Listen free for 30 days
Listen with offer
-
Fall of Giants
- Century Trilogy, Book 1
- Narrated by: John Lee
- Length: 30 hrs and 36 mins
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
99p for the first 3 months
Buy Now for £7.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
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.
More from the same
What listeners say about Fall of Giants
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
- L B Jones
- 13-04-13
Hours and hours of engrossing listening.
The first of Follett’s 'Century' trilogy, 'Fall of Giants' is a saga which covers the years 1914-1924. It follows the lives of five families, all inter-connected either through close ties, chance encounters, or events. The novel follows these families and characters through the momentous events of this decade, telling their individual stories, and the world-changing events which they witness.
Follett’s task is a massive one, and he manages it with more success in some places than others. The Russian scenes are perhaps those which stand out the most. His depiction of life in Tsarist Russia, the experiences of the Russians on Germany’s Eastern Front, the turbulent events which led up to the Revolution in 1917, and the complicated mess facing the Bolsheviks following the revolution were all excellently told through the eyes of Grigori Peshkov, and put into context by the opinions of other characters in other countries. For example Earl Fitzherbert, an English aristocrat, is appalled by the socialism which he sees as having destroyed a nation and denied his own half-Russian son his inheritance. Conversely the Welsh mining families cheer the revolution as an example of oppressed workers overthrowing those who had no right to rule over them.
The ‘fall of giants’ is obviously the biggest theme of the novel, and signifies many things – not only the fall of great countries such as Germany and Tsarist Russia but also smaller things, such as the superiority of individuals. The final scene in the novel is the most powerful, and sums up this entire theme.
The book is excellently narrated by John Lee, who does incredible work with the huge variety of accents demanded by the international array of characters! This audiobook is certainly a great listen, especially if you like the longer story!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
- Mr
- 20-01-13
First audible book and spoilt!
I travel a lot and this book allowed me to chill out and switch off, John Lee is an excellent narrator
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- C. M. E. Beckingham
- 23-08-13
Historical Fiction at nearly its best...
Throughly enjoyable romp through the first quarter of the 20th century from various angles - through the class system - top down; bottom up. From the Western Front, Home Front, Russian revolution and the USA. From the male and female perspectives. Quite an achievement but successfully completed and a highly competent and entertaining result.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Michael M.
- 17-02-18
Completely absorbing listen
Panoramic Tale of the early twentieth century from various perspectives including a Welsh mining town, working class pre-revolutionary Russia and the upper class diplomatic worlds of Germany and America, told through loosely intertwining subplots in a way that makes the reader/listener care about the outcome. This was the soundtrack to my daily commute for over a month and it never failed to entertain, great book!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Mr Christopher Caswell
- 10-03-20
Enjoyable light fiction
I really enjoyed this audio book.
Beautifully read.
It is entertainment not history.
Helped me understand several historical developments which. I will research deeper.
Found the plot at times too obvious but a good yarn.
Will read the sequel.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- C H.
- 28-08-20
Clever but frustrating.
Having listened to Ken Follett before, I pretty much knew what to expect.
The book as per the norm was very educational and for the most part an excellent link of fact and fiction.
The reader made a pretty good job with all the numerous accents that were introduced.
The intertwining of the characters was done typically well and the different trials each group experienced were really well thought out.
The storylines also made it possible to stay committed to such a long listen.
The one frustration was that I thought the ending tailed off a bit in my opinion and left me wanting a bit more finality.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
- simplyswing
- 16-12-18
Excellent
Very e notable Not only ext extremely educational but good story lines with great characters. Ken Folletsbooks always hold your attention throuighout.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- John Heath
- 15-05-19
A brilliant glance of this period in history Ken Follett at his very best
I was intrigued with the way that the author used the story lines throughout the book depicting aspects of changes which were historically factual. All of his characters came to life and the way he managed to engage all the events that took place. What made it very poignant to me wast that my father and mother and close family were born and grew up and was involved in these changes and participated locally. Ken,s mention for instance of the Daily Herald socialist newspaper. My old Dad who fought in the First World War was typical of the way it influenced him and his brothers. Again the author not only researched the changes in society but brought to life what it must have like living through the out these turbulent times . I read twice on my Amazon Audable I love his books I consider it his best
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
- Peter
- 31-03-12
War is NOT sexy!
A long & involved story which I found rather like a heady mixture of "Birdsong", "Downton Abbey" & "Black Diamonds"....except with a proliferation of gratuitous sex - which others may find titilating but I found on the nauseatingly unnecessary. Maybe Mr Follett's publishers encourage him to include graphic sexual scenes in his novels as it probably helps them to sell but I, for one, believe that it is better to leave such things to the readers' imagination rather than spell it out!
The story, nonetheless, is well told and narrated with great aplomb by the very talented John Lee.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
- William
- 19-03-13
Absolutely amazing
This book is by far up their in the top 5 that i have ever listened too this first of this genre i have listened to and i was gripped all the way through it. listening to it ever bit of spare time i had, fantastic story telling , good character stories and connections through great detailed historical facts and timelines. but if it was not for john lee narrating it it could have easily become lackluster,boring and hard to keep up with he kept it alive and real. fantastic a must listen cant wait to listen to the second book now :)
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!