Fall of Giants

Fall of Giants

England, Russia, Germany, Austria, The United States, etc.… What do these countries (and more) have in common? World War I. In Ken Follett’s novel and first book in the Century Series, Fall of Giants he takes different people and families throughout the world and shows the reader how their lives intertwine in the mess that was WWI. What happens when a British Lady and a German solider fall in love? How does a miner named Billy become a hero? Follett explores the tangled lives of each of his characters and takes the reader right into their world and brings their experiences to life. He captures the confusion of the war in the way he tells the story of their lives. It is a wonderful mix of history, romance, fighting, politics, and so many other topics. As a historical fiction novel it does an amazing job of keeping the truth in historical events and making fictional events or conversations seem realistic. During this time period many of the things might have seemed unrealistic prior to the war, however once the constant fear of death takes over many people’s lives all other priorities fall down the drain. It is impossible not to get wrapped up in the characters’ lives and want to read on and on.

Follett is a wonderful writer and someone I think we could all learn from. I would highly recommend reading any of his books that you can get your hands on.

Photo: http://a.abcnews.go.com/images/GMA/ht_fall_of_giants_100923_main.jpg