Fall of Giants - Review

FALL OF GIANTS : BOOK REVIEW

(Published in Cuckoo: A Quarterly Literary Magazine, ISSN No: 2230 – 9691, Vol.II No.2, April 2011)

Ken Follett is a Welsh novelist and is one of the best-selling authors of this century. His Fall Of Giants is the first volume of The Century trilogy. This historical novel recaptures the First World War era. Five families of different nationalities are intertwined in this World War saga. The novel is in three parts – The Darkening Sky, The War of Giants and The World Made New. It opens with Billy Williams going down the bit for the first time in the coal mining town of Aberowen. From the coal pit the novel moves on to cover the battlefields of Russia, Germany and England.

The novel is not based on a single plot. Multiple stories run parallel to each other. There is Ethel Williams striving to assert her identity in the male chauvinistic England; Walter, the German spy and Maud, an English aristocrat struggling to secure a happy and peaceful life for them in the midst of growing hatred and war between Germany and England; Earl Fitz trying to portray himself as the pioneer of the poor coal-miners and also to gain a reputed position in the government; Grigori and Lev yearning to grab a decent living in the capitalist Russia and Gus Dewar doing his best to make a successful career in President Woodrow Wilson’s office.

In addition to their personal struggles, these characters are also in pursuit of higher ideals. Maud, in spite of being an aristocrat, believes that women’s suffrage alone can lead to recognition of women’s role in the society and fights for it. Ethel pairs up with Maud and as a result becomes an MP in the Parliament. Walter as a spy risks his life to save his country from losing the war. Fitz enrols himself in the army and proves his mettle in the war. Gus Dewar, as an official in Woodrow Wilson’s office serves the PM and tries to bring a peaceful resolution to the ongoing war. Grigori along with other Russian socialists fights against capitalist regime and brings an end to it. The author thus exposes the personal and the political side of the major characters.

Though most of the major characters are given equal importance, Ethel and Walter outstand other characters and the readers can hardly refrain themselves from admiring them. Ethel starts up as a servant in Fitz’s house but ends as an MP in the Parliament and Fitz who once ill-treated her doesn’t have any other option but to stand aside and make way for her. Walter is torn between his love for his motherland and his love for Maud. Though he passionately loves Maud, his loyalty lies with his mother land.

Follett takes up an issue, traces its origin and causes, and drags it on till its climax through his characters. It is obvious that he has put in a lot of research. In describing the First World War, he starts from the murder of the archduke of Austria who was also the heir to the Austrian throne, and step by step explains the mobilisation of Russia, war between Germany and France, England’s involvement in the war, the formation of the Allies and America’s entry in the First World War. He slowly builds up the tension, maintains the suspense and winds it up in the climax. Before portraying the Russian Revolution, he explains the ruthlessness of the Russian rulers as it was an important reason for the Revolution. Even as a child Russian Prince Andrei gives death penalty to three peasants who grazed their cattle in the unused land of Princess Bea. Brother and Sister watch the three peasants being hanged without any pity or regret. Such ruthlessness and lack of bread leads to the Revolution that ends in the emergence of a socialist government.

            In presenting the First World War and Russian Revolution, Follett also shows the meaninglessness and adverse effects of war. The war that started out as an attempt to attain a “worthy object” doesn’t end even after the object is attained. Instead it turns into a power struggle and each country goes further to prove itself superior to others which results in the death of millions of young men. The novelist also explains the war tactics and even an ordinary reader can get deeper insights about the war tactics, espionage, intelligence agencies, war fields and other things related to war. Incidents like the postman going around the village, just like the messenger of death, announcing the death of young soldiers while the terror-stricken villagers await with prayers for their young sons and husbands who are in the battlefield are very moving.  War propelled prostitution is yet another horror of war demonstrated by the novelist. When Walter lands in Russia he is “assailed by prostitutes, male and female, adult and child.” Though the novel is based on serious themes, Follett also talks about vices in the society like the corrupt nature of clergy and policemen, child abuse and hatred for the Jews.

Fall of Giants is a poignant record of First World War and Russian Revolution. Though lengthy, the novel retains the interest of its readers till the end. As Follett himself claims, he has mixed reality and fiction but he has done it so neatly that it is difficult to skim the fact from fiction shell and vice-versa. Follett has once again proved himself as a successful story-teller. As a whole, the novel is a page turner and lovers of literature cannot afford to miss it.