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Fall of Giants
- Century Trilogy, Book 1
- Narrated by: John Lee
- Length: 30 hrs and 36 mins
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Fall of Giants
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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.
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What listeners say about Fall of Giants
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- frank
- 12-02-13
Told by two Giant Storytellers
I'm Flemish so forgive me if what I write is grammatically not correct, this took me back to the books in my dad's bedroom, I was 11 & read my first english book The Professor's Daughter by Piers Paul Read, soon after I read The Eye of the Needle & ever since I've been facinated by the English language & by story telling, I'm also a radiofan, love BBC podcasts but this was one of my first Audible books and what a journey it's been, don't know how Ken Follet does it but I find the storytelling fascinating, wonderful narrative, great warm characters, fascinating period, and above all as a voiceactor & director myself I must say that John Lee is absolutely amazing in reading it to us, in the beginning had to get used to it but once he got started o my God it's truly magical, if they would give voiceoscars he would get one from me, superb!!!!!!!!
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Callum
- 07-04-13
A great story
The Fall of Giants is an absolutely fantastic story, particularly if you enjoy historical fiction. The stories of the characters are interwoven with each other and with real life historical figures. The story combines tales of love, war, politics in a supremely enjoyable read/listen.
I enjoyed the narrator of this and the following book in the trilogy. Can't wait for the last in the series! Strongly recommend this book, another great listen from Audible! I look forward to many more.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Steve Baker
- 18-07-21
enthralling start to finish.
Another Ken Follett master piece, so very well written, John Lee holds you spell bound from first word to last.. now for book 2 of this trilogy, thank you both.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Dave
- 02-02-22
Captivating.
Loved this book and the narrator. A lengthy and captivating story. I heartily recommend it.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Gordy Marshall
- 17-07-23
Simply brilliant
I could not stop listening to the masterpiece. It’s the second of his books I’ve listened to, the first “Never” is equally brilliant. I’m immediately going to move onto another of his. Thrilled to have found an author whose work I’m going to have to consume in full
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Debra Nightingale
- 07-12-23
Great book, looking forward to the second in the series.
Great narrative from different perspectives in a period of radical change in history. Good characterisation by the reader. Well done.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Robyn
- 26-11-14
Outstanding
I keep recommending this book to friends. It's one of those books that both educates and entertains - a real winner as I feel I'm improving myself rather than simply indulging in escapism. If the sheer size of the traditional paper version puts you off, then this is definitely one to do audio-style. The narration is spot on.
Rich story-telling in satisfying Follett style. I happened to be listening to the Battle of the Somme as we reached Remembrance Sunday this year - right at the time the papers were full of photos of the poppies at the Tower of London. Really quite poignant.
Setting the key families in the UK, Germany, Russia and the USA gives the listener a very full picture of the world at the time. A fabulous window to history.
I have just finished listening to book two in the series - just as good, though equally harrowing in places. Feeling slightly shattered - the world really did get itself into a right mess, didn't it? Book three has just been released.....fingers crossed it's of the same standard.
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18 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Gillian
- 04-10-11
Fall of Giants
Ken Follet at his best, well written with fantastic plot and great characters. I cant wait for his next block buster.
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Maddy
- 10-09-15
A Great Listen
I was all prepared to be a bit dismissive about this book but I have to admit to being hooked from the beginning by the mixture of characters, social and political history and plot. I felt the author drew me very skilfully into the lives and worlds of the characters and the book moved easily between countries and themes. My only quibble would be about some of the Welsh accents, hence 4 starts for narration rather than 5. Highly recommended.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- DR PHIL JENKIN
- 28-03-16
Excellent.
Ken Follett delivers another brilliant and well researched story. Excellent narration. Well worth it, whether it is your first KF book or not, you will become a fan, guaranteed !
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