Fall of Giants: The groundbreaking novel from the no.1 bestseller
Jun 2011 · The Century Trilogy Book 1 · Pan Macmillan
4.5star
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About this ebook
The first in Ken Follett’s ground-breaking Century Trilogy, Fall of Giants is a captivating novel that follows five families through the world-shaking dramas of the First World War, the Russian Revolution, and the struggle for votes for women.
A WORLD IN CHAOS
1911, a thirteen-year-old boy, Billy Williams, begins working down the mines as George V is crowned king. The escalating arms race between the empire nations will put not only the king but this young boy in grave danger.
A TERRIBLE WAR
Billy’s family is inextricably linked with the Fitzherberts, the aristocratic owners of the coal mine where he works. And when Maud Fitzherbert falls in love with Walter von Ulrich, a spy at the German embassy in London, their destiny also becomes entangled with that of Gus Dewar, an ambitious young aide to Woodrow Wilson, and two orphaned Russian brothers, the Peshkovs, whose plan to emigrate to America falls foul of conscription, revolution and imminent war.
A REVOLUTION THAT WILL CHANGE EVERYTHING
When Russia convulses in bloody revolution and the Great War unfolds, the five families’ futures are entwined forever, love bringing them closer even as conflict takes them further apart. What seeds will be sown for further tragedy in the twentieth century and what role will each play in what is to come?
Continue the captivating Century Trilogy with Winter of the World and Edge of Eternity.
*Ken Follett’s Column of Fire was an instant Sunday Times HB bestseller when it published in 2017
A WORLD IN CHAOS
1911, a thirteen-year-old boy, Billy Williams, begins working down the mines as George V is crowned king. The escalating arms race between the empire nations will put not only the king but this young boy in grave danger.
A TERRIBLE WAR
Billy’s family is inextricably linked with the Fitzherberts, the aristocratic owners of the coal mine where he works. And when Maud Fitzherbert falls in love with Walter von Ulrich, a spy at the German embassy in London, their destiny also becomes entangled with that of Gus Dewar, an ambitious young aide to Woodrow Wilson, and two orphaned Russian brothers, the Peshkovs, whose plan to emigrate to America falls foul of conscription, revolution and imminent war.
A REVOLUTION THAT WILL CHANGE EVERYTHING
When Russia convulses in bloody revolution and the Great War unfolds, the five families’ futures are entwined forever, love bringing them closer even as conflict takes them further apart. What seeds will be sown for further tragedy in the twentieth century and what role will each play in what is to come?
Continue the captivating Century Trilogy with Winter of the World and Edge of Eternity.
*Ken Follett’s Column of Fire was an instant Sunday Times HB bestseller when it published in 2017
Ratings and reviews
4.5
149 reviews
Veenus Adiyodi
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June 10, 2014
The author is famous for war-time/early 20th century stories. Surely that only made me to consider this novel. This one is portraying a period before 1st world war and the detailed description by the characters he seeded among the people of that era. That is first impression. But I am a man who read novels in very slow pace. This book took around 5~6 months! I used to add my own imagination when I pause my reading. So before proceeding I must have made an assumption of plot. It is my style of enjoyment. See Follet is great in portraying the ‘character’ of persons in the story. This gives a lot of ways to ‘assume’ the story. But interestingly when it goes towards the end, due to the author’s ability of planting right seeds and best laid plans, (and of course... because of knowing the incidents/facts of history) we normally guess 75% correctly towards the end. Another point to mention is Author’s ability of showing emotions. Especially the power of female emotion... even though the plot is fully planted around war, which is 100% male dominated, the power of female, either in the role as a sister or wife or mom or mistress, is deeply planted in the book. It is oriented without any o
1 person found this review helpful
Kate Nelson
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October 30, 2015
A great account of early 20th century world politics and events told through the eyes of various families. A little drawn out in places, perhaps just too much detail of clothing etc, but would be an interesting read for anyone studying the period who would like it brought to life. Historical references seem very accurate
6 people found this review helpful
Reboni Saha
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April 23, 2019
The writer never fails to delight..he has brought alive much of a European history for me. I am grateful.
About the author
Ken Follett was born in Cardiff, Wales. Barred from watching films and television by his parents, he developed an early interest in reading thanks to a local library. After studying philosophy at University College London, he became involved in centre-left politics, entering into journalism soon after. His first thriller, the wartime spy drama Eye of the Needle, became an international bestseller and has sold over 10 million copies. He then astonished everyone with his first historical novel, The Pillars of the Earth, the story of the building of a medieval cathedral, which went on to become one of the most beloved books of the twentieth century. One of the most popular authors in the world, his many books including the Kingsbridge series and the Century trilogy - a body of work which together chronicles over a thousand years of history - and his latest novel Never - which envisages how World War III could happen - have sold more than 188 million copies. A father and husband, Ken lives with his wife in England and enjoys travelling the world when he can.
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