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The Century Trilogy #2
螣 蠂蔚喂渭蠋谓伪蟼 蟿慰蠀 魏蠈蟽渭慰蠀
欧宝娱乐 Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Historical Fiction (2012)韦慰 渭蔚纬伪位蔚喂蠋未蔚蟼 喂蟽蟿慰蟻喂魏蠈 苇蟺慰蟼 蟿慰蠀 Ken Follett 伪魏慰位慰蠀胃蔚委 蟿畏 未喂伪未蟻慰渭萎 蟺苇谓蟿蔚 慰喂魏慰纬蔚谓蔚喂蠋谓 渭苇蟽伪 蟽蟿慰谓 20蠈 伪喂蠋谓伪...
危蟿慰 未蔚蠉蟿蔚蟻慰 尾喂尾位委慰 蟿畏蟼 蟽蔚喂蟻维蟼, 慰喂 萎蟻蠅蔚蟼 蟿慰蠀 桅蠈位蔚蟿 -魏伪喂 渭伪味委 蟿慰蠀蟼 慰位蠈魏位畏蟻畏 畏 伪谓胃蟻蠅蟺蠈蟿畏蟿伪- 渭蟺伪委谓慰蠀谓 蟽蔚 渭喂伪 蔚蟺慰蠂萎 蟿蔚蟻维蟽蟿喂伪蟼 伪谓伪蟿伪蟻伪蠂萎蟼, 蟺慰蠀 伪蟻蠂委味蔚喂 渭蔚 蟿畏谓 维谓慰未慰 蟿慰蠀 螕' 巍维喂蠂, 蟽蠀谓蔚蠂委味蔚蟿伪喂 渭蔚 蟿慰谓 螜蟽蟺伪谓喂魏蠈 螘渭蠁蠉位喂慰 魏伪喂 蟿慰谓 螔' 螤伪纬魏蠈蟽渭喂慰 螤蠈位蔚渭慰 魏伪喂 蟿蔚位蔚喂蠋谓蔚喂 渭蔚 蟿畏 蟻委蠄畏 蟿畏蟼 伪蟿慰渭喂魏萎蟼 尾蠈渭尾伪蟼 魏伪喂 蟿畏谓 伪蟺伪蟻蠂萎 蟿慰蠀 唯蠀蠂蟻慰蠉 螤慰位苇渭慰蠀.
螚 螕蔚蟻渭伪谓委未伪 螝维蟻位伪 蠁慰谓 螣蠉位蟻喂蠂, 魏伪胃蠋蟼 畏 蟺位畏渭渭蠀蟻委未伪 蟿慰蠀 螡伪味喂蟽渭慰蠉 魏伪蟿伪魏位蠉味蔚喂 蟿畏 蠂蠋蟻伪, 蟺蟻伪纬渭伪蟿慰蟺慰喂蔚委 渭喂伪 蟺蟻维尉畏 伪蟺委蟽蟿蔚蠀蟿慰蠀 胃维蟻蟻慰蠀蟼...
螣喂 螒渭蔚蟻喂魏伪谓慰委 伪未蔚位蠁慰委 螡蟿喂慰蠉伪蟻 蟺伪委蟻谓慰蠀谓 未喂伪蠁慰蟻蔚蟿喂魏慰蠉蟼 未蟻蠈渭慰蠀蟼 渭蟺蟻慰蟽蟿维 蟽蟿慰 魏慰蟽渭慰蠆蟽蟿慰蟻喂魏维 纬蔚纬慰谓蠈蟿伪, 慰 苇谓伪蟼 蟽蟿畏谓 螣蠀维蟽喂谓纬魏蟿慰谓, 慰 维位位慰蟼 蟽蟿喂蟼 味慰蠉纬魏位蔚蟼 蟿慰蠀 螘喂蟻畏谓喂魏慰蠉...
螣 螁纬纬位慰蟼 蠁慰喂蟿畏蟿萎蟼 螞蠈喂谓蟿 螕慰蠀委位喂伪渭蟼 蟻委蠂谓蔚蟿伪喂 蟽蟿畏 蠁蠅蟿喂维 蟿慰蠀 螜蟽蟺伪谓喂魏慰蠉 螘渭蠁蠀位委慰蠀...
螚 螒渭蔚蟻喂魏伪谓委未伪 螡蟿苇喂味喂 螤苇蟽魏慰蠁, 蟺慰蠀 蔚谓未喂伪蠁苇蟻蔚蟿伪喂 渭蠈谓慰 谓伪 伪谓伪蟻蟻喂蠂畏胃蔚委 魏慰喂谓蠅谓喂魏维, 尾位苇蟺蔚喂 蟿慰谓 蟺蠈位蔚渭慰 谓伪 伪位位维味蔚喂 蟻喂味喂魏维 蟿畏 味蠅萎 蟿畏蟼. 螘谓蠋 蟽蟿畏 危慰尾喂蔚蟿喂魏萎 螆谓蠅蟽畏 慰 尉维未蔚蟻蠁蠈蟼 蟿畏蟼 慰 螔伪位蠈谓蟿喂伪 伪蟺慰魏蟿维 渭喂伪 胃苇蟽畏 蟽蟿喂蟼 渭蠀蟽蟿喂魏苇蟼 蠀蟺畏蟻蔚蟽委蔚蟼 蟺慰蠀 胃伪 蔚蟺畏蟻蔚维蟽蔚喂 蠈蠂喂 渭蠈谓慰 伪蠀蟿蠈 蟿慰谓 蟺蠈位蔚渭慰, 伪位位维 魏伪 蟿慰谓 蔚蟺蠈渭蔚谓慰...
螒蟺蠈 蟿伪 蟽伪位蠈谓喂伪 蟿蠅谓 蟺位慰蠀蟽委蠅谓 蠅蟼 蟿伪 伪喂渭伪蟿慰尾伪渭渭苇谓伪 蟺蔚未委伪 蟿蠅谓 渭伪蠂蠋谓, 慰喂 味蠅苇蟼 蠈位蠅谓 蟿慰蠀蟼 渭蟺位苇魏慰谓蟿伪喂 伪尉蔚未喂维位蠀蟿伪 渭蔚蟿伪尉蠉 蟿慰蠀蟼 魏伪喂 渭蔚 蟿伪 渭蔚纬维位伪, 未蟻伪渭伪蟿喂魏维 纬蔚纬慰谓蠈蟿伪 渭喂伪蟼 蟽魏位畏蟻萎蟼, 蟽魏慰蟿蔚喂谓萎蟼 蔚蟺慰蠂萎蟼 蟺慰蠀 蔚蠉蟽蟿慰蠂伪 慰 桅蠈位蔚蟿 伪蟺慰魏伪位蔚委 "围蔚喂渭蠋谓伪 蟿慰蠀 螝蠈蟽渭慰蠀"... (螒蟺蠈 蟿畏谓 蟺伪蟻慰蠀蟽委伪蟽畏 蟽蟿慰 慰蟺喂蟽胃蠈蠁蠀位位慰 蟿慰蠀 尾喂尾位委慰蠀)
"螘尉委蟽慰蠀 未蠀谓伪蟿蠈, 蟽蠀谓伪蟻蟺伪蟽蟿喂魏蠈 魏伪喂 渭伪魏蟻慰蟽魏蔚位苇蟼 渭蔚 蟿慰 蟺蟻蠋蟿慰 渭苇蟻慰蟼, 蟿畏谓 螤蟿蠋蟽畏 蟿蠅谓 螕喂纬维谓蟿蠅谓. 螣 桅蠈位蔚蟿 蔚委谓伪喂 伪蟺慰蠁伪蟽喂蟽渭苇谓慰蟼 魏伪喂 喂魏伪谓蠈蟼 谓伪 魏蟻伪蟿维 蟿蠈蟽蔚蟼 蟺位慰魏苇蟼 渭伪味委 蔚谓 蔚尉蔚位委尉蔚喂, 魏伪胃蠋蟼 伪蠁畏纬蔚委蟿伪喂 渭喂伪 喂蟽蟿慰蟻委伪 蟺慰蠀 未喂未维蟽魏蔚喂 魏伪喂 蠄蠀蠂伪纬蠅纬蔚委. .. 螛伪 魏维谓蔚喂 蟿慰蠀蟼 胃伪蠀渭伪蟽蟿苇蟼 蟿慰蠀 谓伪 蟺蔚蟻喂渭苇谓慰蠀谓 渭蔚 伪谓蠀蟺慰渭慰谓畏蟽委伪 蟿慰 蟿蟻委蟿慰 尾喂尾位委慰, 蟿慰 蔚蟺喂蟽蟿苇纬伪蟽渭伪 蟿畏蟼 蟽蔚喂蟻维蟼". (Publishers Weekly)
"螚 伪蠁萎纬畏蟽畏 蟿慰蠀 桅蠈位蔚蟿 蔚委谓伪喂 未喂伪魏蟻喂蟿喂魏萎 魏伪喂 苇谓蟿蔚蠂谓畏. 违蠁伪委谓蔚喂 苇谓伪 位慰纬喂魏蠈 魏伪 蔚蠀魏慰位慰未喂维尾伪蟽蟿慰 谓萎渭伪 蟺慰蠀 伪纬魏伪位喂维味蔚喂 未蔚魏维未蔚蟼 蠂伪蟻伪魏蟿萎蟻蔚蟼 魏伪喂 蟺维蟻伪 蟺慰位位萎 螜蟽蟿慰蟻委伪". (Kirkus Reviews)
危蟿慰 未蔚蠉蟿蔚蟻慰 尾喂尾位委慰 蟿畏蟼 蟽蔚喂蟻维蟼, 慰喂 萎蟻蠅蔚蟼 蟿慰蠀 桅蠈位蔚蟿 -魏伪喂 渭伪味委 蟿慰蠀蟼 慰位蠈魏位畏蟻畏 畏 伪谓胃蟻蠅蟺蠈蟿畏蟿伪- 渭蟺伪委谓慰蠀谓 蟽蔚 渭喂伪 蔚蟺慰蠂萎 蟿蔚蟻维蟽蟿喂伪蟼 伪谓伪蟿伪蟻伪蠂萎蟼, 蟺慰蠀 伪蟻蠂委味蔚喂 渭蔚 蟿畏谓 维谓慰未慰 蟿慰蠀 螕' 巍维喂蠂, 蟽蠀谓蔚蠂委味蔚蟿伪喂 渭蔚 蟿慰谓 螜蟽蟺伪谓喂魏蠈 螘渭蠁蠉位喂慰 魏伪喂 蟿慰谓 螔' 螤伪纬魏蠈蟽渭喂慰 螤蠈位蔚渭慰 魏伪喂 蟿蔚位蔚喂蠋谓蔚喂 渭蔚 蟿畏 蟻委蠄畏 蟿畏蟼 伪蟿慰渭喂魏萎蟼 尾蠈渭尾伪蟼 魏伪喂 蟿畏谓 伪蟺伪蟻蠂萎 蟿慰蠀 唯蠀蠂蟻慰蠉 螤慰位苇渭慰蠀.
螚 螕蔚蟻渭伪谓委未伪 螝维蟻位伪 蠁慰谓 螣蠉位蟻喂蠂, 魏伪胃蠋蟼 畏 蟺位畏渭渭蠀蟻委未伪 蟿慰蠀 螡伪味喂蟽渭慰蠉 魏伪蟿伪魏位蠉味蔚喂 蟿畏 蠂蠋蟻伪, 蟺蟻伪纬渭伪蟿慰蟺慰喂蔚委 渭喂伪 蟺蟻维尉畏 伪蟺委蟽蟿蔚蠀蟿慰蠀 胃维蟻蟻慰蠀蟼...
螣喂 螒渭蔚蟻喂魏伪谓慰委 伪未蔚位蠁慰委 螡蟿喂慰蠉伪蟻 蟺伪委蟻谓慰蠀谓 未喂伪蠁慰蟻蔚蟿喂魏慰蠉蟼 未蟻蠈渭慰蠀蟼 渭蟺蟻慰蟽蟿维 蟽蟿慰 魏慰蟽渭慰蠆蟽蟿慰蟻喂魏维 纬蔚纬慰谓蠈蟿伪, 慰 苇谓伪蟼 蟽蟿畏谓 螣蠀维蟽喂谓纬魏蟿慰谓, 慰 维位位慰蟼 蟽蟿喂蟼 味慰蠉纬魏位蔚蟼 蟿慰蠀 螘喂蟻畏谓喂魏慰蠉...
螣 螁纬纬位慰蟼 蠁慰喂蟿畏蟿萎蟼 螞蠈喂谓蟿 螕慰蠀委位喂伪渭蟼 蟻委蠂谓蔚蟿伪喂 蟽蟿畏 蠁蠅蟿喂维 蟿慰蠀 螜蟽蟺伪谓喂魏慰蠉 螘渭蠁蠀位委慰蠀...
螚 螒渭蔚蟻喂魏伪谓委未伪 螡蟿苇喂味喂 螤苇蟽魏慰蠁, 蟺慰蠀 蔚谓未喂伪蠁苇蟻蔚蟿伪喂 渭蠈谓慰 谓伪 伪谓伪蟻蟻喂蠂畏胃蔚委 魏慰喂谓蠅谓喂魏维, 尾位苇蟺蔚喂 蟿慰谓 蟺蠈位蔚渭慰 谓伪 伪位位维味蔚喂 蟻喂味喂魏维 蟿畏 味蠅萎 蟿畏蟼. 螘谓蠋 蟽蟿畏 危慰尾喂蔚蟿喂魏萎 螆谓蠅蟽畏 慰 尉维未蔚蟻蠁蠈蟼 蟿畏蟼 慰 螔伪位蠈谓蟿喂伪 伪蟺慰魏蟿维 渭喂伪 胃苇蟽畏 蟽蟿喂蟼 渭蠀蟽蟿喂魏苇蟼 蠀蟺畏蟻蔚蟽委蔚蟼 蟺慰蠀 胃伪 蔚蟺畏蟻蔚维蟽蔚喂 蠈蠂喂 渭蠈谓慰 伪蠀蟿蠈 蟿慰谓 蟺蠈位蔚渭慰, 伪位位维 魏伪 蟿慰谓 蔚蟺蠈渭蔚谓慰...
螒蟺蠈 蟿伪 蟽伪位蠈谓喂伪 蟿蠅谓 蟺位慰蠀蟽委蠅谓 蠅蟼 蟿伪 伪喂渭伪蟿慰尾伪渭渭苇谓伪 蟺蔚未委伪 蟿蠅谓 渭伪蠂蠋谓, 慰喂 味蠅苇蟼 蠈位蠅谓 蟿慰蠀蟼 渭蟺位苇魏慰谓蟿伪喂 伪尉蔚未喂维位蠀蟿伪 渭蔚蟿伪尉蠉 蟿慰蠀蟼 魏伪喂 渭蔚 蟿伪 渭蔚纬维位伪, 未蟻伪渭伪蟿喂魏维 纬蔚纬慰谓蠈蟿伪 渭喂伪蟼 蟽魏位畏蟻萎蟼, 蟽魏慰蟿蔚喂谓萎蟼 蔚蟺慰蠂萎蟼 蟺慰蠀 蔚蠉蟽蟿慰蠂伪 慰 桅蠈位蔚蟿 伪蟺慰魏伪位蔚委 "围蔚喂渭蠋谓伪 蟿慰蠀 螝蠈蟽渭慰蠀"... (螒蟺蠈 蟿畏谓 蟺伪蟻慰蠀蟽委伪蟽畏 蟽蟿慰 慰蟺喂蟽胃蠈蠁蠀位位慰 蟿慰蠀 尾喂尾位委慰蠀)
"螘尉委蟽慰蠀 未蠀谓伪蟿蠈, 蟽蠀谓伪蟻蟺伪蟽蟿喂魏蠈 魏伪喂 渭伪魏蟻慰蟽魏蔚位苇蟼 渭蔚 蟿慰 蟺蟻蠋蟿慰 渭苇蟻慰蟼, 蟿畏谓 螤蟿蠋蟽畏 蟿蠅谓 螕喂纬维谓蟿蠅谓. 螣 桅蠈位蔚蟿 蔚委谓伪喂 伪蟺慰蠁伪蟽喂蟽渭苇谓慰蟼 魏伪喂 喂魏伪谓蠈蟼 谓伪 魏蟻伪蟿维 蟿蠈蟽蔚蟼 蟺位慰魏苇蟼 渭伪味委 蔚谓 蔚尉蔚位委尉蔚喂, 魏伪胃蠋蟼 伪蠁畏纬蔚委蟿伪喂 渭喂伪 喂蟽蟿慰蟻委伪 蟺慰蠀 未喂未维蟽魏蔚喂 魏伪喂 蠄蠀蠂伪纬蠅纬蔚委. .. 螛伪 魏维谓蔚喂 蟿慰蠀蟼 胃伪蠀渭伪蟽蟿苇蟼 蟿慰蠀 谓伪 蟺蔚蟻喂渭苇谓慰蠀谓 渭蔚 伪谓蠀蟺慰渭慰谓畏蟽委伪 蟿慰 蟿蟻委蟿慰 尾喂尾位委慰, 蟿慰 蔚蟺喂蟽蟿苇纬伪蟽渭伪 蟿畏蟼 蟽蔚喂蟻维蟼". (Publishers Weekly)
"螚 伪蠁萎纬畏蟽畏 蟿慰蠀 桅蠈位蔚蟿 蔚委谓伪喂 未喂伪魏蟻喂蟿喂魏萎 魏伪喂 苇谓蟿蔚蠂谓畏. 违蠁伪委谓蔚喂 苇谓伪 位慰纬喂魏蠈 魏伪 蔚蠀魏慰位慰未喂维尾伪蟽蟿慰 谓萎渭伪 蟺慰蠀 伪纬魏伪位喂维味蔚喂 未蔚魏维未蔚蟼 蠂伪蟻伪魏蟿萎蟻蔚蟼 魏伪喂 蟺维蟻伪 蟺慰位位萎 螜蟽蟿慰蟻委伪". (Kirkus Reviews)
1008 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 18, 2012
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About the author
Ken Follett
528听books57.1k听followersKen Follett is one of the world鈥檚 most successful authors. Over 170 million copies of the 36 books he has written have been sold in over 80 countries and in 33 languages.
Born on June 5th, 1949 in Cardiff, Wales, the son of a tax inspector, Ken was educated at state schools and went on to graduate from University College, London, with an Honours degree in Philosophy 鈥� later to be made a Fellow of the College in 1995.
He started his career as a reporter, first with his hometown newspaper the South Wales Echo and then with the London Evening News. Subsequently, he worked for a small London publishing house, Everest Books, eventually becoming Deputy Managing Director.
Ken鈥檚 first major success came with the publication of Eye of the Needle in 1978. A World War II thriller set in England, this book earned him the 1979 Edgar Award for Best Novel from the Mystery Writers of America. It remains one of Ken鈥檚 most popular books.
In 1989, Ken鈥檚 epic novel about the building of a medieval cathedral, The Pillars of the Earth, was published. It reached number one on best-seller lists everywhere and was turned into a major television series produced by Ridley Scott, which aired in 2010. World Without End, the sequel to The Pillars of the Earth, proved equally popular when it was published in 2007.
Ken鈥檚 new book, The Evening and the Morning, will be published in September 2020. It is a prequel to The Pillars of the Earth and is set around the year 1,000, when Kingsbridge was an Anglo-Saxon settlement threatened by Viking invaders.
Ken has been active in numerous literacy charities and was president of Dyslexia Action for ten years. He was chair of the National Year of Reading, a joint initiative between government and businesses. He is also active in many Stevenage charities and is President of the Stevenage Community Trust and Patron of Home-Start Hertfordshire.
Ken, who loves music almost as much as he loves books, is an enthusiastic bass guitar player. He lives in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, with his wife Barbara, the former Labour Member of Parliament for Stevenage. Between them they have five children, six grandchildren and two Labradors.
Born on June 5th, 1949 in Cardiff, Wales, the son of a tax inspector, Ken was educated at state schools and went on to graduate from University College, London, with an Honours degree in Philosophy 鈥� later to be made a Fellow of the College in 1995.
He started his career as a reporter, first with his hometown newspaper the South Wales Echo and then with the London Evening News. Subsequently, he worked for a small London publishing house, Everest Books, eventually becoming Deputy Managing Director.
Ken鈥檚 first major success came with the publication of Eye of the Needle in 1978. A World War II thriller set in England, this book earned him the 1979 Edgar Award for Best Novel from the Mystery Writers of America. It remains one of Ken鈥檚 most popular books.
In 1989, Ken鈥檚 epic novel about the building of a medieval cathedral, The Pillars of the Earth, was published. It reached number one on best-seller lists everywhere and was turned into a major television series produced by Ridley Scott, which aired in 2010. World Without End, the sequel to The Pillars of the Earth, proved equally popular when it was published in 2007.
Ken鈥檚 new book, The Evening and the Morning, will be published in September 2020. It is a prequel to The Pillars of the Earth and is set around the year 1,000, when Kingsbridge was an Anglo-Saxon settlement threatened by Viking invaders.
Ken has been active in numerous literacy charities and was president of Dyslexia Action for ten years. He was chair of the National Year of Reading, a joint initiative between government and businesses. He is also active in many Stevenage charities and is President of the Stevenage Community Trust and Patron of Home-Start Hertfordshire.
Ken, who loves music almost as much as he loves books, is an enthusiastic bass guitar player. He lives in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, with his wife Barbara, the former Labour Member of Parliament for Stevenage. Between them they have five children, six grandchildren and two Labradors.
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September 14, 2012
I read the first of this trilogy 鈥� Fall of Giants. It was excellent. Winter of the World continues in the same superlative fashion. The narrative is quick and absorbing. Through the eyes of interesting characters, you get a front row seat in the most memorable historical events that were really not that long ago. The first book took me inside the world my grandparents experienced. This one transported me into the events that shaped my parents. The book provides in-depth perspectives and describes how people actually felt at the time. There is a handy map of the world on the inside covers. It shows all the cities where events transpire. Ken Follett is a master storyteller. His books are extremely interesting and thoroughly enjoyable. I eagerly await the third in this series.
February 9, 2017
毓丕賲 噩丿賷丿 賷亘丿兀 賵賱賰賳賷 丕爻鬲賴賱賷鬲 賯乇丕亍鬲賴 亘乇賵丕賷丞 鬲丿賵乇 兀丨丿丕孬賴丕 賲賳匕 丨賵丕賱賷 75 毓丕賲丕
賵丕毓鬲亘乇賴丕 廿囟丕賮丞 賲賲賷夭丞 賱賯乇丕亍丕鬲賷 丕賱賲毓鬲丕丿丞 賲賳 丕賱乇賵丕賷丕鬲
賲賳 賯丕賱 兀賳 丕賱乇賵丕賷丕鬲 賱賷爻鬲 亘兀賴賲賷丞 丕賱賰鬲亘 丕賱賳氐賷丞 賱賴賵 賮毓賱丕 囟賷賯 丕賱兀賮賯
賮賴賳丕 丕賲鬲夭噩鬲 丿乇丕賲丕 賲賲鬲毓丞 賲毓 兀丨丿丕孬 爻賷丕爻賷丞 鬲丕乇賷禺賷丞 賴丕賲丞
賵卮禺氐賷丕鬲 賲鬲賳賵毓丞 賲孬賷乇丞 賲毓 卮禺氐賷丕鬲 丨賯賷賯賷丞 睾賷乇鬲 丕賱鬲丕乇賷禺
毓賲賱丕 賲賱丨賲賷丕 亘丨賯 賷賲夭噩 亘丿乇丕賲丕 賲鬲賲賷夭丞 賵鬲丕乇賷禺 丕賵乇賵亘丕 賵丕賲乇賷賰丕 毓賱賷 賲丿丕乇 賯乇賳 賲賳 丕賱夭賲丕賳 賷乇氐丿 丕賱賲賲賷夭丕鬲 賰賲丕 賷乇氐丿 丕賱毓賷賵亘
賱丕 丕丿乇賷 賮毓賱丕 廿賱賷 賲鬲賷 鬲馗賱 "兀睾賱亘" 乇賵丕賷丕鬲賳丕 丕賱賲氐乇賷丞 賵丕賱毓乇亘賷丞 丕賱爻賷丕爻賷丞 爻賯賷賲丞 賱丕 鬲賯丿賲 丕賱兀賲賵乇 亘丨賷丕丿賷丞 丕賵 賲賳 丕賰孬乇 賲賳 賲賳馗賵乇 賮賯胤 賮爻丕丿 賵亘卮丕毓丞 賵噩賳爻責
賮賴賳丕 賷賯丿賲 丨賷丕丞 賰丕賲賱丞 賵賯賷賲 丕賱丨亘 賵丕賱氐丿丕賯丞 賵丕賱卮噩丕毓丞 賵丕賱亘胤賵賱丞 賵丨鬲賷 噩賳爻 賵賱賰賳 賱賷爻 毓賴乇貙 賷賯丿賲 賵噩賴丞 賳馗乇 賵賵噩賴丞 丕賱賳馗乇 丕賱丕禺乇賷 .. 賷賯丿賲 丕賱兀賲賵乇 丕賱鬲賷 賱賷爻 亘賴丕 鬲兀賰賷丿 賰賲丕 賴賷 賮賱丕 賷亘丕賱睾 賲孬賱丕 賮賷 爻乇丿 賲亘丕賱睾丕鬲 丕賱賷賴賵丿 毓賱賷 丕賳賴丕 丨賯丕卅賯 賵丕賯毓丞 爻賱賷賲丞 賵丕賳賲丕 賷爻乇丿 丕賱賲丐賰丿 毓賱賷賴 鬲丕乇賷禺賷丕 賮賷 丕胤丕乇 丿乇丕賲賷 賲賲鬲丕夭
"丕氐丿賯丕亍賰 丕賱賳丕夭賷賵賳 賱丕 賷賮賯賴賵賳 卮賷卅丕 毓賳 丕賱鬲丕乇賷禺 , 丕賱賲氐乇賷賵賳 丕賱賯丿賲丕亍 亘賳賵丕 丕賱兀賴乇丕賲丕鬲 賵賯鬲 丕賱兀賱賲丕賳 賰丕賳賵丕 賷毓賷卮賵賳 賮賷 丕賱賰賴賵賮. 丕賱毓乇亘 丨賰賲賵丕 丕賱毓丕賱賲 賮賷 丕賱毓氐賵乇 丕賱賵爻胤賷-丕賱賲爻賱賲賷賳 賰丕賳賵丕 賷賯賵賲賵賳 亘毓賲賱賷丕鬲 丕賱噩亘乇 賵賯鬲 丕賱兀賲乇丕亍 丕賱兀賱賲丕賳 賱賲 賷賰賵賳賵丕 賷毓乇賮賵丕 賰鬲丕亘丞 丕爻賲丕亍賴賲...丕賳賴 賱丕 卮卅 賲鬲毓賱賯 亘丕賱毓乇賯"
"Your Nazi friends don't know history,"Father Said. "The Ancient Egyptians built the pyramids when Germans were living in caves. Arabs ruled the world in the Middle Ages-the Muslims were doing algebra when German princes could not write their own names. It's nothing to do with race"
兀賳賴 賰賷賳 賮賵賱賷鬲..賲丐賱賮賷 丕賱賲賮囟賱 丕賱噩丿賷丿
爻亘毓 兀爻亘丕亘 賱鬲賯乇兀 賱賰賷賳 賮賵賱賷鬲 孬賱丕孬賷丞 丕賱賯乇賳Se7en Reasons Why to Read Ken Follett's The Century Trilogy
1- For Living the History Experience 賱鬲毓賷卮 丕賱鬲丕乇賷禺
孬賱丕孬賷丞 丕賱賯乇賳 賮賷 賰鬲丕亘賴丕 丕賱孬丕賳賷 賴匕丕 爻鬲賳賯賱賰 廿賱賶 賮鬲乇丞 鬲丕乇賷禺賷丞 賴丕賲丞貙 卮鬲賵賷丞 賰賲丕 賵氐賮賴丕 丕賱賲丐賱賮 貙 賲賳 1933 廿賱賷 1949 爻鬲鬲毓乇賮 毓賱賷 胤丕亘毓 丕賱丨賷丕丞 賮賷 賴匕丕 丕賱賵賯鬲 賵丨賷丕丞 丕賱賳丕爻 亘賴丕 賵賰賷賮 毓丕卮賵丕 兀賴賲 丕賱兀丨丿丕孬 丕賱鬲丕乇賷禺賷丞 丕賱乇賴賷亘丞 賲賳 禺賱丕賱 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賵亘卮賰賱 爻賷噩毓賱賰 賱丕 鬲賳爻賷 賴匕賴 丕賱兀丨丿丕孬 賵丨鬲賷 鬲賵丕乇賷禺賴丕
賮賰賱 賮氐賱 亘丕賱賰鬲丕亘 毓賳賵丕賳賴 丕賱毓丕賲 丕賱匕賷 鬲丿賵乇 亘賴 丕賱兀丨丿丕孬貙 賵賲賳 禺賱丕賱 賰賱 賮氐賱 爻鬲噩丿 丕賱卮賴乇貙 亘賱 賵丕賱賷賵賲 賵丕賱賵賯鬲 丕賱賲丨丿丿 賱賱兀丨丿丕孬 丕賱鬲丕乇賷禺賷丞 丕賱鬲賷 睾賷乇鬲 賵噩賴 丕賱丨賷丕丞 丕賱爻賷丕爻賷丞 亘丕賱毓丕賱賲
賵賱賰賳 賱賷爻 賴匕丕 丕賱爻亘亘 丕賱賵丨賷丿 丕賱匕賷 爻賷噩毓賱賰 鬲鬲匕賰乇 鬲賱賰 丕賱兀丨丿丕孬 亘鬲賵丕乇賷禺賴丕
2- With an Excellent Drama 亘丿乇丕賲丕 賲鬲賲賷夭丞
亘賱 賱兀賳 鬲賱賰 丕賱丕丨丿丕孬 丕賱鬲丕乇賷禺賷丞 賲賳爻賵噩丞 亘丨乇賮賷丞 亘丿乇丕賲丕 賲孬賷乇丞 賵賲賲賷夭丞 貙 乇亘賲丕 兀毓噩亘鬲賳賷 兀賰孬乇 賲賳 丕賱噩夭亍 丕賱兀賵賱貙 賮賱丕 賴賷 丿乇丕賲丕 亘胤賷卅丞 貙 賲賲賱丞 丕賵 賲賱賷卅丞 亘鬲卮亘賷賴丕鬲 鬲鬲氐賳毓 丕賱毓賲賯 兀賵 賮賱爻賮丞 賮丕乇睾丞 賱丕 鬲鬲丨賲賱賴丕 丕賱兀丨丿丕孬貙 賵賱丕 賴賷 賲鬲爻丕乇毓丞 鬲卮毓乇 賰兀賳賰 鬲賯乇兀 鬲賯乇賷乇 賲賱禺氐 噩丕賮 毓賳 丨賷丕丞 丕賱卮禺氐賷丕鬲 亘卮賰賱 鬲賯乇賷乇賷
丕賱丿乇丕賲丕 賳賮爻賴丕 賰丨賷丕丞 胤亘賷毓賷丞 賵丕賯毓賷丞 貙賮賱丕 賵噩賵丿 賱兀丨丿丕孬 噩乇賷賲丞 睾丕賲囟丞 丕賵 丕賰卮賳 丕賵 睾乇丕卅亘賷丞貙 賴賷 丨賷丕丞 毓丕丿賷丞 賲丕 賷賲賷夭賴丕 賴賵 丕氐胤丿丕賲賴丕 亘丕丨丿丕孬 鬲丕乇賷禺賷丞 賴丕賲丞 亘卮賰賱 睾賷乇 賲賯丨賲 賵廿賳賲丕 賲賱丕卅賲 噩丿丕 賱賱卮禺氐賷丕鬲
賱賳 鬲卮毓乇 亘囟睾賷丕賳 丕賱噩丕賳亘 丕賱爻賷丕爻賷 毓賱賷 丕賱丿乇丕賲賷貙 賵賱丕 丕賱毓賰爻..爻鬲噩丿 鬲賵丕夭賳 賲賯丿賲 亘卮賰賱 賲賲鬲毓 賷噩毓賱賰 鬲毓賷卮 丕賱兀丨丿丕孬 亘卮賰賱 賲孬賷乇
賯丿 鬲鬲賳亘兀 賱賱賵賴賱丞 丕賱兀賵賱賷 亘賲丕 賯丿 鬲賳鬲賴賷 廿賱賷賴 兀丨丿丕孬 丿乇丕賲賷丞 賲毓賷賳丞 賱兀丨丿 丕賱卮禺氐賷丕鬲 賵賱賰賳 爻鬲鬲賮丕噩兀 亘鬲胤賵乇丕鬲 賲孬賷乇丞 賱賱兀丨丿丕孬 賵丕賱卮禺氐賷丕鬲
3- Of Varaity of Characters 亘卮禺氐賷丕鬲 賲鬲賳賵毓丞
丕賱卮禺氐賷丕鬲 亘丕賱乇睾賲 賲賳 兀賳賴 賯丿 賷氐丿賲賰 賰孬乇鬲賴丕 賮賷 賮賴乇爻 丕賱卮禺氐賷丕鬲 亘兀賵賱 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 賵賱賰賳 亘賲噩乇丿 廿賳鬲賴丕亍 丕賱賮氐賵賱 丕賱兀賵賱賶 賲賳 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 丕賱兀賵賱 爻鬲噩丿 丕賳 馗賴賵乇 丕賱卮禺氐賷丕鬲 賵丕賱鬲毓乇賷賮 亘賴丕 賵毓賱丕賯鬲賴丕 丕賱毓丕卅賱賷丞 鬲賲 鬲賯丿賷賲賴丕 亘爻賱丕爻丞 卮丿賷丿丞 貙 賱賷爻 毓賱賷賰 爻賵賷 鬲禺賷賱 賲賲孬賱 丕賵 賲賲孬賱丞 賲賮囟賱丞 賱賰 賱賰賱 卮禺氐賷丞 丨鬲賷 鬲賰賵賳 丕賱氐賵乇丞 賲賰鬲賲賱丞 賮賷 匕賴賳賰 丕孬賳丕亍 丕賱賯乇丕亍丞
爻鬲噩丿 亘毓丿 匕賱賰 賲鬲丕亘毓丞 丕賱鬲卮丕亘賰 亘賷賳 丕賱卮禺氐賷丕鬲 賵 丕賱毓丕卅賱丕鬲 賲孬賷乇丕 亘丨賯 賵賲賲鬲毓 賮賷 賯乇丕亍鬲賴 貙 賲丕 亘賷賳 氐毓賵丿 賵賴亘賵胤 貙 賲丕 亘賷賳 賱賯丕亍 賵賮乇丕賯 賵賲丕 亘賷賳 賲賵鬲 賵丨賷丕丞
賲丕亘賷賳 毓丕卅賱丞 毓丕賲賱 亘爻賷胤 亘賲賳噩賲 賮丨賲貙 賱毓丕卅賱丞 廿賷乇賷賱 丕賳噩賱賷夭賷 孬乇賷 氐丕丨亘 丕賱賲賳丕噩賲貙 賱毓丕卅賱丕鬲 丿亘賵賲丕爻賷賷賳 賵乇噩丕賱 爻賷丕爻丞 賵丕禺乇賷 賲賳 丕賱亘爻胤丕亍 丕賱賲囟胤賴丿賷賳
4- Of Different Nationalities 亘噩賳爻賷丕鬲 賲禺鬲賱賮丞
賵賲賷夭丞 丕賷 乇賵丕賷丞 賴賷 丕賳賴丕 鬲匕賰乇丞 乇丨賱丞 賱賲賰丕賳 噩丿賷丿 賵亘賱丿 兀禺乇貙 賵賱賰賳 賲毓 鬲賱賰 丕賱孬賱丕孬賷丞 丕賱毓賲賱丕賯丞 賱兀賴賲 丕賱兀丨丿丕孬 丕賱鬲丕乇賷禺賷丞 亘丕賱賯乇賳 丕賱毓卮乇賷賳 賰丕賳 賷噩亘 丕賳 鬲賰賵賳 丕賱卮禺氐賷丕鬲 賲賳 丿賵賱 賲禺鬲賱賮丞 賲賲丕 賷毓賳賷 丕賳賰 賲賳 禺賱丕賱 乇丨賱鬲賰 亘賴匕賴 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 爻鬲鬲賳賯賱 亘賷賳 廿賳噩賱鬲乇丕貙 乇賵爻賷丕貙 兀賲乇賷賰丕貙 兀賱賲丕賳賷丕 賵賮乇賳爻丕 亘爻賱丕爻丞 賵鬲卮賵賷賯 賱賱鬲毓乇賮 毓賱賷 賲丕 丨丿孬 亘鬲賱賰 丕賱丿賵賱 賵亘賯賷丞 丕賱毓丕賱賲 鬲丨鬲 囟睾賵胤 丕賱氐乇丕毓丕鬲 賵丕賱孬賵乇丕鬲 賵丕賱丨乇賵亘貙 賵丕賱爻賱丕賲 丕賱亘丕乇丿 丕賱賲丐賯鬲
賴匕賴 丕賱噩賳爻賷丕鬲 丕賱賲禺鬲賱賮丞 囟賲賳鬲 鬲賯丿賷賲 氐賵乇丞 賲丨丕賷丿丞 毓馗賷賲丞 賱賰賱 丕賱丕丨丿丕孬 丕賱鬲丕乇賷禺賷丞 賮爻鬲噩丿 賵噩賴丞 賳馗乇 丕賱賳丕夭賷 賵丕賱兀賱賲丕賳賷 丕賱賲毓丕丿賷 賱賱賮丕卮賷丞貙 丕賱乇賵爻賷 丕賱匕賷 賷毓賷卮 亘乇賵爻賷丕 賵丕賱乇賵爻賷 丕賱匕賷 賷毓賷卮 亘兀賲乇賷賰丕 賵睾賷乇賴丕 丕賱賰孬賷乇 賲賳 賵噩賴丕鬲 丕賱賳馗乇 丕賱賲禺鬲賱賮丞 賱鬲噩丿 廿賳賰 亘毓賰爻 丕賱賰鬲亘 丕賱賳氐賷丞 丕賱鬲丕乇賷禺賷丞 兀賲丕賲 毓賲賱 兀丿亘賷 賷噩毓賱賰 鬲鬲毓丕賷卮 丕賱鬲丕乇賷禺 賲賳 兀賰孬乇 賲賳 夭丕賵賷丞 亘賱丕 兀丨賰丕賲 賲爻亘賯丞 丕賵 鬲賱賲賷毓 賱噩丕賳亘 毓賱賷 丨爻丕亘 兀禺乇
賵賴匕丕 賲賳 丕賴賲 丕爻亘丕亘 丕賱賳噩丕丨...丕賱賳噩丕丨 丕賱毓丕賱賲賷
5- Including Real Historical Characters 賲鬲囟賲賳丞 卮禺氐賷丕鬲 鬲丕乇賷禺賷丞 丨賯賷賯賷丞
賵賱兀賳 乇丨賱鬲賰 賲毓 鬲賱賰 丕賱卮禺氐賷丕鬲 爻鬲鬲囟賲賳 丿亘賱賵賲丕爻賷賷賳 賵丕丨丿丕孬 鬲丕乇賷禺賷丞貙 賱匕丕 爻鬲噩丿 亘毓囟 丕賱卮禺氐賷丕鬲 丕賱丨賯賷賯賷丞 鬲鬲賯丕亘賱 賲毓賴丕 賱鬲孬乇賷 丕賱丿乇丕賲丕 賵鬲噩毓賱 賲毓丕賷卮丞 丕賱丕丨丿丕孬 亘卮賰賱 丕賮囟賱貙 馗賴賵乇 丕賱卮禺氐賷丕鬲 賰賲丕 賯丕賱 丕賱賲丐賱賮 賲丨爻賵亘丕貙 賲丨丕丿孬丕鬲賴丕 賵兀賮毓丕賱賴丕 鬲賳亘毓 賲賳 賲賵丕賯賮 丨賯賷賯賷丞 賵卮賵丕賴丿 鬲丕乇賷禺賷丞 爻賵丕亍 賲賳 丕賱兀禺亘丕乇 丕賱賲乇卅賷丞 丕賵 丕賱賲賯乇賵亍丞
爻賵丕亍 乇丐爻丕亍 丿賵賱 賰賲卮賴丿 爻鬲丕賱賷賳 亘毓丿 亘丿亍 賴噩賵賲 丕賱兀賱賲丕賳 賵鬲睾賱睾賱賴賲 賮賷 卮乇賯 乇賵爻賷丕 賰丕賳 賲鬲賲賷夭丕貙 兀賵 賵夭乇丕亍 兀賵 丨鬲賷 賰賲丕 亘賴匕丕 丕賱噩夭亍 毓賱賲丕亍 匕乇丞 賰賮氐賱 鬲噩賳賷丿 毓丕賱賲 丕賱匕乇丞 丕賱匕賷 爻丕毓丿 兀賲乇賷賰丕 亘賳丕亍 丕賱賯賳亘賱丞 丕賱賳賵賵賷丞貙 賵賷賱賱賷 賮乇丕賳夭 賰噩丕爻賵爻 賱氐丕賱丨 丕賱丕鬲丨丕丿 丕賱爻賵賮賷賷鬲賷
6- And Unforgettable Historical Scenes 賵賲卮丕賴丿 鬲丕乇賷禺賷丞 賱丕 鬲賳爻賷
賰賱 賴匕丕 賷丐丿賷 賱囟賲丕賳 賯乇丕亍丞 賲卮丕賴丿 鬲丕乇賷禺賷丞 丨賯賷賯賷丞 賱丕 鬲賳爻賷. 賵賰丕賱噩夭亍 丕賱兀賵賱 亘丕賱孬賵乇丞 丕賱亘賵賱卮賮賷丞 亘乇賵爻賷丕 賵噩賵賱丞 賵乇丿賵賵乇 賵賷賱爻賵賳 亘丕賱賯胤丕乇 毓亘乇 丕賲乇賷賰丕貙 賴賳丕 賷賵噩丿 賲卮丕賴丿 囟禺賲丞 賰囟乇亘 丕賱賷丕亘丕賳 賱亘賷乇賷賱 賴丕乇亘賵乇貙 賯賷丕丿丞 丕賱賳丕夭賷賷賳 賱賱賷賴賵丿 丕賱賲乇囟賷 亘賲賱丕亘爻 賳賵賲賴賲 廿賱賷 賲氐賷乇 睾丕賲囟 貙 丕賱賯賳亘賱丞 丕賱賳賵賵賷丞 賲賳匕 賲乇丕丨賱 鬲氐賳賷毓賴丕 丕賱兀賵賱賶 賵鬲噩乇亘鬲賴丕 賮賷 氐丨乇丕亍 賳賷賵 賲賷賰爻賷賰賵貙 賵睾賷乇賴丕 賲賳 丕賱賲卮丕賴丿 丕賱爻賷丕爻賷丞 丕賱鬲丕乇賷禺賷丞 丕賱鬲賷 賱丕 鬲賳爻賷 鬲賯丿賲 賴賳丕 亘卮賰賱 賱賳 賷噩毓賱賰 鬲賳爻丕賴
亘丕賱廿囟丕賮丞 廿賱賶 賲毓賱賵賲丕鬲 丨賯賷賯賷丞 鬲賯賳賷丞 賲禺鬲賱賮丞 毓賳 賮賰 丕賱卮賮乇丕鬲貙 鬲毓賯亘 丕賱噩賵丕爻賷爻貙 丕賱賯賳亘賱丞 丕賱匕乇賷丞
賵賱丕 鬲賳爻 賰丕賱噩夭亍 丕賱爻丕亘賯貙 賮賰孬乇丞 乇噩賵毓賰 賱禺乇賷胤丞 丕賱毓丕賱賲 亘丕賱賰鬲丕亘 爻鬲賳賲賷 匕丕賰乇鬲賰 丕賱噩睾乇丕賮賷丞 亘賯賵丞
7- All that in One Book 賰賱 賴匕丕 亘賰鬲丕亘 賵丕丨丿
亘賰鬲丕亘 賵丕丨丿 爻鬲毓賷卮 賰賱 賴匕丕 貙 亘賮氐賵賱 毓賳賵丕賳賴丕 賴賷 丕賱鬲賵丕乇賷禺 賳賮爻賴丕 丕賱鬲賷 亘賴丕 鬲賱賰 丕賱丕丨丿丕孬 丕賱爻賷丕爻賷丞 賱鬲噩毓賱 鬲賱賰 丕賱丿乇丕賲丕 貙 亘賱 丕賱丨賷賵丕鬲 丕賱賲禺鬲賱賮丞 賱鬲賱賰 丕賱卮禺氐賷丕鬲 丕賱鬲賷 爻鬲毓賷卮 賲毓賴丕 賵毓丕卅賱丕鬲賴賲 賮賷 匕丕賰乇鬲賰 賱賮鬲乇丞 胤賵賷賱丞 賱鬲噩丿 兀賳賰 賯丿 鬲鬲匕賰乇 兀賰孬乇 賲賳 丕賱丕賮乇丕丿 丕賱匕賷賳 毓丕賷卮賵丕 鬲賱賰 丕賱兀丨丿丕孬 賰賱 賴匕丕 貨賲賳 賱賲丕匕丕 丕賳丿賱毓鬲 丕賱丨乇亘 丕賱毓丕賱賲賷丞 丕賱兀賵賱賷 賵賲丕 卮乇丕乇丕鬲賴丕 責賵丕賱賳鬲丕卅噩 丕賱賲鬲乇鬲亘丞 毓賱賷 丕賱孬賵乇丞 丕賱亘賵賱卮賮賷丞 毓賱賷 乇賵爻賷丕貙 賵賰賷賮 氐丕乇鬲 兀賱賲丕賳賷丕 亘毓丿 丕賱丨乇亘 丕賱毓丕賱賲賷丞 丕賱兀賵賱賷 賵鬲丨賵賱賴丕 賲賳 賲賱賰賷丞 丕賱賷 丿賷賲賵賯乇丕胤賷丞責
賰賷賮 氐毓丿 賴鬲賱乇 賲賳 乇卅賷爻 廿賱賷 夭毓賷賲 賮丕卮賷 亘賰賱 賴匕賴 丕賱賯賵丞 賵賰賷賮 爻丕毓丿鬲賴 丨乇賰丞 丕賱賮丕卮賷丞 亘兀賵乇賵亘丕 賵賯鬲賴丕責 爻賵丕亍 丕賱賲丿 丕賱賮丕卮賷 賱賲賵爻賵賱賷賳賷 亘丕賷胤丕賱賷丕 賵丕賱賳丕夭賷 賱賴鬲賱乇貙 亘賱 賵睾囟 賳馗乇 丕賱丨賰賵賲丞 丕賱兀賲乇賷賰賷丞 賮賷 丕賱亘丿丕賷丞 貙 賵丕賱丨賰賵賲丞 丕賱賲丨丕賮馗丞 亘亘乇賷胤丕賳賷丕責
賰賷賮 鬲氐丿鬲 亘乇賷胤丕賳賷丕 賱賱賮丕卮賷丞 賵賮賷 丕賷 毓丕賲 賰丕賳鬲 賳賯胤丞 丕賱鬲丨賵賱責 賱賲丕匕丕 亘丿兀鬲 丕賱廿賲亘乇丕胤賵乇賷丞 丕賱賷丕亘丕賳賷丞 賮賷 睾夭賵 兀噩夭丕亍 賲賳 卮乇賯 丌爻賷丕責 賵賱賲丕匕丕 兀乇丕丿鬲 丕賱賴賷賲賳丞 毓賱賷 丕賱賲丨賷胤 丕賱賴丕丿賷 賵賲丕 丕賱匕賷 兀丿賶 賱丕賳 鬲囟乇亘 亘賷乇賷賱 賴丕乇亘賵乇 亘兀賲乇賷賰丕 責 亘賱 賵賰賷賮 賱賲 鬲賳鬲亘賴 兀賲乇賷賰丕 賱鬲賱賰 丕賱囟乇亘丞 賲爻亘賯丕 亘丕賱乇睾賲 賲賳 廿賳賴丕 賰丕賳鬲 鬲乇丕賯亘 賰賱 丕賱廿卮丕乇丕鬲 丕賱賱丕爻賱賰賷丞 丕賱賷丕亘丕賳賷丞 亘卮賰賱 爻乇賷責
賰賷賮 丕賳胤賮兀鬲 毓氐亘丞 丕賱兀賲賲 賲賳 亘毓丿 丕賱丨乇亘 丕賱毓丕賱賲賷丞 丕賱毓馗賲賷貙 賵賰賷賮 毓丕丿鬲 亘卮賰賱 丕賱兀賲賲 丕賱賲鬲丨丿丞 賮賷 丕賱兀乇亘毓賷賳丕鬲責 賵賰賷賮 兀賯賳毓鬲 兀賲乇賷賰丕 丕賱廿鬲丨丕丿 丕賱爻賵賮賷賷鬲賷 丕賱兀賳囟賲丕賲 廿賱賷 丕賱兀賲賲 丕賱賲鬲丨丿丞責
賰賷賮 賰丕賳 丕賱噩賵爻鬲丕亘賵 貙 丕賱卮乇胤丞 丕賱爻乇賷丞 丕賱賳丕夭賷丞貙 賷鬲毓賯亘 廿卮丕乇丕鬲 乇丕丿賷賵 丕賱噩賵丕爻賷爻責 賵賲丕賴賵 賲卮乇賵毓 丕賰鬲卮賵賳 14 丕賱匕賷 賯丕賲 亘丨乇賯 丕賱賰孬賷乇 賲賳 丕賱賲毓丕賯賷賳 丕賱兀賱賲丕賳 亘丕賱丕禺氐 丕賱賷賴賵丿 賲賳賴賲 賵丕賱亘賵賱卮賮賷賷賳責 賵賲鬲賷 鬲賵賯賮 賵賰賷賮責
賰賷賮 鬲賲 鬲氐賳賷毓 丕賱賯賳亘賱丞 丕賱匕乇賷丞 貙 賵賲丕 乇丿 賮毓賱 丕賱廿鬲丨丕丿 丕賱爻賵賮賷賷鬲賷責
賰賷賮 氐毓丿 丨夭亘 丕賱毓賲丕賱 亘亘乇賷胤丕賳賷丕 亘丕賱乇睾賲 賲賳 丿毓丕賷丞 鬲卮乇卮乇賱 丕賱賲囟丕丿丞 亘毓丿 丕賱丨乇亘責 賵賰賷賮 毓丕賳鬲 兀賱賲丕賳賷丕 丨鬲賷 賲賳 亘毓丿 鬲丨乇賷乇賴賲 賲賳 丕賱丨賰賲 丕賱賳丕夭賷責
賱丕 兀毓鬲賯丿 兀賳賳賷 廿匕丕 賯乇兀鬲 賰賱 賴匕丕 亘兀丨丿 丕賱賰鬲亘 丕賱賳氐賷丞 丕賱鬲丕乇賷禺賷丞 賮丨爻亘 兀賳 賯丿 兀爻鬲胤賷毓 廿爻鬲乇噩丕毓 賰賱 賴匕賴 丕賱丕丨丿丕孬 亘丕賱鬲賮氐賷賱 丕賱匕賷 毓丕賷卮鬲賴 賲賳 禺賱丕賱 毓丕卅賱丞 丕賷孬賷賱 賵锟斤拷賱賷丕賲夭 賲賳 賵賷賱夭 丕賱鬲賷 賰丕賮丨鬲 賲賳匕 丕賳 賰丕賳鬲 禺丕丿賲丞 賱丕賷乇賷賱 丕賳噩賱賷夭賷 丕賱賷 丕賳 氐丕乇鬲 毓囟賵 亘乇賱賲丕賳 賱丨賯賵賯 丕賱毓賲丕賱貙 賵丕亘賳賴丕 賱賵賷丿 丕賱匕賷 丕賴鬲賲 亘丿乇丕爻丞 丕賱爻賷丕爻丞 賱賱毓賲賱 亘丕賱丿亘賱賵賲丕爻賷丞 賵賴賵 賱丕 賷毓賱賲 兀賳賴 賮賷 丕賱丨賯賷賯丞 丕賱丕亘賳 丕賱睾賷乇 卮乇毓賷 賱賱丕賷乇賷賱 丕賱廿賳噩賱賷夭賷 賮賷鬲夭乇亘賷乇鬲
毓丕卅賱丞 賮賵賳 丕賱乇賷鬲卮 丕賱兀賱賲丕賳賷丞 貙賵賷賱賷丕賲 丕亘賳 丕賱丿亘賱賵賲丕爻賷 丕賱賲賳鬲賲賷 賱賱丨夭亘 丕賱丕卮鬲乇丕賰賷 丕賱丿賷賲賵賯乇丕胤賷 丕賱匕賷 賯囟賷 毓賱賷賴 丕賱賳丕夭賷丞 賵夭賵噩鬲賴 賲賵丿 賮賷鬲夭乇亘賷乇鬲 丕賱鬲賷 鬲夭賵噩鬲賴 賵賯鬲 毓丿丕亍 兀賱賲丕賳賷丕 賲毓 廿賳噩賱鬲乇丕 亘乇睾賲 賲毓丕乇囟丞 兀禺賵賴丕 丕賱兀賷乇賱 貙 賵丕亘賳鬲賴賲丕 賰丕乇賱丕 丕賱賲賲乇囟丞 丕賱鬲賷 鬲卮賴丿 丕賴賵丕賱 丕賱賳丕夭賷丞 賵毓賳氐乇賷鬲賴丕 丨鬲賷 鬲噩丕賴 丕賱賲乇兀丞
毓丕卅賱丞 噩乇賷噩賵乇賷 亘賷鬲卮賰賵賮 賮賷 乇賵爻賷丕 賵丕亘賳賴 賮賵賱丿賷丕 丕賱賲賴鬲賲 丕賷囟丕 亘丕賱毓賲賱 丕賱丿亘賱賵賲丕爻賷 賰兀亘賷賴 賵丕賱匕賷 賷賱賲爻 毓賷賵亘 丕賱卮賷賵毓賷賷賳 毓賳 賯乇亘 賲賳 睾胤乇爻丞 賵鬲夭賲鬲 毓賳賷丿
毓丕卅賱丞 丕禺賷賴 賱賷賮 亘賷卮賰賵賮 丕賱匕賷 賴丕噩乇 賱兀賲乇賷賰丕 賵賱毓亘 丕賱丨馗 賱毓亘鬲賴貙 賲毓 丕爻鬲睾賱丕賱賴 賱賱賮乇氐貙 賱賷賰賵賳 丕丨丿 兀孬乇賷丕亍 兀賲乇賷賰丕貙 賵丕亘賳鬲賴 丕賱鬲賷 鬲毓丕賳賷 賲賳 賳馗乇丞 丕賱賲噩鬲賲毓 丕賱丕賲乇賷賰賷 賱賴丕 亘爻亘亘 爻賲毓丞 丕亘賷賴丕 貙賮鬲匕賴亘 賱賱毓賷卮 亘亘乇賷胤丕賳賷丕 賱鬲毓賷卮 賯氐丞 丨亘 賲毓賯丿丞 賵丕禺鬲賷丕乇丕鬲 爻賷丕爻賷丞 禺丕胤卅丞 亘丕賱亘丿丕賷丞
毓丕卅賱丞 噩爻 丿賷賵丕乇 丕賱丿亘賱賵賲丕爻賷 賮賷 丕賱亘賷鬲 丕賱兀亘賷囟 賵兀亘賳賴 賵賵丿夭 賵賯氐丞 丕賱丨亘 丕賱亘乇賷卅丞 丕賱鬲賷 賷毓賷卮賴丕 賵乇睾亘鬲賴 賮賷 丕賱賲卮丕乇賰丞 丕賱爻賷丕爻賷丞貙 賵丕亘賳賴 丕賱丕禺乇 鬲卮丕賰 賵丕賱匕賷 賷禺鬲丕乇 丕賱丨賷丕丞 丕賱丨乇亘賷丞 賮賷 丕賱亘丨乇賷丞 丕賱丕賲乇賷賰賷丞 賱鬲睾賷賷乇 丕賱兀丨丿丕孬 丕賱鬲丕乇賷禺賷丞 丨賷丕鬲賴賲 丕賱賷 丕賱丕亘丿 亘丕賱丕禺氐 亘毓丿 亘賷乇賱 賴丕乇亘賵乇
賵賱鬲睾賷乇 丕噩賵丕亍 丕賱丨乇亘 丕賱毓丕賱賲賷丞 丕賱孬丕賳賷丞 丨賷賵丕鬲 賰賱 鬲賱賰 丕賱毓丕卅賱丕鬲 亘卮賰賱 賰亘賷乇...鬲噩賲毓 丕賱亘毓囟 賵鬲賮乇賯 丕賱亘毓囟 貙 鬲賳賴賷 丨賷丕丞 賵鬲亘丿兀 丨賷賵丕鬲 丕禺乇賷
賮賷 鬲賱賰 丕賱孬賱丕孬賷丞 丕賱賲賲鬲毓丞
孬賱丕孬賷丞 丕賱賯乇賳
丕賱毓賷賵亘
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賱丕 兀毓鬲賯丿 丕賳賷 賷噩亘 丕賱丕 丕賯丿賲 鬲賳賵賷賴 亘毓丿 賰賱 鬲賱賰 丕賱廿卮丕丿丞
丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 囟禺賲丞 噩丿丕貙 賵亘丕賱乇睾賲 賲賳 鬲毓丿丿 丕賱卮禺氐賷丕鬲 賵丕賱兀丨丿丕孬 丕賱丕 丕賳賴丕 鬲賮氐賷賱賷丞 噩丿丕 賱匕丕 賵噩亘 丕賱鬲賳賵賷賴 亘禺氐賵氐 賳賯胤鬲賷賳
丕賵賱丕 丕賱賲卮丕賴丿 丕賱噩賳爻賷丞 賲賵噩賵丿丞 亘卮賰賱 亘爻賷胤 囟賲賳 丕賱丕丨丿丕孬 賵賱賰賳 鬲賮氐賷賱賷 賮賷 賳賮爻 丕賱賵賯鬲...乇亘賲丕 賱兀爻賱賵亘 賰鬲丕亘丞 丕賱賲丐賱賮 賰賷賳 賮賵賱賷鬲 丕賱賵丕囟丨 賵丕賱乇丕賯賷 賮賷 丕賱毓賲賵賲 賱賲 兀卮毓乇 亘賮噩丕噩丞 賮賷 鬲賱賰 丕賱賲卮丕賴丿 丕賵 丕賱丕卮賲卅夭丕夭 賰賲丕 賷丨丿孬 賲毓 亘毓囟 丕賱賲丐賱賮賷賳 丕賱兀禺乇賷賳 -亘丕賱胤亘毓 廿賱丕 賮賷 賲卮賴丿 丕睾鬲氐丕亘 亘卮毓 賰丕賳 丕賱睾乇囟 賲賳 丕賱賲卮賴丿 兀爻丕爻丕 鬲氐賵賷乇 丕賱亘卮丕毓丞 賵廿孬丕乇丞 卮毓賵乇賰 亘丕賱賯乇賮 亘爻亘亘 賲丕 兀胤賱賯 毓賱賷賴 亘毓囟 噩賳賵丿 丕賱噩賷卮 丕賱丕丨賲乇 丕賱乇賵爻賷 鬲丨乇賷乇 兀賱賲丕賳賷丕 賲賳 丕賱賳丕夭賷丞- 賰賲丕 兀賳 丕賱賲丐賱賮 賮賷 丕睾賱亘 鬲賱賰 丕賱賲卮丕賴丿 鬲兀鬲賷 賮賷 廿胤丕乇 丕賱夭賵丕噩 廿賱丕 賮賷賲丕 賳丿乇貙 賵賮賷 鬲賱賰 丕賱丨丕賱丞 鬲賰賵賳 丿丕卅賲丕賸 丕賱毓賵丕賯亘 爻賷卅丞
賱賰賳 賷馗賱 亘毓囟 丕賱鬲賮丕氐賷賱 賴賳丕 賯丿 鬲孬賷乇 丨賮賷馗丞 丕賱亘毓囟 賱匕丕 賵噩亘 丕賱鬲賳賵賷賴
孬丕賳賷丕 賲卮丕賴丿 丕賱賲毓丕乇賰 丕賱丨乇亘賷丞 貙亘毓賰爻 賲卮丕賴丿 賲孬賷乇丞 丕禺乇賷 鬲兀鬲賷 賲卮丕賴丿 丕賱賲毓丕乇賰 鬲賮氐賷賱賷丞 噩丿丕 亘卮賰賱 賯丿 賷孬賷乇 丕賱賲賱賱 兀丨賷丕賳丕賸貙 毓丕賲丕 鬲賱賰 丕賱賲卮丕賴丿 賱賷爻鬲 賰孬賷乇丞 禺丕氐丕 丕賳 賲丕 賷禺賮賮賴丕 賴賵 亘毓囟 丕賱鬲丨賵賱丕鬲 丕賱丿乇丕賲賷丞 賵丕賱賲賮丕噩丌鬲 爻賵丕亍 賮賷 丨賷丕丞 丕賱卮禺氐賷丕鬲 丕賵 丕賱賲毓丕乇賰 丕賱丨賯賷賯賷丞 賳賮爻賴丕貙 賱匕丕 賱丕 兀賳氐丨賰 亘丕賱胤亘毓 亘鬲禺胤賷 鬲賱賰 丕賱賮氐賵賱 賵廿賳賲丕 賯乇丕亍鬲賴丕 亘卮賰賱 爻乇賷毓 賱賳 賷囟乇 賵賱賰賳 賷噩亘 丕賳 鬲賳鬲亘賴 兀賳 賱賰賱 賮氐賱 賲賳賴賲 丨丿孬 賲賴賲 爻賵丕亍 丿乇丕賲賷 兀賵 鬲丕乇賷禺賷
鬲賳賵賷賴 兀禺賷乇
-------
丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賱賷爻鬲 丿乇丕賲丕 賮丨爻亘 賵賱丕 鬲丕乇賷禺賷丞 爻賷丕爻賷丞 賮丨爻亘 亘賱 賴賷 賲夭賷噩 亘賷賳賴賲丕 丿賵賳 胤睾賷丕賳 噩夭亍 毓賱賷 丕禺乇
賮爻鬲賵賮乇 賱賰 賲鬲毓丞 賯乇丕亍丞 丿乇丕賲丕 賲賲賷夭丞 賵賮賷 賳賮爻 丕賱賵賯鬲 賰賲 囟禺賲 賲賳 丕賱賲毓賱賵賲丕鬲 賮廿賳 賰賳鬲 鬲賲賯鬲 丕丨丿 丕賱丕禺鬲賷丕乇賷賳 賮賴匕丕 賱賷爻 毓賷亘 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞
賱賰賳 廿賳 亘丿兀鬲 亘賴丕 賮賱丕 鬲丨丕賵賱 丕賳 鬲亘丕毓丿 亘賷賳 丕賷丕賲 賯乇丕亍鬲賴丕 丕賵 賯乇丕亍丞 丕賰孬乇 賲賳 乇賵丕賷丞 亘賳賮爻 丕賱賵賯鬲 貙賮賴匕丕 賯丿 賷爻亘亘 囟賷丕毓 禺賷賵胤 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 丕賱賰孬賷乇丞 賲賳 亘賷賳 賷丿賷賰
賱丕 丕賳賰乇 丕賳 賲賳 亘毓丿 賯乇丕卅鬲賷 賱乇賵丕賷丞 爻賯賵胤 丕賱毓賲丕賱賯丞 賵賲毓丕賷卮丞 丕爻亘丕亘 丕賳丿賱丕毓 鬲賱賰 丕賱丨乇亘 丕賱賲賯賷鬲丞貙 噩毓賱賳賷 賮毓賱丕 賲鬲禺賵賮丕 賲賳 賯乇丕亍丞 丕賱噩夭亍 丕賱孬丕賳賷 賱兀賳賷 丕毓賱賲 兀賳 丕賱卮禺氐賷丕鬲 丕賱鬲賷 毓丕賷卮鬲 賲毓賴丕 丕賱丨乇亘 丕賱毓丕賱賲賷丞 丕賱毓馗賲賷 賵賵賷賱丕鬲賴丕 , 賵丕賱孬賵乇丞 丕賱亘賵賱卮賮賷丞 賮賷 乇賵爻賷丕 賵賲馗丕賴乇丕鬲 丨賯賵賯 丕賱賲乇兀丞 賮賷 丕賱鬲氐賵賷鬲 賵賲馗丕賴乇丕鬲 丕賱毓賲丕賱 亘丕賳噩賱鬲乇丕 賵丕賲乇賷賰丕 . 鬲賱賰 丕賱毓丕卅賱丕鬲 爻賷賯毓 丕亘賳丕亍賴賲 囟丨賷丞 賱丨乇亘 噩丿賷丿丞 亘丕賱乇睾賲 賲賳 丕賳 丕賱毓丕賱賲 賱賲 賷鬲賵賯毓 丕賳 賷丨丿孬 丨乇亘 丕禺乇賷 賲孬賱 鬲賱賰 丕賱丨乇亘 丕賱卮乇爻丞
賵賱賰賳 賮毓賱丕 亘賲噩乇丿 丕賱亘丿亍 亘賴丕 兀爻乇鬲賳賷 賲乇丞 兀禺乇賷 貙 爻毓丿鬲 噩丿丕 亘毓賵丿鬲賷 賱鬲賱賰 丕賱毓丕卅賱丕鬲 丕賱鬲賷 毓卮鬲 賲毓賴丕 丕賱毓丕賲 丕賱賲丕囟賷 賵賱賰賳 賲賳 禺賱丕賱 賵噩賴丞 賳馗乇 丕亘賳丕亍賴賲 賴匕賴 丕賱賲乇丞 亘賴匕丕 丕賱噩夭亍 貙 賮賷 丿乇丕賲丕 賲孬賷乇丞 丕禺乇賷 賵丕丨丿丕孬 爻賷丕爻賷丞 鬲丕乇賷禺賷丞 兀毓乇賮賴丕 賱兀賵賱 賲乇丞 亘賴匕丕 丕賱卮賰賱 毓賳 丕賱丨乇亘 丕賱毓丕賱賲賷丞 丕賱孬丕賳賷丞 賵丕噩賵丕亍賴丕
賵賷賰賮賷賳賷 賮毓賱丕 賯乇丕亍丞 賵丕丨丿丞 賱賱乇賵丕賷丞 賱兀卮毓乇 兀賳賷 賮毓賱丕 毓丕賷卮鬲 鬲賱賰 丕賱兀噩賵丕亍 賵賱丕 丕賳爻丕賴丕 丕亘丿丕
And Finally
There's one more reason...One more reason that the most important of all
賵賴賳丕賰 爻亘亘 兀禺賷乇 賷噩亘 兀賳 鬲毓乇賮賴 噩賷丿丕, 爻亘亘 丕禺賷乇 賱鬲賯乇兀 鬲賱賰 丕賱爻賱爻賱丞 睾賷乇 丕賱爻亘毓 丕賱賲丕囟賷賷賳
That History ALWAYS finds its way to Repeat itself..
兀賳 丕賱鬲丕乇賷禺 丿丕卅賲丕 賷毓賷丿 賳賮爻賴
"賱賲丕匕丕 丿丕卅賲丕 丕賱兀卮禺丕氐 丕賱匕賷賳 賷乇賷丿賵賳 丿賲丕乇 賰賱 卮卅 噩賷丿 賮賷 亘賱丕丿賴賲 賴賲 兀爻乇毓 賲賳 賷賱賵丨 亘毓賱賲 丕賱亘賱丿責"
鈥淲hy was it, Lloyd wondered, that the people who wanted to destroy everything good about their country were the quickest to wave the national flag?鈥�
丕賱賳赌赖丕賷赌赌丞
****
丿乇丕賲賷丞 噩賲賷賱丞 亘丿賷毓丞 賲氐丨賵亘丞 亘卮噩賳 亘爻賷胤 賵毓馗丕鬲 丕賷囟丕 賳鬲毓賱賲賴丕 丕禺賱丕賯賷丞 賵丕噩鬲賲丕毓賷丞 賮囟賱丕 毓賳 丕賱爻賷丕爻賷丞 賵丕賱鬲丕乇賷禺賷丞
賱丕 兀丿乇賷 賰賷賮 卮毓乇鬲 亘賰賱 鬲賱賰 丕賱賳賵爻鬲丕賱賷噩丕 賲賳匕 丕賱賮氐賵賱 丕賱丕賵賱賷 丨鬲賷 丕禺乇 賮氐賱 亘丕賱乇睾賲 賲賳 賯囟丕卅賷 20 賷賵賲丕 賮賯胤 亘丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 , 丨賵丕賱賷 45 爻丕毓丞 賵25 賮氐賱丕
賵賱賰賳賴賲 賰丕賳賵丕 賮毓賱丕 15 毓丕賲丕 賲毓 丕賱丕亘胤丕賱 賲賳 1933 丕賱賷 1949
賵賳氐賮 賯乇賳 賲毓 毓丕卅賱丕鬲賴賲 賲賳匕 丕賱毓丕賲 丕賱賲丕囟賷
賱賷賳賴賷 丕賱賲丐賱賮 賰賱 禺賷賵胤 丕賱卮禺氐賷丕鬲 亘卮賰賱 亘丿賷毓 賵賱賰賳 賲丕夭丕賱 丕賱毓丕賱賲 賷賲囟賷 賵賲丕夭丕賱 丕賱亘毓囟 賱賲 賷鬲毓賱賲 賲賳 丕賱鬲丕乇賷禺 卮賷卅丕
賵丕賱賷 賱賯丕亍 丕禺乇 賲毓 丕丨賮丕丿 鬲賱賰 丕賱毓丕卅賱丕鬲 丕賱賰亘乇賷 丕賱鬲賷 毓卮鬲 賲毓賴丕
賯丿 鬲賰賵賳 亘丿丕賷丞 睾乇賷亘丞 賱毓丕卮賯 乇賵丕賷丕鬲 禺賷丕賱賷丞 丕賰孬乇... 賵賱賰賳 丕賱賯乇丕亍丞 賮賷 丕賱鬲丕乇賷禺 亘賴匕賴 丕賱胤乇賷賯丞 賲賴賲 , 禺丕氐丕 賮賷 毓丕賱賲 毓賱賷 卮賮丕 氐乇丕毓丕鬲 丕賰亘乇
丕鬲賲賳賷 賱賰賲 賯乇丕亍丕鬲 賲賮賷丿丞 , 賲賲鬲毓丞 賵賲孬賷乇丞 丕賷丕 賰丕賳鬲 丕禺鬲賷丕乇鬲賰賲 賲賳 丕賱賰鬲亘 丕賵 丕賱乇賵丕賷丕鬲 丕賱賲賴賲 丕賳 鬲賰賵賳 丕禺鬲賷丕乇丕鬲 賲賲鬲毓丞 賵丕爻賱賵亘 賷噩匕亘賰 賱賯乇丕亍鬲賴 爻賵丕亍 賰鬲丕亘 賳氐賷 丕賵 乇賵丕賷丞
賰賱 毓丕賲 賵丕賳鬲賲 亘兀賱賮 禺賷乇
賲丨賲丿 丕賱毓乇亘賷
賲賳 25 丿賷爻賲亘乇 2015
廿賱賷 12 賷賳丕賷乇 2016
November 2, 2012
My rating would have been 2 and one-half stars if 欧宝娱乐 had given me the option. Plus I think the divergence of this review from the "average" of the reviews for the book is as much due to the cognitive dissonance of not "really enjoying" a book that you've slogged thru 960 pages to complete, than a passionate embrace of "Winter."
As much as I liked the first volume of Follett's 20th Century Trilogy -- Fall of Giants -- I was disappointed by this second installment. The back cover blurb: "These characters and many others find themselves inextricably entangled as their experiences illuminate the cataclysms that marked the century." If that sounds like the TV show, Law & Order's breathless "ripped from the headlines," you'll understand the decaying of literacy to pulp we have in this awkward middle child.
The first test of great historical fiction is: did it get the history right? Ken Follett, no surprise, has got the history down pat. I've read quite extensively about the period leading up to and including the Second World War and I think Follett got the pulse of the times and the events aligned to their proper significance, including the important occurrences on the margin e.g., the Spanish Civil War and the Manhattan Project.
The second test, which truly separates the excellent historical fiction from the good is the use of characters and their reactions to and against the riptide of events. With all due respect to the above quoted blurb, it is this area where we are let down. This cast and their human weaknesses and strengths fail to fully inform and make rational the seemingly contradictory and incoherent implosions and dynamisms of the time. Follett continues with the next generation(s) of the interrelated families he introduced us to in "Fall..." -- American, German, Russian, English and Welsh. But here, the sweep of characters instead of being broad feels more incestious. They fail to reveal their world in a fashion better than nonfiction. For example, just considering the rise of the Nazi's, last year's "In the Garden of Beasts" by Erik Larson is much more revelatory. Which is harsh indictment of a piece of historical fiction.
This is the second of what Follett is calling his Century Trilogy. Both Follett and installment one are enough to keep me encouraged for the concluding volume, but I am a little leery especially given the working title: "Edge of Eternity." But I guess that is better than "Springtime for the Plutocrats."
As much as I liked the first volume of Follett's 20th Century Trilogy -- Fall of Giants -- I was disappointed by this second installment. The back cover blurb: "These characters and many others find themselves inextricably entangled as their experiences illuminate the cataclysms that marked the century." If that sounds like the TV show, Law & Order's breathless "ripped from the headlines," you'll understand the decaying of literacy to pulp we have in this awkward middle child.
The first test of great historical fiction is: did it get the history right? Ken Follett, no surprise, has got the history down pat. I've read quite extensively about the period leading up to and including the Second World War and I think Follett got the pulse of the times and the events aligned to their proper significance, including the important occurrences on the margin e.g., the Spanish Civil War and the Manhattan Project.
The second test, which truly separates the excellent historical fiction from the good is the use of characters and their reactions to and against the riptide of events. With all due respect to the above quoted blurb, it is this area where we are let down. This cast and their human weaknesses and strengths fail to fully inform and make rational the seemingly contradictory and incoherent implosions and dynamisms of the time. Follett continues with the next generation(s) of the interrelated families he introduced us to in "Fall..." -- American, German, Russian, English and Welsh. But here, the sweep of characters instead of being broad feels more incestious. They fail to reveal their world in a fashion better than nonfiction. For example, just considering the rise of the Nazi's, last year's "In the Garden of Beasts" by Erik Larson is much more revelatory. Which is harsh indictment of a piece of historical fiction.
This is the second of what Follett is calling his Century Trilogy. Both Follett and installment one are enough to keep me encouraged for the concluding volume, but I am a little leery especially given the working title: "Edge of Eternity." But I guess that is better than "Springtime for the Plutocrats."
January 8, 2021
A little disappointed by this volume ... Too much romance, hard-to-believe coincidences and twists and turns. I suppose Part One of the trilogy would suffice ... Most characters act unnaturally or unbelieveably, and at times it feels like Mr Follet struggles to connect the loose ends.
I survived despite the book being rather long, mainly to John Lee, the narrator, who in my opinion found it challenging to keep the straight face.
This is a good book but definitely not a masterpiece and I will not bother with Part Three.
I survived despite the book being rather long, mainly to John Lee, the narrator, who in my opinion found it challenging to keep the straight face.
This is a good book but definitely not a masterpiece and I will not bother with Part Three.
November 14, 2012
Ken Follett is a mediocre writer, but a stellar storyteller. His characters are cardboard, his dialogue wooden and on the nose, his prose pedestrian and perfunctory. As for his punctuation of dialogue: ugh. I said: "Please take away Follett's colon key, stat." (No, Ken, a colon is not interchangeable with a comma.)
But still - the pages demand to be turned.
WINTER OF THE WORLD picks up right after FALL OF THE GIANTS, with the sons and daughters of the latter novel's characters facing the Spanish Civil War, World War II and the start of the Cold War. Oddly enough, the Depression is pretty much glossed over and doesn't seem to affect anyone. While the book does focus on a German family, the rise of Hitler is depicted as a forceful takeover by a bullying, thuggish mob and the economic conditions that helped him rise are pretty much non-existent. The book also follows wealthy and/or privileged American, Russian and British families not much affected by the economy, and even the Welsh working class characters of FALL OF THE GIANT are solidly middle class (and Members of Parliament) in this book.
But aside from the curious lack of the Depression, the book hits all the highlights of mid-20th century history. Follett doesn't stray far from the popular, accepted narrative of World War II. Nazis and Russian secret police: bad. Americans & Brits: decent sorts. His German characters are all fervent anti-Nazis, of course, with one exception (but he's depicted as weak-willed and easily led.) The Russians are a bit more nuanced, despising Stalin's violent excesses but seeing them as necessary steps on the road to communist paradise. The Americans are oddly apolitical, even when serving in the US government; Follett mentions but doesn't examine too closely Roosevelt's land-lease program nor the big US companies who did business with Nazi Germany. The international political maneuvering was a highlight in FALL OF THE GIANTS; I was sad not to see more of it in this book.
So if anyone needs an entertaining Cliff Notes to European History 1933-1949, this might hit the spot. (Cliff Notes in terms that the history is briefly and concisely presented; it's certainly not Cliff Notes in length!)
But still - the pages demand to be turned.
WINTER OF THE WORLD picks up right after FALL OF THE GIANTS, with the sons and daughters of the latter novel's characters facing the Spanish Civil War, World War II and the start of the Cold War. Oddly enough, the Depression is pretty much glossed over and doesn't seem to affect anyone. While the book does focus on a German family, the rise of Hitler is depicted as a forceful takeover by a bullying, thuggish mob and the economic conditions that helped him rise are pretty much non-existent. The book also follows wealthy and/or privileged American, Russian and British families not much affected by the economy, and even the Welsh working class characters of FALL OF THE GIANT are solidly middle class (and Members of Parliament) in this book.
But aside from the curious lack of the Depression, the book hits all the highlights of mid-20th century history. Follett doesn't stray far from the popular, accepted narrative of World War II. Nazis and Russian secret police: bad. Americans & Brits: decent sorts. His German characters are all fervent anti-Nazis, of course, with one exception (but he's depicted as weak-willed and easily led.) The Russians are a bit more nuanced, despising Stalin's violent excesses but seeing them as necessary steps on the road to communist paradise. The Americans are oddly apolitical, even when serving in the US government; Follett mentions but doesn't examine too closely Roosevelt's land-lease program nor the big US companies who did business with Nazi Germany. The international political maneuvering was a highlight in FALL OF THE GIANTS; I was sad not to see more of it in this book.
So if anyone needs an entertaining Cliff Notes to European History 1933-1949, this might hit the spot. (Cliff Notes in terms that the history is briefly and concisely presented; it's certainly not Cliff Notes in length!)
September 5, 2018
The second in Follett鈥檚 Century Trilogy follows the main characters from Fall of Giants and their children as they navigate the major events of the 1930s and 1940s. Readers will see the rise of Nazi Germany, the epic battles of World War II, and the birth of the atomic era through the eyes of men and women from several countries.
Winter of the World is a grand accomplishment, and one of the most thoroughly enjoyable books I鈥檝e read this year. I鈥檓 looking forward to the next installment. The novel isn鈥檛 always nuanced, and some events are glossed over in the name of moving the plot forward. However, it鈥檚 to Follett鈥檚 credit that this almost 1000-page book never seems to drag, and that he manages the large cast of characters so deftly.
Follett is at his best when there鈥檚 action and intrigue, and there鈥檚 plenty of that, especially in the scenes set before and during World War II. A dramatic account of the Battle of Midway serves as a memorable climax to the subplot encompassing the war in the Pacific, while a dramatic confrontation between Boy Fitzherbert and his half-brother Lloyd Williams is a memorable scene from the European front.
I loved this book and have given it five stars for both historical accuracy and its literary form and I highly recommend reading this book. I can't wait for the third work in this outstanding trilogy and marvel at the scope of the authors undertaking.
Winter of the World is a grand accomplishment, and one of the most thoroughly enjoyable books I鈥檝e read this year. I鈥檓 looking forward to the next installment. The novel isn鈥檛 always nuanced, and some events are glossed over in the name of moving the plot forward. However, it鈥檚 to Follett鈥檚 credit that this almost 1000-page book never seems to drag, and that he manages the large cast of characters so deftly.
Follett is at his best when there鈥檚 action and intrigue, and there鈥檚 plenty of that, especially in the scenes set before and during World War II. A dramatic account of the Battle of Midway serves as a memorable climax to the subplot encompassing the war in the Pacific, while a dramatic confrontation between Boy Fitzherbert and his half-brother Lloyd Williams is a memorable scene from the European front.
I loved this book and have given it five stars for both historical accuracy and its literary form and I highly recommend reading this book. I can't wait for the third work in this outstanding trilogy and marvel at the scope of the authors undertaking.
July 15, 2013
Congratulations, Ken Follett! You've taken the most destructive conflict this world has ever seen and turned it into a wan and tawdry soap opera! Worse yet, you have cribbed unmercifully from Herman Wouk's Winds of War. I'm assuming Kenny is hoping that readers will be unaware that a 40-plus-year-old book already covered the same globe-trotting style and settings that is the backbone for both novels. If that was his aim, I can only envy the readers who haven't sampled Wouk's superior effort. Perhaps Kenny's attempt wouldn't seem like such a blatant rip-off. That would have to assume that the reader can overlook such glaring faults as a novel filled to the brim with White Hats and Black Hats, the only characters Follett seems able to create. If a character is good, they have to pick a hairstyle that fits their halo. If the character's bad, not even an Exorcist tag-team of young priest/old priest will have the power to drive the demon from them.
If the two-dimensional characters aren't enough to spoil the experience for the discerning reader, perhaps the overabundance of sexytime talk will. Follett wallows in sex with all the dignity of a dirty old man in a coin-operated booth at an adult book store. When one of the female White Hats is ruminating on her troubled marriage to one of the book's very naughty Black Hats, Follett feels the need to drive the point home by telling us that she has to grease up her vagina just to have intercourse with her husband. A writer with even a shred of imagination would have been able to get that point across without shoving the reader's hand into a tub of KY jelly.
I think I should state that I would not deem the aforementioned Winds of War as a literary classic. It is, at its best, a noble effort to encompass the global strife of World War II, while putting a face to some of the people caught up in the maelstrom. But allow me to compare one of the many, many scenes that both authors cover. In 1941, U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt met with Britain's Prime Minister Winston Churchill in an historic event known as the Atlantic Conference. Even after some twenty years, I recall a poignant moment from Wouk's novel in which Roosevelt, one of the most powerful men in the world and a victim of polio, has to be assisted by his son as he hobbles toward this legendary meeting. What shall forever be burned into my mind on Follett's coverage of the same event is that he speeds through it in about three pages so we can rush back to Washington D.C. where some guy gets a hand job. That, more than anything, sums up this execrable book; a long, painful hand job from a dirty old man.
If the two-dimensional characters aren't enough to spoil the experience for the discerning reader, perhaps the overabundance of sexytime talk will. Follett wallows in sex with all the dignity of a dirty old man in a coin-operated booth at an adult book store. When one of the female White Hats is ruminating on her troubled marriage to one of the book's very naughty Black Hats, Follett feels the need to drive the point home by telling us that she has to grease up her vagina just to have intercourse with her husband. A writer with even a shred of imagination would have been able to get that point across without shoving the reader's hand into a tub of KY jelly.
I think I should state that I would not deem the aforementioned Winds of War as a literary classic. It is, at its best, a noble effort to encompass the global strife of World War II, while putting a face to some of the people caught up in the maelstrom. But allow me to compare one of the many, many scenes that both authors cover. In 1941, U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt met with Britain's Prime Minister Winston Churchill in an historic event known as the Atlantic Conference. Even after some twenty years, I recall a poignant moment from Wouk's novel in which Roosevelt, one of the most powerful men in the world and a victim of polio, has to be assisted by his son as he hobbles toward this legendary meeting. What shall forever be burned into my mind on Follett's coverage of the same event is that he speeds through it in about three pages so we can rush back to Washington D.C. where some guy gets a hand job. That, more than anything, sums up this execrable book; a long, painful hand job from a dirty old man.
September 11, 2020
Just finished my second read through. I鈥檓 so happy to dive back into this trilogy full of amazing characters. This book makes me the most uncomfortable鈥攊t deals with the most lose and offers little relief to the reader. For every triumph you see another character pushed to the breaking point.
February 7, 2024
Ken Follett seems to enjoy a longevity that would be the envy of Kafka or Nietzsche. If you weren't aware, I'm talking about his long life, not his hegemony. Follett is also without doubt a very successful author, who has hundreds of thousands of fans around the world. I'm not going to join that particular club.
Follett's book, Winter of the World, has clues littered over its face as to the secret of its success, just like a naughty kid has crumbs over his maws after pilfering the cookie jar. The first book, Fall of Giants, got one star from me. So maybe I should stop reading his books? But I have avoided the lure of his historical thrillers successfully. To this day therefore, I cannot tell you why I ceded to this WW2 book.
The deaths of the innocent is the fuel which drives the mechanism of this book. The stakes ought to be high, but this ambitious book about multi-generations and rendezvous with history seems stuffy as the stage of a high school. Follett tries to camouflage the deaths which (perhaps) seemed right and logical to him, with deaths that are not vindictive or strangely fateful. This book is very limited.
Every single woman that is interesting meets a tragedy in one form or other. While there are men who risk their lives daily in the war to end all wars - haha - the women are either boring hopefuls whose aim is to get their men, or monosyllabic geniuses who somehow untangle their tongues to narrate convenient past familial tragedies.
The men are dealt a farcical card, in a universe, that, when guided by Follett's pen, seems jocularly simplistic. The sole intriguing fact about this book are the couples and maybe happy marriages that survive their acid tests. The unions in this book are devoid of romance. Even the most focused of romances, which ought to feel like a mini slice of harlequinism (that word ought to exist) are as famous as the year your warm beer was made. Dusting off my review of Fall of Giants, it seems that the author has continued in creating characters that have a life that looks like the high school overachiever. All the characters, without fault, have the most exciting part of their lives when they are 21.
While some arcs have less melodrama than others, those that don't, just ruin the effect of danger that the book strives to have. The plot is logical when it is convenient, and its opposite when it is inconvenient. The lack of respect for the reader means that many who have given this book a positive score have ignored or been unaware of it. Congrats Kenny, you know the odds, if not your audience.
The worst things about this book is that it lets major bias from the author creep in. First of all, one character keeps the love child of a rapist. Her revenge is that she will raise her kid to be someone you know, who treats men and women equally respectfully. Banzai! Also, Truman thought he was the king of the world? The truest and most honest man to hold any kind of office in world history?
This book lacks the cruelty of Pillars of the Earth, for which I am personally thankful. But its senseless romance, its staged suspense, its deliberate putdown of women, its unawareness of what is clever and what is stupid, all undo the hard work of the research to which Follett has probably had access to. This is the work of a successful, prolific, inspiring, and experienced writer. It feels like the work of an AI who has been programmed to imitate the writing style of a combination of a 16th century Calvinist monk and Barbara Cartland. Follett, take up a hobby and enjoy your twilight years, there's a good lad.
Follett's book, Winter of the World, has clues littered over its face as to the secret of its success, just like a naughty kid has crumbs over his maws after pilfering the cookie jar. The first book, Fall of Giants, got one star from me. So maybe I should stop reading his books? But I have avoided the lure of his historical thrillers successfully. To this day therefore, I cannot tell you why I ceded to this WW2 book.
The deaths of the innocent is the fuel which drives the mechanism of this book. The stakes ought to be high, but this ambitious book about multi-generations and rendezvous with history seems stuffy as the stage of a high school. Follett tries to camouflage the deaths which (perhaps) seemed right and logical to him, with deaths that are not vindictive or strangely fateful. This book is very limited.
Every single woman that is interesting meets a tragedy in one form or other. While there are men who risk their lives daily in the war to end all wars - haha - the women are either boring hopefuls whose aim is to get their men, or monosyllabic geniuses who somehow untangle their tongues to narrate convenient past familial tragedies.
The men are dealt a farcical card, in a universe, that, when guided by Follett's pen, seems jocularly simplistic. The sole intriguing fact about this book are the couples and maybe happy marriages that survive their acid tests. The unions in this book are devoid of romance. Even the most focused of romances, which ought to feel like a mini slice of harlequinism (that word ought to exist) are as famous as the year your warm beer was made. Dusting off my review of Fall of Giants, it seems that the author has continued in creating characters that have a life that looks like the high school overachiever. All the characters, without fault, have the most exciting part of their lives when they are 21.
While some arcs have less melodrama than others, those that don't, just ruin the effect of danger that the book strives to have. The plot is logical when it is convenient, and its opposite when it is inconvenient. The lack of respect for the reader means that many who have given this book a positive score have ignored or been unaware of it. Congrats Kenny, you know the odds, if not your audience.
The worst things about this book is that it lets major bias from the author creep in. First of all, one character keeps the love child of a rapist. Her revenge is that she will raise her kid to be someone you know, who treats men and women equally respectfully. Banzai! Also, Truman thought he was the king of the world? The truest and most honest man to hold any kind of office in world history?
This book lacks the cruelty of Pillars of the Earth, for which I am personally thankful. But its senseless romance, its staged suspense, its deliberate putdown of women, its unawareness of what is clever and what is stupid, all undo the hard work of the research to which Follett has probably had access to. This is the work of a successful, prolific, inspiring, and experienced writer. It feels like the work of an AI who has been programmed to imitate the writing style of a combination of a 16th century Calvinist monk and Barbara Cartland. Follett, take up a hobby and enjoy your twilight years, there's a good lad.
December 28, 2014
A journey through the horrors of World War 2 through the eyes of different people from England, the USA, Russia, and of course, Germany. This starts with the NSDAP taking over German politics in 1933 and ends in 1949 with the separation of Germany into West and East. Reading these 1000 pages was an emotional roller coaster.
After loving the Fall of Giants (centered around WWl) I had very high expectations. The historical content definitely didn't disappoint. Various POVs introduced British, American, Russian, and German perspectives from different genders, ages or social backgrounds. I loved following all these different story lines and even though there are a ton, I never felt like it was too much or that one got lost among the others. What I was a little disappointed by were the romantic stories. They felt a little forced especially towards the end. The term 'insta-love' came to my mind one or two times. But that never bothered me too much considering the big picture. And who am I to judge romance during a time when every day could be your last.
What I was missing was a jewish perspective among the various POVs. Throughout the story a couple of Jews from different social backgrounds are mentioned, but considering the horrors of WW2 I feel like a perspective was missing. I guess it has to be mentioned that this book focuses a lot on the political aspect of the war which creates a good balance to the actual inhuman tragedies, which by the way never are described in a way that turns you away from the story. Concentration camps for example are never experienced 1st hand through a witnessed, but through the eyes of a young girl from Berlin who slowly discovers what the Nazi regime really is about. I found this to be an easy way of experiencing those darkest chapters of the war. On the other hand, I'm not sure if those should be made easier to stomach. I'm of the opinion that we should be confronted with what really happened every now and again. Considering the huge readership/mainstream audience it might just be a good compromise. Not everybody would be able to handle that (this would make an interesting discussion)
This book didn't specifically focus on what happened in Germany which I loved. We learn what was going on in the USA, Russia, Spain and Britain. It's an amazing read if you feel like refreshing your knowledge about world history (fascism in Spain, communism in Eastern Europe, Pearl Harbour, the creation of the atomic bomb, Hiroshima and many, many more). I can't stress enough how important I think books like these are. We should never forget and learn from the past. I think this would be an emotional and suspenseful read for everyone, but especially as a German and as someone whose grandparents were born into a completely destroyed Germany I found myself deeply moved by my countries history. It isn't a book that shames Germans, but that depicts the horrors of the Nazi regime, as well as European Fascism and Eastern Communism in the 1st half of the 20th century.
One of the story lines that especially moved me and that will stay with me for a long time is when the young German girl from Berlin finds out about how the Nazis were killing handicapped people from all ages as well as the mentally ill. My grandmother was born in 1943 suffering from epilepsy as well as deformed hands (they never stopped her. She would later become a secretary and amazing woman ;)). My great grandparents had to hide her for the first years of her life because of the Nazi program titled T4. It was the only time the German people stood up to Hitler and the government had to stop the program after 70 000 people had already lost their lives. Of course, it kept going just more secretly.
I feel like sharing this personal experience here because I'm grateful this book sparked a conversation with my family and because it is SO SO SO important that we keep these stories alive. They can only make us better people. As you can probably tell, if you've gotten this far, this book deeply moved me, and made me more aware of the fact that those horrid and inhumane events of WW2 happened only 70 years ago. It's difficult to wrap my head around that fact sometimes. I can't wait to start the 3rd book in this series which will center around the German separation.
Don't be afraid of picking up this 1000 page book. You can't do these big events in history justice in less. It's worth the challenge. READ IT!
After loving the Fall of Giants (centered around WWl) I had very high expectations. The historical content definitely didn't disappoint. Various POVs introduced British, American, Russian, and German perspectives from different genders, ages or social backgrounds. I loved following all these different story lines and even though there are a ton, I never felt like it was too much or that one got lost among the others. What I was a little disappointed by were the romantic stories. They felt a little forced especially towards the end. The term 'insta-love' came to my mind one or two times. But that never bothered me too much considering the big picture. And who am I to judge romance during a time when every day could be your last.
What I was missing was a jewish perspective among the various POVs. Throughout the story a couple of Jews from different social backgrounds are mentioned, but considering the horrors of WW2 I feel like a perspective was missing. I guess it has to be mentioned that this book focuses a lot on the political aspect of the war which creates a good balance to the actual inhuman tragedies, which by the way never are described in a way that turns you away from the story. Concentration camps for example are never experienced 1st hand through a witnessed, but through the eyes of a young girl from Berlin who slowly discovers what the Nazi regime really is about. I found this to be an easy way of experiencing those darkest chapters of the war. On the other hand, I'm not sure if those should be made easier to stomach. I'm of the opinion that we should be confronted with what really happened every now and again. Considering the huge readership/mainstream audience it might just be a good compromise. Not everybody would be able to handle that (this would make an interesting discussion)
This book didn't specifically focus on what happened in Germany which I loved. We learn what was going on in the USA, Russia, Spain and Britain. It's an amazing read if you feel like refreshing your knowledge about world history (fascism in Spain, communism in Eastern Europe, Pearl Harbour, the creation of the atomic bomb, Hiroshima and many, many more). I can't stress enough how important I think books like these are. We should never forget and learn from the past. I think this would be an emotional and suspenseful read for everyone, but especially as a German and as someone whose grandparents were born into a completely destroyed Germany I found myself deeply moved by my countries history. It isn't a book that shames Germans, but that depicts the horrors of the Nazi regime, as well as European Fascism and Eastern Communism in the 1st half of the 20th century.
One of the story lines that especially moved me and that will stay with me for a long time is when the young German girl from Berlin finds out about how the Nazis were killing handicapped people from all ages as well as the mentally ill. My grandmother was born in 1943 suffering from epilepsy as well as deformed hands (they never stopped her. She would later become a secretary and amazing woman ;)). My great grandparents had to hide her for the first years of her life because of the Nazi program titled T4. It was the only time the German people stood up to Hitler and the government had to stop the program after 70 000 people had already lost their lives. Of course, it kept going just more secretly.
I feel like sharing this personal experience here because I'm grateful this book sparked a conversation with my family and because it is SO SO SO important that we keep these stories alive. They can only make us better people. As you can probably tell, if you've gotten this far, this book deeply moved me, and made me more aware of the fact that those horrid and inhumane events of WW2 happened only 70 years ago. It's difficult to wrap my head around that fact sometimes. I can't wait to start the 3rd book in this series which will center around the German separation.
Don't be afraid of picking up this 1000 page book. You can't do these big events in history justice in less. It's worth the challenge. READ IT!
February 18, 2013
I was a fan of Ken Follett's previous books (Pillars of the Earth, World Without End, and, to an extent, Fall of Giants) but I really didn't enjoy this book. I felt like he "phoned it in" or rushed to get it out quickly, which was disappointing.
My main problems with the novel were: 1) unrealistic dialogue 2) extremely predictable plot points 3) characters you don't really care about (although I did have a warm spot for Daisy) and 4) lack of nuance/complexity in characters.
However, I did think Follett did a commendable job at somehow packaging the main events of 20 years into a compelling, readable fiction. Not only does he address the obvious historical events of World War II, but he also shed light on the Spanish Civil War and the Manhattan Project, which was interesting and informative. I read criticism that he glosses over the Depression, the Stalinist purges of the '30s, and the Holocaust, and he certainly does, but I did like that he looks at the treatment of people with disabilities in Nazi Germany. You don't really come across that in many books about World War II-era Germany, and it was horrific and sickening and, I think, very important for us to never forget.
Another critique of this book on GoodReads said that Follett is not a good writer, but a master storyteller, and I agree. I thought his writing was atrocious in parts, eyeroll-worthy in others, and I frequently flipped through five or six pages at a time, not bothering to read them because it was so obvious what was going to happen it was boring, but at the same time...I DID keep reading, all 900+ pages, so that tells you something. You still want to find out what happens at the end, even if it's hard to summon up the energy to care about Greg Peshkov or even Woody Dewar, who I'm sure is a great guy and all, but is not terribly interesting nor three-dimensional. Maybe Follett's arena - the 20th century and families from Germany, England, Wales, America, and Russia - is just too broad and ambitious, yet I've read generational stories that span countries or years that have been done to great success (Aksyonov's Generations of Winter,John Jakes' North and South.
Also - the sex stuff IS a little much, and I'm by no means a prude when it comes to sex scenes in literature. But honestly, Follett writes about it way too much, to the point where I think that's why the characters come off as so flat and two-dimensional. And the sex scenes are ludicrously written. One of them contained something about how a character "squirted" all over this girl and the description was so disgusting and infantile I said "ew" out loud while reading. Look, I'm sure sex scenes are hard to write but Follett's just came across as something a barely pubescent boy would write.
Will I read the third book of the trilogy? Maybe. I won't rush out to buy it. I'd wait until it's out in paperback and get it at the library for a beach read.
My main problems with the novel were: 1) unrealistic dialogue 2) extremely predictable plot points 3) characters you don't really care about (although I did have a warm spot for Daisy) and 4) lack of nuance/complexity in characters.
However, I did think Follett did a commendable job at somehow packaging the main events of 20 years into a compelling, readable fiction. Not only does he address the obvious historical events of World War II, but he also shed light on the Spanish Civil War and the Manhattan Project, which was interesting and informative. I read criticism that he glosses over the Depression, the Stalinist purges of the '30s, and the Holocaust, and he certainly does, but I did like that he looks at the treatment of people with disabilities in Nazi Germany. You don't really come across that in many books about World War II-era Germany, and it was horrific and sickening and, I think, very important for us to never forget.
Another critique of this book on GoodReads said that Follett is not a good writer, but a master storyteller, and I agree. I thought his writing was atrocious in parts, eyeroll-worthy in others, and I frequently flipped through five or six pages at a time, not bothering to read them because it was so obvious what was going to happen it was boring, but at the same time...I DID keep reading, all 900+ pages, so that tells you something. You still want to find out what happens at the end, even if it's hard to summon up the energy to care about Greg Peshkov or even Woody Dewar, who I'm sure is a great guy and all, but is not terribly interesting nor three-dimensional. Maybe Follett's arena - the 20th century and families from Germany, England, Wales, America, and Russia - is just too broad and ambitious, yet I've read generational stories that span countries or years that have been done to great success (Aksyonov's Generations of Winter,John Jakes' North and South.
Also - the sex stuff IS a little much, and I'm by no means a prude when it comes to sex scenes in literature. But honestly, Follett writes about it way too much, to the point where I think that's why the characters come off as so flat and two-dimensional. And the sex scenes are ludicrously written. One of them contained something about how a character "squirted" all over this girl and the description was so disgusting and infantile I said "ew" out loud while reading. Look, I'm sure sex scenes are hard to write but Follett's just came across as something a barely pubescent boy would write.
Will I read the third book of the trilogy? Maybe. I won't rush out to buy it. I'd wait until it's out in paperback and get it at the library for a beach read.
March 20, 2014
Well, I just finished this thing and I did like it, but not as much as the first installment.
The best part of this novel is the history, Follett is able to distill it into bite size little nuggets and integrate the info into readable dialogue. I learned a ton about China and her role in the remaking of the UN, new information on why Japan was so aggressive during the run up to Pearl Harbor, atomic bomb development in the US, and many other historical antecedents of the Cold War.
Follet just about skips over the Holocaust though, even though some of his central characters are in Germany. Sure, he acknowledges the sufferings of Jews and others, but as a plot point it's not even touched. People just go to camps, die or come back broken and disfigured.
Follet spends more time on the sex lives of his characters than he does on mass round ups and systematic extermination. To be fair, he does have some of his characters entangled in the Nazis euthanasia program for the mentally ill, but that's it.
I truly enjoyed how Follett brought me into the inner sanctums of government, whether it be the Russian, British or American incarnations. These parts were the gems for me, as they illustrated how the world was/is nothing but a chess board for the elite and moneyed to manipulate.
Also, just a pet peeve, but Follett repeated and paraphrased the same points over and over again. Not everything needs to be prefaced by what happened on the previous 5 pages. I was paying attention, just get on with it.
The best part of this novel is the history, Follett is able to distill it into bite size little nuggets and integrate the info into readable dialogue. I learned a ton about China and her role in the remaking of the UN, new information on why Japan was so aggressive during the run up to Pearl Harbor, atomic bomb development in the US, and many other historical antecedents of the Cold War.
Follet just about skips over the Holocaust though, even though some of his central characters are in Germany. Sure, he acknowledges the sufferings of Jews and others, but as a plot point it's not even touched. People just go to camps, die or come back broken and disfigured.
Follet spends more time on the sex lives of his characters than he does on mass round ups and systematic extermination. To be fair, he does have some of his characters entangled in the Nazis euthanasia program for the mentally ill, but that's it.
I truly enjoyed how Follett brought me into the inner sanctums of government, whether it be the Russian, British or American incarnations. These parts were the gems for me, as they illustrated how the world was/is nothing but a chess board for the elite and moneyed to manipulate.
Also, just a pet peeve, but Follett repeated and paraphrased the same points over and over again. Not everything needs to be prefaced by what happened on the previous 5 pages. I was paying attention, just get on with it.
May 16, 2018
*** 3 ***
Since I am on hiatus from writing reviews for the month, being a beach bum 馃榾, I just wanted to note that this was another typical for the author work of Historical Fiction. However, maybe it is me, maybe it is the fact that I grew up in the Eastern Block and have some knowledge of the history there, the author 's prejudices are even more obvious and no matter how unwillingly they might creep up, they hamstring him and put his writing in a box much too small for the scope he intends. I actually want to believe that he is trying to give a fair view of all the sides, but he can't help write through his own experiences of a Western born and raised individual, thus his writing will always slant that way. I guess it was just a bit too obvious here... Once again, if you have this in mind and don't take everything as the complete truth, it is a good overview of the World during WWII...
Since I am on hiatus from writing reviews for the month, being a beach bum 馃榾, I just wanted to note that this was another typical for the author work of Historical Fiction. However, maybe it is me, maybe it is the fact that I grew up in the Eastern Block and have some knowledge of the history there, the author 's prejudices are even more obvious and no matter how unwillingly they might creep up, they hamstring him and put his writing in a box much too small for the scope he intends. I actually want to believe that he is trying to give a fair view of all the sides, but he can't help write through his own experiences of a Western born and raised individual, thus his writing will always slant that way. I guess it was just a bit too obvious here... Once again, if you have this in mind and don't take everything as the complete truth, it is a good overview of the World during WWII...
December 29, 2021
5 stars for the entertainment level. This was a page turner for me.
This book has been sitting on my shelves since its release, but mostly because I wasn鈥檛 ready to face its size (313k words, 940 pages and the audiobook is 32 hours at normal speed).
As with 鈥淔all of Giants鈥�, which I read back in May of 2020, I don鈥檛 feel guilty for taking me this long.
This is another ambitious work of fiction by Ken Follett. Here he covers the years between 1933 and 1949.
I was hooked from the beginning and I did not want to put it down. It is that engrossing. Plus, I simply adore his writing.
I also had the pleasure of listening to the audiobook narrated by John Lee, who did a superb job, during my reading.
This book is full of unforgettable characters with their own gripping stories.
I don鈥檛 feel the need of pointing out all of the positive or negative things in this book.
Yes, it is not flawless but, as an entertainment, it is awesome!
If you decide to read this trilogy for the first time, I would suggest that you keep in mind that this is a work of fiction and not a series with the purpose to teach history (per example, Canada is barely mentioned)
As for myself, I read it as if I was watching a very long soap opera, as it has all the ingredients.
Some readers complained of its sexual content, but I did not see anything outrageous or that I have not read before.
My only complaint is that I don鈥檛 like when an author creates convenient coincidences to connect the characters, like he did in this book. It makes the world significantly smaller.
PS. This time I will not wait. I鈥檓 adding the 3rd book to my January 2022 list. I noticed that I have a few copies: 3 ebooks (Kobo, Kindle & iBook), one hardcover and one paperback.
This book has been sitting on my shelves since its release, but mostly because I wasn鈥檛 ready to face its size (313k words, 940 pages and the audiobook is 32 hours at normal speed).
As with 鈥淔all of Giants鈥�, which I read back in May of 2020, I don鈥檛 feel guilty for taking me this long.
This is another ambitious work of fiction by Ken Follett. Here he covers the years between 1933 and 1949.
I was hooked from the beginning and I did not want to put it down. It is that engrossing. Plus, I simply adore his writing.
I also had the pleasure of listening to the audiobook narrated by John Lee, who did a superb job, during my reading.
This book is full of unforgettable characters with their own gripping stories.
I don鈥檛 feel the need of pointing out all of the positive or negative things in this book.
Yes, it is not flawless but, as an entertainment, it is awesome!
If you decide to read this trilogy for the first time, I would suggest that you keep in mind that this is a work of fiction and not a series with the purpose to teach history (per example, Canada is barely mentioned)
As for myself, I read it as if I was watching a very long soap opera, as it has all the ingredients.
Some readers complained of its sexual content, but I did not see anything outrageous or that I have not read before.
My only complaint is that I don鈥檛 like when an author creates convenient coincidences to connect the characters, like he did in this book. It makes the world significantly smaller.
PS. This time I will not wait. I鈥檓 adding the 3rd book to my January 2022 list. I noticed that I have a few copies: 3 ebooks (Kobo, Kindle & iBook), one hardcover and one paperback.
April 11, 2016
The 20th century is the most dramatic and violent period in the history of the human race. We killed more people in the 20th century than in any previous century, in the trenches of World War I, in the Soviet Union under Stalin, in Germany under the Nazis, Spain under Franco. There was World War II and the bombing of Dresden by the British and Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It was a horrible century and yet it is also the century of liberty.
Very few countries were democratic before the First World War. In Britain in 1900, fewer than a quarter of the adult population had the vote. None of the women had the vote in any of these countries, so that鈥檚 50 per cent of the people who weren鈥檛 allowed to take part in democracy. And the franchise was gradually extended to working class men, so democracy really only had a toehold in the world in 1900. Now we take it for granted, certainly in all the countries we think are 鈥渃ivilized.鈥� And that鈥檚 a big contrast with what we did in terms of killing each other.
This is one of the most sweeping reviews of the evolution of class structure, politics, war, and development of the world during the 20th century that I've found outside of books documenting individual events. Follett's ability to use his characters to give you a first hand experience of the subtle and not so subtle effects of these events highlight the point that no event, decision, or action is ever black and white, and it's effects are never as simple as assumed before they are made.
Very few countries were democratic before the First World War. In Britain in 1900, fewer than a quarter of the adult population had the vote. None of the women had the vote in any of these countries, so that鈥檚 50 per cent of the people who weren鈥檛 allowed to take part in democracy. And the franchise was gradually extended to working class men, so democracy really only had a toehold in the world in 1900. Now we take it for granted, certainly in all the countries we think are 鈥渃ivilized.鈥� And that鈥檚 a big contrast with what we did in terms of killing each other.
This is one of the most sweeping reviews of the evolution of class structure, politics, war, and development of the world during the 20th century that I've found outside of books documenting individual events. Follett's ability to use his characters to give you a first hand experience of the subtle and not so subtle effects of these events highlight the point that no event, decision, or action is ever black and white, and it's effects are never as simple as assumed before they are made.
September 23, 2012
Ken Follett's second book in his Century trilogy ' Winter of the
World ' is turning in to an excellent dramatisation of Eric Hobsbawm's ' The Age of Extremes '.
It has all the ingredients of ' Fall of Giants ' easy to read, absorbing, intriguing and never far from actuality of the age. I would recommend this book to anyone who is not really into History but likes a cracking story.
World ' is turning in to an excellent dramatisation of Eric Hobsbawm's ' The Age of Extremes '.
It has all the ingredients of ' Fall of Giants ' easy to read, absorbing, intriguing and never far from actuality of the age. I would recommend this book to anyone who is not really into History but likes a cracking story.
January 4, 2014
Fall of Giants, Book One of Ken Follett鈥檚 The Century Trilogy, had ended in January 1924 at the finish of World War I and the Russian Revolution, showing a nine-year-old boy shaking hands with his father. Book Two, Winter of the World, commences in February 1933, with eleven-year-old Carla in the kitchen of her Berlin home wondering what her parents, English born Maud, and German born Walter von Ulrich, were arguing about. Book One鈥檚 readers would also be unsure what the quarrel was for, as they would recall them to be an amorous couple, who had defied the establishment and married in London鈥攚hen Walter was a German diplomat there鈥攐n the eve of the Great War. We soon learn that the row was about Walter鈥檚 objection to an uncomplimentary article on Adolf Hitler, written by Maud in a German magazine, where she worked. It was not that Walter was a Nazi, for he was a Social Democratic Party representative in the Reichstag, but he feared: 鈥淚t would infuriate the Nazis 鈥� and 鈥� they鈥檙e dangerous when riled.鈥� Before long Walter鈥檚 predictions come true. The 鈥淏rownshirts鈥� soon start disrupting meetings of parties opposing Hitler, and attacking Jews and others in the streets. The novel thus begins evocatively, covering the rise of a new giant, the Third Reich, from the ashes of the previous one, which throws the world into a 鈥渨inter.鈥�
Just as in Book One of the trilogy, this novel continues with the story of the five interrelated families鈥擡nglish, Welsh, German, Russian, and American鈥攚ho live through some of the major world-events from 1933 to 1949. This part features: the rise of Fascists and Nazis, WW II, the development and dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan and the start of the Cold War. The plot now includes not only some of the previous characters, but also their children. It seems Follett does not need as many characters, as noted in the previous book鈥檚 six pages. In this novel they are listed on five pages, which makes it a more intimate read. While the list is handily presented, at the beginning of the book, most readers鈥攊ncluding those not having read Fall of Giants鈥攚ill likely not feel the need to refer to it.
Although the narrative swings, from country to country and family to family, the characters, particularly those not having 鈥榗ome on stage鈥� for a while, are reintroduced by a skillful clue, enabling readers to identify them immediately. Particularly, their names: Chuck, Gus, Woody, Boy, Maud, Lloyd, Erik, Volodya, and so on, are well chosen and recognizable representatives of their country of origin. Although that period鈥檚 historical events are well known, from film and history texts, the narrative thread of these individuals, whom we care for and wish to learn more about, would encourage readers to keep turning the pages of this magnum opus. The result is not only an entertaining reading of their love stories and sexual experiences, but also an insight into the calamity, the horrors, the pain and sufferings of these people, who lived through those tumultuous times. Also, concurrently, we gain an insight into the monumental efforts made by the Allies to bring the Nazi menace to its knees. To accomplish this, Ken Follett has used the tools of an historical fiction novelist admirably. The casts鈥� locations, education, job functions, and personal characteristics are well chosen, which enable them to mix seamlessly with real historic characters at most of the important proceedings, such as political demonstrations, vandalisms, spying, strategy planning meetings, military campaigns, peace talks and so on. These give us the thrill of having shared the mental thoughts and lived through those events beside the characters. Not only that, but Follett鈥檚 eye for detail, such as, people turn on their radio sets and wait for them to warm up before the sound comes, puts us right in that epoch.
Nevertheless, in order to make all of the above happen, Follett has had to use the fictional story-tellers鈥� favorite device of 鈥榗oincidence鈥� in this book, as much he did in the former. The actors happen to be, proverbially, at the right place at the right time, to meet the right person. Some readers might find this unnerving. For instance, in one scene a soldier, while serving clandestinely in France, rescues the pilot of a downed aircraft, who turns out to be his half-brother, on a sortie out of England! However, this reviewer would agree with the dialogue between the characters: 鈥淚t鈥檚 a small world 鈥� Isn鈥檛 it?鈥� For such quirks of fate do happen. [Actually, in a similar fluke, I once happened to meet my cousin鈥攚ho lives in a city over 10,000 Kms away from mine鈥攁t the Dubai Airport, while changing flights, although we were both on separate trips!]
The Spanish Civil War is covered in some depth, and its major lesson is enunciated by a Welsh character, Lloyd, as: 鈥� 鈥� we have to fight the Communists just as hard as the Fascists. They鈥檙e both evil.鈥� As it turns out, the Communists helped to subdue the Nazis, and the Cold War with them was yet to come.
Quite naturally, Follett was not able to capture, in detail, all the theaters of the WW II, such as the Dunkirk evacuation, the battles in North Africa, Italy, Burma and elsewhere. But, the ones he has covered, are presented movingly and the action sequences are in sufficient detail to bring them visually before our eyes, but not so monotonously鈥攁s in some war movies鈥攖o make them tedious. The best coverage is of the War in the Pacific, particularly the Battle of Midway and the sinking of the USS Yorktown, told through the eyes of Chuck Dewar, a closeted-gay US naval officer. Follett鈥檚 introduction of diverse characters, and the portrayal of an interracial love affair brings additional vividness to the novel.
Possibly, because the topic, of the Nazi Concentration Camps for Jews and others, is well covered elsewhere, they only have a passing mentioned in this novel. However, Follett has included at some length the discovery and the eventual closing of the not too well known Aktion T4 鈥渉ospitals.鈥� While this novel covers just one such institution, it is known that there were about six, where many thousands of German citizens deemed to be incurably sick, mentally incapacitated or physically handicapped were euthanized. They were, not coincidentally, also mostly of Jewish and mixed races. The novel describes the thrilling bravery of the German teenage girls, Carla and Frieda, to collect evidence that through the efforts of German clergy and public opinion, which finally persuaded the Fuhrer to close the program.
While there are many real and fictional politicians, spies and their clandestine activities abound in the novel. Here Follett, as a masterpiece thriller novelist, is on familiar territory. Since the story lines are those of the children of the characters in Book One, they are mostly teenagers or slightly older. Yet, they perform remarkable feats of international espionage, with ease, which turns the course of wars and fates of nations. Such as the young Volodya, who after conducting several successful undercover activities for the Russians in Berlin, is sent all the way to Albuquerque New Mexico, in 1945, when he is still only about thirty. His mission: to bring back the plans of the nuclear bomb.
The third part of this novel, called 鈥淭he Cold Peace,鈥� sets the stage for the final Book Three of the Century Trilogy. The characters, children of the ones in Book One, now have kids of their own, who will undoubtedly play a prominent role in the Cold War storylines to come. The final chapter鈥檚 ending, similar to the Book One鈥檚, shows a child blowing out his birthday candles, indicative of the promise a new beginning. However, will they live in peace? We will have to wait for the Book Three to find out.
Ken Follett, in the recent promotional interviews for the Winter of the World, disclosed that he had the typescript of the novel read by a number of notable historians. They are also mentioned in the acknowledgements. It seems that their help, and Follett鈥檚 skilful research has made this novel, except for the fictional characters, historically correct. Finishing reading this 960-page novel is a much easier feat, than writing it. Hence readers should raise a glass, of Ken Follett鈥檚 favorite champagne, in a toast to his arduous undertaking for taking us on this memorable century long journey.
Reviewed from an advanced reading eGalley, complements of Dutton/Penguin
Waheed Rabbani is a historical fiction author, whose books are available on Amazon and elsewhere.
Just as in Book One of the trilogy, this novel continues with the story of the five interrelated families鈥擡nglish, Welsh, German, Russian, and American鈥攚ho live through some of the major world-events from 1933 to 1949. This part features: the rise of Fascists and Nazis, WW II, the development and dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan and the start of the Cold War. The plot now includes not only some of the previous characters, but also their children. It seems Follett does not need as many characters, as noted in the previous book鈥檚 six pages. In this novel they are listed on five pages, which makes it a more intimate read. While the list is handily presented, at the beginning of the book, most readers鈥攊ncluding those not having read Fall of Giants鈥攚ill likely not feel the need to refer to it.
Although the narrative swings, from country to country and family to family, the characters, particularly those not having 鈥榗ome on stage鈥� for a while, are reintroduced by a skillful clue, enabling readers to identify them immediately. Particularly, their names: Chuck, Gus, Woody, Boy, Maud, Lloyd, Erik, Volodya, and so on, are well chosen and recognizable representatives of their country of origin. Although that period鈥檚 historical events are well known, from film and history texts, the narrative thread of these individuals, whom we care for and wish to learn more about, would encourage readers to keep turning the pages of this magnum opus. The result is not only an entertaining reading of their love stories and sexual experiences, but also an insight into the calamity, the horrors, the pain and sufferings of these people, who lived through those tumultuous times. Also, concurrently, we gain an insight into the monumental efforts made by the Allies to bring the Nazi menace to its knees. To accomplish this, Ken Follett has used the tools of an historical fiction novelist admirably. The casts鈥� locations, education, job functions, and personal characteristics are well chosen, which enable them to mix seamlessly with real historic characters at most of the important proceedings, such as political demonstrations, vandalisms, spying, strategy planning meetings, military campaigns, peace talks and so on. These give us the thrill of having shared the mental thoughts and lived through those events beside the characters. Not only that, but Follett鈥檚 eye for detail, such as, people turn on their radio sets and wait for them to warm up before the sound comes, puts us right in that epoch.
Nevertheless, in order to make all of the above happen, Follett has had to use the fictional story-tellers鈥� favorite device of 鈥榗oincidence鈥� in this book, as much he did in the former. The actors happen to be, proverbially, at the right place at the right time, to meet the right person. Some readers might find this unnerving. For instance, in one scene a soldier, while serving clandestinely in France, rescues the pilot of a downed aircraft, who turns out to be his half-brother, on a sortie out of England! However, this reviewer would agree with the dialogue between the characters: 鈥淚t鈥檚 a small world 鈥� Isn鈥檛 it?鈥� For such quirks of fate do happen. [Actually, in a similar fluke, I once happened to meet my cousin鈥攚ho lives in a city over 10,000 Kms away from mine鈥攁t the Dubai Airport, while changing flights, although we were both on separate trips!]
The Spanish Civil War is covered in some depth, and its major lesson is enunciated by a Welsh character, Lloyd, as: 鈥� 鈥� we have to fight the Communists just as hard as the Fascists. They鈥檙e both evil.鈥� As it turns out, the Communists helped to subdue the Nazis, and the Cold War with them was yet to come.
Quite naturally, Follett was not able to capture, in detail, all the theaters of the WW II, such as the Dunkirk evacuation, the battles in North Africa, Italy, Burma and elsewhere. But, the ones he has covered, are presented movingly and the action sequences are in sufficient detail to bring them visually before our eyes, but not so monotonously鈥攁s in some war movies鈥攖o make them tedious. The best coverage is of the War in the Pacific, particularly the Battle of Midway and the sinking of the USS Yorktown, told through the eyes of Chuck Dewar, a closeted-gay US naval officer. Follett鈥檚 introduction of diverse characters, and the portrayal of an interracial love affair brings additional vividness to the novel.
Possibly, because the topic, of the Nazi Concentration Camps for Jews and others, is well covered elsewhere, they only have a passing mentioned in this novel. However, Follett has included at some length the discovery and the eventual closing of the not too well known Aktion T4 鈥渉ospitals.鈥� While this novel covers just one such institution, it is known that there were about six, where many thousands of German citizens deemed to be incurably sick, mentally incapacitated or physically handicapped were euthanized. They were, not coincidentally, also mostly of Jewish and mixed races. The novel describes the thrilling bravery of the German teenage girls, Carla and Frieda, to collect evidence that through the efforts of German clergy and public opinion, which finally persuaded the Fuhrer to close the program.
While there are many real and fictional politicians, spies and their clandestine activities abound in the novel. Here Follett, as a masterpiece thriller novelist, is on familiar territory. Since the story lines are those of the children of the characters in Book One, they are mostly teenagers or slightly older. Yet, they perform remarkable feats of international espionage, with ease, which turns the course of wars and fates of nations. Such as the young Volodya, who after conducting several successful undercover activities for the Russians in Berlin, is sent all the way to Albuquerque New Mexico, in 1945, when he is still only about thirty. His mission: to bring back the plans of the nuclear bomb.
The third part of this novel, called 鈥淭he Cold Peace,鈥� sets the stage for the final Book Three of the Century Trilogy. The characters, children of the ones in Book One, now have kids of their own, who will undoubtedly play a prominent role in the Cold War storylines to come. The final chapter鈥檚 ending, similar to the Book One鈥檚, shows a child blowing out his birthday candles, indicative of the promise a new beginning. However, will they live in peace? We will have to wait for the Book Three to find out.
Ken Follett, in the recent promotional interviews for the Winter of the World, disclosed that he had the typescript of the novel read by a number of notable historians. They are also mentioned in the acknowledgements. It seems that their help, and Follett鈥檚 skilful research has made this novel, except for the fictional characters, historically correct. Finishing reading this 960-page novel is a much easier feat, than writing it. Hence readers should raise a glass, of Ken Follett鈥檚 favorite champagne, in a toast to his arduous undertaking for taking us on this memorable century long journey.
Reviewed from an advanced reading eGalley, complements of Dutton/Penguin
Waheed Rabbani is a historical fiction author, whose books are available on Amazon and elsewhere.
May 15, 2025
Follett continues his epic Century Trilogy with the middle instalment. The premise of the series remains following the fates of five interrelated families against a backdrop of world events. It is truly brilliant in its depiction and stellar in delivery. Follett is able to keep the reader focussed from the opening pages, as events work in parallel, while also crossing at key moments for the storylines to mesh. I am eager to complete this monumental journey and am excited to see what the final novel has to offer. Follett lays the ongoing foundations of a very powerful and deeply intertwined novel sure to grow as history progresses, putting families, nationalities, and alliances to the test throughout.
The journey resumes with the story of five interrelated families鈥擜merican, German, Russian, English, Welsh鈥� as they progress through a time of enormous social, political, and economic uncertainty. While Hitler and Franco push fascist regimes onto their respective populations, Stalin holds firm to the reins of power in Communist Russia, and Roosevelt is accused of being too leftist with his New Deal. Follett's characters, dominated by a new generation, tell of trying times in a period of drastic change, which will shape them and their subsequent offspring. Carla von Ulrich, half German and half English, finds her life engulfed by the Nazi tide, but refuses to stand down, while facing her worst fears. Woody and Chuck Dewar, sons of now US Senator Gus Dewar, harbour dark secrets while playing key roles for the United States in the war effort. Lloyd Williams discovers that the Spanish Civil War highlights problems with both Communism and Fascism, but also makes some important self-truths sure to unsettle his entire familial structure. Daisy Peshkov climbs society in both America and England until the war transforms her life and changes her outlook on life. Finally, Volodya Peshkov rises in Soviet intelligence and helps solidify the Red Army's hold on Eastern Europe before a secret threatens to pull everything apart. Follett is a master storyteller and uses these vessels to tell one of the most historically varied and interesting stories I have ever read.
While the story is long and the details are plentiful, one cannot simply ignore the amount of history that took place over the 16 year arc depicted in the novel.
These were key years in the 20th century and Follett has taken many of the lesser discussed events, weaving the characters into the historical cracks. While some may lament the need to go into as detailed a narrative as is presented, it serves to distract (if I may be so bold as to use the word) from the well-known historical horrors taking place at that time. I have read too much on the Nazis related to this time period, so it was nice to see Follett expanding the possible historical threads on offer. The reader cannot lose sight of the trilogy nature of the story, forcing storylines on many levels to develop in offshoots not easily predicted, which keeps the story's momentum.
Kudos Mr. Follett for this powerful instalment. As you created gold with your Kingsbridge books, this series is sure to be sensational and I cannot wait to see how you tie all these families together in the final instalment!
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
The journey resumes with the story of five interrelated families鈥擜merican, German, Russian, English, Welsh鈥� as they progress through a time of enormous social, political, and economic uncertainty. While Hitler and Franco push fascist regimes onto their respective populations, Stalin holds firm to the reins of power in Communist Russia, and Roosevelt is accused of being too leftist with his New Deal. Follett's characters, dominated by a new generation, tell of trying times in a period of drastic change, which will shape them and their subsequent offspring. Carla von Ulrich, half German and half English, finds her life engulfed by the Nazi tide, but refuses to stand down, while facing her worst fears. Woody and Chuck Dewar, sons of now US Senator Gus Dewar, harbour dark secrets while playing key roles for the United States in the war effort. Lloyd Williams discovers that the Spanish Civil War highlights problems with both Communism and Fascism, but also makes some important self-truths sure to unsettle his entire familial structure. Daisy Peshkov climbs society in both America and England until the war transforms her life and changes her outlook on life. Finally, Volodya Peshkov rises in Soviet intelligence and helps solidify the Red Army's hold on Eastern Europe before a secret threatens to pull everything apart. Follett is a master storyteller and uses these vessels to tell one of the most historically varied and interesting stories I have ever read.
While the story is long and the details are plentiful, one cannot simply ignore the amount of history that took place over the 16 year arc depicted in the novel.
These were key years in the 20th century and Follett has taken many of the lesser discussed events, weaving the characters into the historical cracks. While some may lament the need to go into as detailed a narrative as is presented, it serves to distract (if I may be so bold as to use the word) from the well-known historical horrors taking place at that time. I have read too much on the Nazis related to this time period, so it was nice to see Follett expanding the possible historical threads on offer. The reader cannot lose sight of the trilogy nature of the story, forcing storylines on many levels to develop in offshoots not easily predicted, which keeps the story's momentum.
Kudos Mr. Follett for this powerful instalment. As you created gold with your Kingsbridge books, this series is sure to be sensational and I cannot wait to see how you tie all these families together in the final instalment!
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
November 4, 2012
I was a First Reads winner! I feel so lucky that I won a copy of this book. I have a habit of opening a book and reading the first couple of sentences in the book. If it doesn't grab my attention I have a hard time reading on. I can't actually review this book yet because I am not quite done with "Fall Of Giants" yet, which I insist on finishing first. I am really enjoying that book so far. I love the setting and the characters are interesting. I very much want to see what becomes of them. I did also read "Pillars Of The Earth" and "World Without End" and They are both up there on my favorites list. I even got my sister copies and insisted she read them both. I did also watch the mini-series of "Pillars Of The Earth" and I really liked how that came out too. I will update my review when I do finish "Winter Of The World". Just in case anyone is wondering, yes I did open the book already and read the first sentence... actually I read the whole page and had to stop myself. I can't wait to read on. Thanks again Good Reads for such a great website , Ken Follett for your great stories, and Dutton who listed this book for the giveaway.
"Winter Of The World", Love the beginning! If my eyes would stay open I would have read all night. : )
I love the way Ken Follet weaves the story back and forth between the characters and places. That's what I liked in the Pillars Of The Earth too. I liked the book a lot, I am looking forward to the next book.
"Winter Of The World", Love the beginning! If my eyes would stay open I would have read all night. : )
I love the way Ken Follet weaves the story back and forth between the characters and places. That's what I liked in the Pillars Of The Earth too. I liked the book a lot, I am looking forward to the next book.
January 21, 2020
Mais outro calhama莽o do mestre do romance hist贸rico que li h谩 "bu茅", e que estou certa de ter gostado 馃憤
February 4, 2021
Aviso: voy a ponerle 5 estrellas pero no es un libro de 5 estrellas (para m铆, por supuesto), solo que a mi la f贸rmula Follet me gusta demasiado. Es una debilidad personal, qu茅 le voy a hacer. Incorregible. No obstante a fin de compensarlo voy a centrarme en los puntos flacos de "El Invierno del mundo".
El libro est谩 concebido para adornar todas las librer铆as y estanter铆as dom茅sticas que os pod谩is imaginar: t铆pico regalo de Navidad con el que no te equivocas, aunque al final el beneficiario no se lo suela leer. Tiene un lomo y una encuadernaci贸n espl茅ndida que embellece y prestigia cualquier hogar; todos sabemos que a la gente le encanta que le regalen libros porque presupone cierta predisposici贸n cultural.
En l铆neas generales es una obra palomitera y rosa, con excesivos amor铆os, atiborrada de referencias sexuales. Todo eso facilita su venta masiva pero disminuye su calidad, al fin y al cabo hablamos de ficci贸n hist贸rica y no de novela rom谩ntica. Es la consabida novela donde priman m谩s los personajes que el contexto hist贸rico. Ojo, que los protagonistas est谩n perfectamente construidos: vivos y cre铆bles, traspasan el papel y forman parte de ti.
Eso s铆, son asquerosamente t贸picos, estandarizados hasta la n谩usea: la pija renegada que acaba siendo humilde; el homosexual condenado al ostracismo; el seductor que acaba bajando al barro; el ambicioso desmedido pero con responsabilidades paternales; el egoc茅ntrico desmedido; el de la crisis existencial y el que a todos nos va a caer estupendamente. Son perfiles manidos, pero que gustan, y el autor gal茅s nos los introduce todos. La innovaci贸n es nula.
El autor recrea muy pocas escenas b茅licas y se limita a ir nombr谩ndolas, por lo que pasan a un segundo plano. Al final Follet se centra en los acontecimientos m谩s morbosos y popularmente conocidos: pol铆tica de no intervenci贸n en la Guerra Civil espa帽ola, programa eugen茅sico nazi, NKVD y Gestapo, la carrera nuclear, bombardeos a poblaci贸n civil y movimientos geopol铆ticos varios. Por tanto escasa novedad tanto en tem谩tica hist贸rica como en caracterizaci贸n. Antes de empezar ya sabes qu茅 personaje va a vivir cada uno de los horrores de la guerra. Muy previsible.
En definitiva: 铆nfima carga hist贸rica, y la poca que hay un tanto sesgada e influida por la ideolog铆a socialdem贸crata del autor. Todo esta sepultado por cantidades industriales de az煤car. El invento se salva porque Follet sabe muy bien jugar a esto y es dif铆cil no leerte el libro en cuatro d铆as escondi茅ndote por tu casa y evitando tu entorno (ahora es m谩s f谩cil, y aconsejable, por el COVID) con la finalidad de sacar minutos para la lectura.
December 30, 2015
I DID IT hell yeah
So, I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as the first one but I still did love it. These books are so fascinating because they manage to cover so much information in only 900 pages. This one gave such an interesting perspective on World War II and the homefront. I love how you get to see all of the facets of the war, not just the battles. The characters were lovable as it follows the children of the characters from the first book so I felt like I already knew them. My one issue is that I think I had hyped it up a bit too much for myself. World War II is one of my favourite historic topics to study and read about so I had very high expectations for this and they were just let down a smidgen. I was hoping one of the perspectives would be from someone in a concentration camp but instead there was only an outside view of the concentration camps. I just wish they had been more of a prevalent topic in the story if that makes sense. But, other than that I really loved it! Ken Follett really is an expert storyteller as he is able to create such captivating narratives and create a realistic portrait of the world in the crisis of World War II. I can't wait for the next one!
So, I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as the first one but I still did love it. These books are so fascinating because they manage to cover so much information in only 900 pages. This one gave such an interesting perspective on World War II and the homefront. I love how you get to see all of the facets of the war, not just the battles. The characters were lovable as it follows the children of the characters from the first book so I felt like I already knew them. My one issue is that I think I had hyped it up a bit too much for myself. World War II is one of my favourite historic topics to study and read about so I had very high expectations for this and they were just let down a smidgen. I was hoping one of the perspectives would be from someone in a concentration camp but instead there was only an outside view of the concentration camps. I just wish they had been more of a prevalent topic in the story if that makes sense. But, other than that I really loved it! Ken Follett really is an expert storyteller as he is able to create such captivating narratives and create a realistic portrait of the world in the crisis of World War II. I can't wait for the next one!
October 14, 2012
I finished it because I felt I had to. Hoping perhaps an unexpected plot twist, or something, might convince me that wading through 960 pages would be worth it. Sadly, the last page turned left me as empty as the previous many. Each page turned revealed the expected, formulaic and dull running commentary of 5 families and their involvement in the history of the time. Characters such as Maud, so interesting in the first book, so glossed over in this 鈥� Ethel Leckwith so strong in the first book so ignored as a character here. Boy Fitzherbert should have been a character with a lot more to say about everything, except he's written as cliched fool. It seems Follett was so keen to race through History he forgot about what made the first in the trilogy enjoyable - his characters, their personalities and how they interact with each other.
I will probably buy the third in this series just to see what happens. I just hope is better than this book - it's so disappointing in so many ways. A big shame because most of Follett's work I have enjoyed immensely.
I will probably buy the third in this series just to see what happens. I just hope is better than this book - it's so disappointing in so many ways. A big shame because most of Follett's work I have enjoyed immensely.
October 16, 2012
An interesting long....................long.................... read but not up to the standard of Pillars or Fall of Giants.
November 9, 2012
Think you could never empathize with a communist, a socialist, the elitist, anarchist, or aristocrat? Think again, because Follett takes you front and center into the lives of such people in his second book of the Century Trilogy with a passion and clarity that delivers the story of their struggles and triumphs to a place beyond our manufactured understanding and created historical boxes.
I love a great familial pan-Atlantic historical epic, and KF is incredibly precise in describing the minutiae which transforms how the reader would otherwise have thought about the various settings. I love to be humbled by this kind of knowledge.
Strong female characters are a trademark, and I find it more satisfying that his plainer folk see most of the action and heroics. There is a slight tendency to make out characters possessing a greater share of beauty and riches to be antagonistic, but it certainly varies and blends well enough. His sex is bluntly male at times, but seems to lack a coarseness found in many of his counterparts, and I enjoy his intimate contributions. If you鈥檙e confused by politics, hold on-because there鈥檚 plenty. If intrigued, just read into the lives of those seeking to make a difference in the world as they understand it. His stories come together with an uncanny realism, but let his critics not forget this is fiction, which is fantasy, after all, and will never read the same as biography.
I didn鈥檛 trust him to handle battle scenes during WWI in a way that wouldn鈥檛 cause me to lose interest, yet somehow, I was captivated instead of repelled. Once again, with Winter, I actually dreaded the certainty of enduring endless WWII soldier deaths. Had I forgotten the London Blitz or the bombing of Berlin and the civilians who lived, died, and fought for their lives? Our characters are in the midst of these, transporting us to the most basic emotions of compassion.
Winter of the World is very much a continuation of Fall of Giants, and I鈥檓 not happy with having to wait for the third installment. I would admit to liking Giants somewhat more, but I鈥檓 not sure why. That would take more study than this post allows. Of course, I鈥檓 nervous about the Cold War. And the 60鈥檚? God help us. I choose to remain faithful that KF will have me seeing the light.
I love a great familial pan-Atlantic historical epic, and KF is incredibly precise in describing the minutiae which transforms how the reader would otherwise have thought about the various settings. I love to be humbled by this kind of knowledge.
Strong female characters are a trademark, and I find it more satisfying that his plainer folk see most of the action and heroics. There is a slight tendency to make out characters possessing a greater share of beauty and riches to be antagonistic, but it certainly varies and blends well enough. His sex is bluntly male at times, but seems to lack a coarseness found in many of his counterparts, and I enjoy his intimate contributions. If you鈥檙e confused by politics, hold on-because there鈥檚 plenty. If intrigued, just read into the lives of those seeking to make a difference in the world as they understand it. His stories come together with an uncanny realism, but let his critics not forget this is fiction, which is fantasy, after all, and will never read the same as biography.
I didn鈥檛 trust him to handle battle scenes during WWI in a way that wouldn鈥檛 cause me to lose interest, yet somehow, I was captivated instead of repelled. Once again, with Winter, I actually dreaded the certainty of enduring endless WWII soldier deaths. Had I forgotten the London Blitz or the bombing of Berlin and the civilians who lived, died, and fought for their lives? Our characters are in the midst of these, transporting us to the most basic emotions of compassion.
Winter of the World is very much a continuation of Fall of Giants, and I鈥檓 not happy with having to wait for the third installment. I would admit to liking Giants somewhat more, but I鈥檓 not sure why. That would take more study than this post allows. Of course, I鈥檓 nervous about the Cold War. And the 60鈥檚? God help us. I choose to remain faithful that KF will have me seeing the light.
August 14, 2021
Classic Follett. An ensemble cast, but nearly doubled in size since the last book, as it鈥檚 been twenty years and another generation has reached maturity. This book covers the period from the rise of the Nazis to the beginning of the cold war, following the personal stories of British (Welsh), German, and American characters. There would be five or six pretty good novels in this enormous tome, each focused on one or two of the characters, but Follett鈥檚 style is to blend them all together. This works well because each of the character鈥檚 lives makes a gripping story, and because Follett is brilliant at connecting them, so the American half-brother meets the Russian half-brother as they work against the Nazis, etc. Though in this book Follett goes a few steps too far, throwing in some connections that are so astronomically unlikely as to be laughable. What are the odds that a random Allied plane shot down next to your secret mission in France would be piloted by someone you have a complex relationship with? It still works with a little suspension of disbelief, and this is what fiction is always about: distilling life down to human connections that matter.
Follett鈥檚 portrayal of war is vivid, and balanced with lots and lots of hot sex, which is also vivid (and graphic.) His use of history is accurate (as far as I can tell) right down to the make of the trucks sent to the USSR and the horsepower of a 1937 Mercedes. Curiously, his characters (speaking on the author鈥檚 behalf) are very apologetic for the Imperial Japanese Militarists. Oh, the Japanese are just trying to protect their commercial future, the characters argue. (By invading China, and making war on America.) Has Follett not heard of Nanking? Regardless of the opinions held by Japanese peasants, the Japanese army, at every level, was as bad as the worst Nazis.
Follett鈥檚 portrayal of war is vivid, and balanced with lots and lots of hot sex, which is also vivid (and graphic.) His use of history is accurate (as far as I can tell) right down to the make of the trucks sent to the USSR and the horsepower of a 1937 Mercedes. Curiously, his characters (speaking on the author鈥檚 behalf) are very apologetic for the Imperial Japanese Militarists. Oh, the Japanese are just trying to protect their commercial future, the characters argue. (By invading China, and making war on America.) Has Follett not heard of Nanking? Regardless of the opinions held by Japanese peasants, the Japanese army, at every level, was as bad as the worst Nazis.
November 11, 2019
(review in English below)
Gostei bastante mais deste volume do que do primeiro.
Senti-me envolvida nas vidas das diferentes personagens e at茅 preocupada com o que lhes iria acontecer, que foi essencialmente o que me faltou no livro anterior.
As descri莽玫es das batalhas e doutros acontecimentos relacionados com a guerra tamb茅m me pareceram mais din芒micas e emotivas, talvez por haver muito mais informa莽茫o e documentos, incluindo imagens, da Segunda Guerra Mundial em compara莽茫o com a Primeira.
Vou come莽ar o terceiro volume mais animada do que estava ao come莽ar este, a ver se o autor consegue manter o n铆vel.
I enjoyed this book much better than the first one.
I felt involved in the lives of the different characters and I was even worried about what would happen to them, which was essentially what I missed in the previous book.
The descriptions of the battles and other events regarding the war also felt more dynamic and emotive, maybe because there is much more information and documents, including images, from World War II than from WWI.
I'm heading to the third volume in a better mood than the one I was in when I started this one, let's see if the author is able to keep this level.
Gostei bastante mais deste volume do que do primeiro.
Senti-me envolvida nas vidas das diferentes personagens e at茅 preocupada com o que lhes iria acontecer, que foi essencialmente o que me faltou no livro anterior.
As descri莽玫es das batalhas e doutros acontecimentos relacionados com a guerra tamb茅m me pareceram mais din芒micas e emotivas, talvez por haver muito mais informa莽茫o e documentos, incluindo imagens, da Segunda Guerra Mundial em compara莽茫o com a Primeira.
Vou come莽ar o terceiro volume mais animada do que estava ao come莽ar este, a ver se o autor consegue manter o n铆vel.
I enjoyed this book much better than the first one.
I felt involved in the lives of the different characters and I was even worried about what would happen to them, which was essentially what I missed in the previous book.
The descriptions of the battles and other events regarding the war also felt more dynamic and emotive, maybe because there is much more information and documents, including images, from World War II than from WWI.
I'm heading to the third volume in a better mood than the one I was in when I started this one, let's see if the author is able to keep this level.
November 15, 2012
There are reasons why Ken Follett is one of my favorites, if not THE favorites and Winter of the World is another shining example of why.
WOW picks up ten years after the end of Fall of Giants. While it does have the original cast from the previous installment, it's more about the second generation: their children. It spans the time from the rise of Hitler and his Nazi regime, through the Spanish Revolution, WWII, Pearl Harbor, the advent of the nuclear bomb, the subsequent bombing of Japan and ends in the 50s.
While its well researched and equally well told, it wouldn't be anything more than a history book if it weren't for a diverse and nicely constructed cast. Winter of the World has that in spades. While putting his characters through all kinds of world changing and hellish scenarios, Follett never diverges away from interpersonal drama, relationships and subplots. What he puts his characters through runs the gamut from the uplifting to the downright terrifying. Loves are won and lost, families are born, battles are fought, atrocities are lived through and overcome. Each and every character is well fleshed out and reacts logically. Using a combination of personal motives and moral codes, Follett's characters react to the real world and historical events he's made them a part of in a believable and logical way. They react to what's going on around them and make their decisions based on their beliefs and the state of the world around them. Nobody puts fictional characters into true events like Ken Follett. *As an aside, my favorite characters and story lines center around Lloyd, Carla, Woody and Daisy.*
It's an amazing accomplishment that, for the second time, he's interspersed the real and the fictional into such a broad sweeping and well written work. I don't know how he does it but he does.
I've read many of the previous reviews and see the low average rating. As it turns out, many of the one and two star reviews are from people complaining about the price...even BEFORE the book was released. Rating a book solely based on the price before ever even reading it is, in my humble opinion, silly, uninformative and unfair to the author. If it's too costly, go to a library. If if wasn't to your liking AFTER having read it, then base the review on that. Complaining about price is a waste of everybody's time.
But I digress.
Winter Of The World is a fine example of why I love Ken Follett's books and, more importantly, why I love to read. You just can't help but get swept up in the characters and the time periods he writes about. Fantastic.
WOW picks up ten years after the end of Fall of Giants. While it does have the original cast from the previous installment, it's more about the second generation: their children. It spans the time from the rise of Hitler and his Nazi regime, through the Spanish Revolution, WWII, Pearl Harbor, the advent of the nuclear bomb, the subsequent bombing of Japan and ends in the 50s.
While its well researched and equally well told, it wouldn't be anything more than a history book if it weren't for a diverse and nicely constructed cast. Winter of the World has that in spades. While putting his characters through all kinds of world changing and hellish scenarios, Follett never diverges away from interpersonal drama, relationships and subplots. What he puts his characters through runs the gamut from the uplifting to the downright terrifying. Loves are won and lost, families are born, battles are fought, atrocities are lived through and overcome. Each and every character is well fleshed out and reacts logically. Using a combination of personal motives and moral codes, Follett's characters react to the real world and historical events he's made them a part of in a believable and logical way. They react to what's going on around them and make their decisions based on their beliefs and the state of the world around them. Nobody puts fictional characters into true events like Ken Follett. *As an aside, my favorite characters and story lines center around Lloyd, Carla, Woody and Daisy.*
It's an amazing accomplishment that, for the second time, he's interspersed the real and the fictional into such a broad sweeping and well written work. I don't know how he does it but he does.
I've read many of the previous reviews and see the low average rating. As it turns out, many of the one and two star reviews are from people complaining about the price...even BEFORE the book was released. Rating a book solely based on the price before ever even reading it is, in my humble opinion, silly, uninformative and unfair to the author. If it's too costly, go to a library. If if wasn't to your liking AFTER having read it, then base the review on that. Complaining about price is a waste of everybody's time.
But I digress.
Winter Of The World is a fine example of why I love Ken Follett's books and, more importantly, why I love to read. You just can't help but get swept up in the characters and the time periods he writes about. Fantastic.
October 26, 2012
鈥淲hy was it, Lloyd wondered, that the people who wanted to destroy everything good about their country were the quickest to wave the national flag?鈥�
Non ho letto il libro in inglese, ma non avendo sottolineato le citazioni, per evitare di cercarle ho preso quella che mi serviva in inglese.
Dunque, non c'猫 molto da dire. 脠 un buon romanzo, senza infamia e senza lode, un buon romanzo che ha il vantaggio di lasciarsi leggere quasi troppo facilmente, tanto che se uno 猫 privo di grandi impegni, pu貌 leggerselo in 3-4 giorni.
Parliamoci chiaro: il progetto della trilogia Century 猫 ambizioso e lodevole. Quindi bravo Ken Follett. Un progetto del genere, per貌, non richiede solo una grande documentazione storica, politica e scientifica, ma anche tanta pazienza e tanto lavoro di rifinitura. Lavoro che, nel caso di questo secondo capitolo, non 猫 stato assolutamente svolto. Il primo m'猫 sembrato pi霉 completo, pi霉 studiato. Se parli della Seconda Guerra Mondiale, non puoi lasciar perdere eventi fondamentali solo perch茅 in 1000 pagine non ti ci stanno o perch茅 non hai voglia di parlarne. Ne scrivi 1500, di pagine, oppure stringi il carattere, ch茅 tanto quello che usi 猫 decisamente grande. Magari, invece di metterci due anni, ce ne mettevi 5 - e lo so che l'attesa 猫 orribile per noi lettori -, e ci presentavi un lavoro fatto come cazzo si deve. Le ultime 200 pagine, tralasciando le ultimissime 10, sono davvero brutte. Di una svogliatezza sconcertante. Non rovinano di certo le decine di belle pagine che le precedono, ma stonano terribilmente.
Mi parli della Guerra Civile di Spagna e poi nemmeno una pagina sull'Italia fascista o su Mussolini? E la notte dei cristalli?
Apprezzabilissimo il tentativo di paragone tra le brutture del nazismo e del comunismo, e a questo propostito 猫 importantissima la figura di Erik, da fervente nazista a fervente comunista. Drammatica la presa di Berlino da parte dei sovietici. Sbagliato additare tutti i tedeschi come nazisti.
Bellissimo il personaggio di Daisy, di una dinamicit脿 incredibile. Il suo percorso di maturazione 猫 splendido e rappresenta un grande insegnamento.
Non ho letto il libro in inglese, ma non avendo sottolineato le citazioni, per evitare di cercarle ho preso quella che mi serviva in inglese.
Dunque, non c'猫 molto da dire. 脠 un buon romanzo, senza infamia e senza lode, un buon romanzo che ha il vantaggio di lasciarsi leggere quasi troppo facilmente, tanto che se uno 猫 privo di grandi impegni, pu貌 leggerselo in 3-4 giorni.
Parliamoci chiaro: il progetto della trilogia Century 猫 ambizioso e lodevole. Quindi bravo Ken Follett. Un progetto del genere, per貌, non richiede solo una grande documentazione storica, politica e scientifica, ma anche tanta pazienza e tanto lavoro di rifinitura. Lavoro che, nel caso di questo secondo capitolo, non 猫 stato assolutamente svolto. Il primo m'猫 sembrato pi霉 completo, pi霉 studiato. Se parli della Seconda Guerra Mondiale, non puoi lasciar perdere eventi fondamentali solo perch茅 in 1000 pagine non ti ci stanno o perch茅 non hai voglia di parlarne. Ne scrivi 1500, di pagine, oppure stringi il carattere, ch茅 tanto quello che usi 猫 decisamente grande. Magari, invece di metterci due anni, ce ne mettevi 5 - e lo so che l'attesa 猫 orribile per noi lettori -, e ci presentavi un lavoro fatto come cazzo si deve. Le ultime 200 pagine, tralasciando le ultimissime 10, sono davvero brutte. Di una svogliatezza sconcertante. Non rovinano di certo le decine di belle pagine che le precedono, ma stonano terribilmente.
Mi parli della Guerra Civile di Spagna e poi nemmeno una pagina sull'Italia fascista o su Mussolini? E la notte dei cristalli?
Apprezzabilissimo il tentativo di paragone tra le brutture del nazismo e del comunismo, e a questo propostito 猫 importantissima la figura di Erik, da fervente nazista a fervente comunista. Drammatica la presa di Berlino da parte dei sovietici. Sbagliato additare tutti i tedeschi come nazisti.
Bellissimo il personaggio di Daisy, di una dinamicit脿 incredibile. Il suo percorso di maturazione 猫 splendido e rappresenta un grande insegnamento.
August 6, 2014
Another home run by Follett! I absolutely loved this book. I enjoyed it even more than Fall of Giants, and I devoured that. This novel follows the same structure as the first in the Century Trilogy. It picks up in 1933 at Hitlers rise to power.
Each of the 5 families from the first installment were present, except this time, the story centered around their children, who began the book as teenagers. I felt very connected to the characters in Fall of Giants and thought that it would take me some time to warm to the next generation. That wasn't so. Follett did an excellent job of "weaning" the reader from the parents. They were very present at the beginning of the novel, but over time, we saw less and less of them, and the next generation took over the plot. Again, time moved swiftly and characters were left for months to years before we heard from them again. I most looked forward to the portions with Daisy and Lloyd, although all the characters had compelling stories. Initially, my least favorite sections were the ones that focused on the Soviet characters. But as the novel progressed,their story was very intriguing as it laid the foundation for the Cold War and book 3.
I appreciated that this wasn't just another World War II novel. Much has been written on that topic, even by Follett himself. Instead, I read about topics that haven't seen much coverage: the politics in Germany at Hitler's rise to power, the Fascist movement in England, the Spanish Civil War, Soviet and German espionage, the Pacific theatre, Soviet atrocities during the Fall of Berlin, and the race to create atomic bombs. There were a few war scenes, but on the whole, the novel dealt more with politics.
I listened to the audiobook read by John Lee. He was excellent. I was most impressed with his ability to capture the characters through their different accents and dialects. I'd highly recommend listening to this one.
I was sorry to see the book end. I absolutely can't wait until September 2014 for Edge of Eternity.
Each of the 5 families from the first installment were present, except this time, the story centered around their children, who began the book as teenagers. I felt very connected to the characters in Fall of Giants and thought that it would take me some time to warm to the next generation. That wasn't so. Follett did an excellent job of "weaning" the reader from the parents. They were very present at the beginning of the novel, but over time, we saw less and less of them, and the next generation took over the plot. Again, time moved swiftly and characters were left for months to years before we heard from them again. I most looked forward to the portions with Daisy and Lloyd, although all the characters had compelling stories. Initially, my least favorite sections were the ones that focused on the Soviet characters. But as the novel progressed,their story was very intriguing as it laid the foundation for the Cold War and book 3.
I appreciated that this wasn't just another World War II novel. Much has been written on that topic, even by Follett himself. Instead, I read about topics that haven't seen much coverage: the politics in Germany at Hitler's rise to power, the Fascist movement in England, the Spanish Civil War, Soviet and German espionage, the Pacific theatre, Soviet atrocities during the Fall of Berlin, and the race to create atomic bombs. There were a few war scenes, but on the whole, the novel dealt more with politics.
I listened to the audiobook read by John Lee. He was excellent. I was most impressed with his ability to capture the characters through their different accents and dialects. I'd highly recommend listening to this one.
I was sorry to see the book end. I absolutely can't wait until September 2014 for Edge of Eternity.
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