consume you for days or weeks . . . then let you out the other side both entertained and educated. That's quite the feat." —USA Today

"Fall of Giants is a book for you to savor, one in which you can lose yourself for hours on end. It is a big book that tells a big story, but it is one you will not want to end." —The Huffington Post

"Fascinating, in a big way." —St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"A suspenseful epic." —The Seattle Times

"Tantalizing." —Newsday

"Follett conjures the winds of war." —The Washington Post

"Grand in scope, scale, and story." —The Associated Press

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.

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.