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  • Fall of Giants

  • Century Trilogy, Book 1
  • By: Ken Follett
  • Narrated by: John Lee
  • Length: 30 hrs and 36 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (589 ratings)

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Fall of Giants

By: Ken Follett
Narrated by: John Lee
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Publisher's Summary

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

What listeners say about Fall of Giants

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  • Overall
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  • Sue
  • 18-02-2014

A gripping and unmissable historical fiction!

If you could sum up Fall of Giants in three words, what would they be?

History made interesting.

What did you like best about this story?

Ken Folletts characters, while sometimes cliched, are always interesting, and always masterfully interwoven.

Any additional comments?

I listened to this audio book after reading a hard copy (and loving it), to improve my knowledge of early 20th century history. Whilst I recognise that it is a history of interpretation by Mr Folletts, he nevertheless covers all of the most important events before, during and after the First World War, with great accuracy. This history, so often told in dry and difficult style in non fiction works, becomes alive when told through the lives of a number of interwoven fictional characters from different countries. The narrator, John Lee does an excellent job of dealing with many different accents and really made the book come alive for me. I loved it even more as an audio book. Highly recommended.

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13 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Amy
  • 29-11-2016

Wonderful!

This book is amazing, do not be intimidated by it's length. Ken Follett captivated me captivated again, just like with Pillars of the Earth (if you haven't read that btw, it's brilliant and a must). It is also based very strictly on historical fact, which I find to be fantastic and fascinating. I've been recommending this book to anyone who will listen.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Read

Good story brilliantly blended with historical facts. The narration is also impressive. A long book but worth the time.

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Outstanding

I couldn’t put it down. I am looking forward to book 2 now. The fictional characters seamlessly infused with historical events , making an unforgettable story.
The narrator is just a joy to listen to also.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

unnecessary sex descriptions

began to enjoy the story,but the repeated descriptions of sex acts , spoils what could have been a great listen i have given up on finishing this book

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2 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Easy listening

Not Ken’s greatest novel but his clever wrapping drama up into historical fact is better than a dry history lesson. I skipped through the sex scenes.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Bloody amazing!

Truly fabulous! Characters. Plot. Detail. Follett creates a world you can almost feel! From start to finish an excellent book!

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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my favourite series

narration is excellent and helps distinguish characters. this is my favourite series (previously a trilogy but now with a new sequel). I've read many times but really enjoyed listening.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Epic!

Loved it. Im a history nerd and didn’t know a great deal about the time period leading up to ww1, this book fixed that. There were some truly funny one liners that added a much needed levity to some serious and convoluted subject matter. Incredibly well woven story and delivered brilliantly by the narrator. Im going straight into book 2 right now. 10/10

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Couldn't finish

Slow, dull and dated. I couldnt finish the book. Not sure what else I can say.

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