Ken Follett’s Fall of Giants is a journey of epic proportions, with a large cast of characters whose lives are intertwined revealing a world at war -- a world filled with passions, intrigues, revolution and a ruling class that was about to become irrelevant.
WWI forever changed the lives of millions of people and many nations. And the author brilliantly interweaves this stellar cast of characters into a story that tells of the overthrow of the Tsar and the Bolsheviks fight for power. The splendor of the British ruling class and it’s slow down fall. How the working class across the globe (some in small ways, others with giant steps) changed the way they were governed, and how women in Britain earned the right to be heard and have a vote. It’s also a story about love and passion between men and women and what one will do to find and hold onto love.
In Fall of Giants each of the characters lives tells the story of a thirteen year period in history where social status, gender, politics and the idea of war itself came into question; changing the world in ways no one could have imagined – certainly not siblings Ethel and Billy Williams. Born in a Welsh mining town, where expectations were small and one’s life was lived without ever leaving, Ethel and Billy proved to be different. Fighting in WWI reinforced Billy’s disdain for the aristocracy and strengthened his determination to do something for the working man. Ethel had high hopes for her life, but realizing her dreams was difficult, because women at the turn of the 20th century had no power, nevertheless she lives her life passionately. By contrast, Maud and her brother, the Earl Fitzherbert, have lead a life of privilege. Maud’s radical ideas are given room to grow during the upheaval of the war, while her brother the Earl refuses to acknowledge any change in his status, despite the fact that everything is different. Walter von Ulrich, a German diplomat who enjoyed a life of riches and travel before Germany declared war, finds himself in love with a British citizen and any acknowledgement of his love would put into question his loyalty to his country. Their story is filled with passion and longing. Brothers Lev and Grigori Peshkov are Russian peasants who suffer cruelly under the Tsar. While Lev goes off to America, Grigori stays and joins the revolution with the Bolsheviks. The life Lev creates in America is perhaps no different than the black markets of Russia. His brother Girogi’s dream of a family, while realized, falls short when he comes to understand that the reality of Lenin’s revolution is not what he envisioned.
Ken Follett’s novel is reminiscent of a combination of some of my favorite television shows, movies and books. Upstairs Downstairs, Doctor Zhivago, Herman Wouk’s Winds of War and War and Remembrance come to mind. His detail to history filled in any gaps I might have had without giving me a straight forward history lesson. Instead, the characters tell the story and I shared their yearnings, their dreams, their love and their passions. This book was hard to put down – I was swept up within the first few pages detailing Billy’s young life and never put it down until it’s inevitable political conclusion, but surprising ending for the dozens of characters that came to life in this wonderful and richly woven novel.
This is the first book in the author’s Century Trilogy. The next in the series will deal with the children of the characters in Fall of Giants during the depression and WWII.
Ethel is tested when she is asked to stand aside while the man she loves pursues the dream she wants because it’s something he’s always wanted. Do you think that’s selfless or should you just grab what you want?
Maria Lokken is an avid romance reader and an award winning television producer
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Maria, this sounds marvelous. It's going on my wish list as my budget for the year has already been spent 
Maybe this is one I should use the library for.
Thanks again wonderful reveiw
Deb
