Ken Follett's newest tome opens with a five-and-a-half page list of characters followed by just under a thousand pages of text. An epic? Absolutely. Daunting? Definitely. But, like Follett's other works, Fall of Giants reads so smoothly and captivates the reader so intensely that its 20-year span flies by.
The novel, which is book one of "The Century Trilogy," tells the stories of five intertwined families against the backdrop of World War One. In Wales, coal miners demand better working conditions and women fight for the right to vote. Members of the British aristocracy struggle to simultaneously maintain integrity and popularity. Germany roller coasters between portraying intimidating confidence and suffering ultimate defeat. Russian citizens overthrow their monarchy and move towards a Communist dictatorship. America assumes its role as mediator and spearheads The League of Nations.
Each of the characters experiences The Great War from a unique perspective; this complex multi-vocality combined with Follett's astonishingly deep understanding of history make the book gripping, educational and immensely enjoyable. I eagerly await the second installment!
The novel, which is book one of "The Century Trilogy," tells the stories of five intertwined families against the backdrop of World War One. In Wales, coal miners demand better working conditions and women fight for the right to vote. Members of the British aristocracy struggle to simultaneously maintain integrity and popularity. Germany roller coasters between portraying intimidating confidence and suffering ultimate defeat. Russian citizens overthrow their monarchy and move towards a Communist dictatorship. America assumes its role as mediator and spearheads The League of Nations.
Each of the characters experiences The Great War from a unique perspective; this complex multi-vocality combined with Follett's astonishingly deep understanding of history make the book gripping, educational and immensely enjoyable. I eagerly await the second installment!
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