FALL OF GIANTS by Ken Follett

(HISTORICAL NOVEL)

Fall of Giants by Ken Follett (New York: Dutton, 2010), 980 pages.

Available in hardback, paperback, Kindle, and audio versions.

Reviewed by Chuck Dayton

This is the first book of a promised trilogy about the prominent events of the 20^th century.  The book begins shortly before the turn of the 20^th century, and concludes during the period between the two world wars. The next two promised books cover the rest of the century.

Ken Follett writes basically two kinds of books: thriller, espionage stories (i.e.: Eye of the Needle, Key to Rebecca, etc), and detailed historical fictional accounts of some event or time period in history (i.e.: Pillars of the Earth, followed by a sequel, World without End). The latter two books were an account of building a cathedral in England beginning in the 11^th century, and continuing through the middle ages in the sequel.  Fall of Giants fits this historical fiction category. I enjoy his writing style and have read all of his books.

Fall of Giants follows in great detail the lives of fictional characters in Wales, England, Germany, America, and Russia. Their lives become intertwined as the tale is spun, almost to an unbelievable extent. This didn’t bother me as I read it, but it is a criticism. The real life characters of the period were, according to the forward, portrayed as they were written in history. There is enough intrigue, love, dare I say sex, to keep any reader interested in the history of the period. I learned a lot about the beginnings of WW I and the period through the end of the war. If you have ever wondered just who Archduke Ferdinand really was, this is your chance to learn in a fun way. I believe the fall of the royal houses in Europe following the war, in Russia and the former Austro-Hungarian Empire, were accurately portrayed. The book only gives a glimpse into what is about to happen in Germany during the period between the wars. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.  

© 2012