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Fall of Giants

Century Trilogy, Book 1

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Fall of Giants

By: Ken Follett
Narrated by: John Lee
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About this listen

The first in Ken Follett's breathtaking 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 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.

©2010 Ken Follett (P)2010 Penguin Audio
Historical Political World Literature War King Fiction Imperialism Exciting Royalty
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What listeners say about Fall of Giants

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simply excellent

A multitude of characters from Germany, Russia, Britain and the US, get brought to life brilliantly. The Russian brothers were my favourite because of their background. However all characters political views and social standing all come together to make an excellent book. Great listen over many days will be needed.

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A true classic

An exceptionally well written classic about an tumultuous time in history.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone who likes well written and exciting novels that also are historically correct.
Looking forward to start on part II.

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Mega Epic Tale and Performance

Mega epic. Was with the characters all through. Great performance. Novel plus history lesson.
Follett's writing reminds me of Tolstoy's, perhaps less reflective and philosophical but equally able to depict the large scale events and zoom into the individual lives caught up in them in a way that makes you care and see their points of view. I finished several crochet projects listening to it. And thank goodness for Bluetooth in the car and decent headphones on the train! Am now going to look at more by Ken Follett and performed by John Lee who makes the text come alive.

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Fall of Giants - Excellent.

This is a long, long story. It's really 3 books in one. The story line is great and I found myself checking out the historical events which the book covers. It even spurred me on to find out what happened to my grandma's brother who died in WW1 and I learned far more than I'd ever learned before about the Russian revolution. Some bits of the book do seem a bit like they were written so that it can be made into a television series. That's fine but if it is then I hope it's in far more parts than the two previous productions of Ken Follett's work.

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Why do I need a heading?????

Great narrator. Enjoyed learning about a period in history not covered when I was growing up. Ken Follett writes well. I have enjoyed all his historical novels and look forward to the next.

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Excellent

I really loved this as it makes you understand more clearly the hardships during the first world war and of the differences between lower and upper classes. Would thoroughly recommend as a good holiday listen!

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fantastically narrated. ww1 from all perspectives.

A marvelous story whose characters stories are all interlinked, often indirectly at first, then more closely as the plot develops. WW1 from all perspectives includingall key historical events such as the bolshevij revolution. read in several different accents including welsh and russian. sounds amazing!!

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Amazing John Lee

John gives live to a nice trip on our history. amazing reading and beatiful book

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Fall of Giants

I had not read a Ken Follett book before !! What an exciting writer . Wonderful characters ,strong hardworking people, colourful
upperclass, and historically fascinating. I felt as though I really bonded with certain characters through their trials and tribulations and rejoiced in their successes. Now a firm follower of Ken Follett.

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Excellent reading

I was gripped from the first chapter to the last. Great story very well read.

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