Fall of Giants (Century Trilogy, 1)

Product Information

At the German Embassy, Walter hopes that the British and the French can stay out of the war so that the conflict is confined to eastern Europe. However, this depends on France’s ability to maintain a position of neutrality. Germany has told Britain that, if she promises to stay out of the war, France will not be invaded. Fitz feels that this would be betraying British allies. France has a treaty with Russia, however, obliging her to fight if Russia does, which it seems is about to happen. If France enters the war, Britain then will feel no obligation to support her against Germany.

Ethel receives a coded letter from Billy telling her that he is in Russia with Fitz. Ethel and Bernie argue about the Bolsheviks, Ethel fearing that Lenin could become as big a tyrant as the tsar. Bernie is the leading Labour candidate from Aldgate, but Ethel has been nominated by the women. She is considering it, which angers Bernie. As Maud worries about Walter’s fate, Lord Remarc tells her that the Germans have agreed to an armistice. A television miniseries based on The Pillars of the Earth with a cast headed by Golden Globe winners Ian McShane and Donald Sutherland is set to be broadcast globally around the time that Fall of Giants is published. Were you involved in the making of the series? Are you pleased with what you've seen of it so far? As you portray the build–up to the First World War, there is plenty of blame to go around. It wasn't just German aggression, as so many of us in America and Britain learned in our school textbooks. Similarly, your wiser characters criticize the terms of the peace agreement that was forced on the Germans at the end of the war—humiliating and highly punitive terms that are now widely seen as helping to lead to World War II. Do you think some people will accuse you of being too soft on Germany? Fitz and Ethel consummate their affair, careful to avoid pregnancy. Ethel shudders to think of what her father would say. She persuades Fitz to feed the children of the striking miners and learns that all the striking miners have been evicted.

Success!

What did you think of the book's ending? Did the author succeed in wrapping up the many threads and strands in Fall of Giants? Which of the characters in Fall of Giants do you expect to be reading about in books two and three of The Century Trilogy? For the last thirteen years my friends have been running Britain, as members of parliament and peers and cabinet ministers. That has certainly given me a strong sense of the way political conflicts are resolved and decisions are made. The fact that Barbara has been part of the British government obviously gave me special insight. I could not have created a character such as Ethel Williams if I had not known Barbara. When real people have conversations with my fictional characters, they are usually saying things they really did say at some point. Lloyd George's explanation to Fitz of why he does not want to deport Lev Kamenev is based on what Lloyd George wrote in a memo quoted in Peter Rowland's biography.

As his battalion meets the German offensive, Grigori’s fear soon turns to anger at the relentless barrage of bullets. The battle is nothing but confusion and Grigori is unable to make any shot count. He is surprised to find most of one ear shot off. It is not until after the fighting is over that he manages to shoot a passing German. From November to December 1918, Ethel decides to mend her marriage by offering to help with Bernie’s campaign. They learn that Lloyd George is keeping his coalition government, and the Labour party leads to campaign against it. Meanwhile, Maud writes to Walter while the peace treaty is being discussed. Many people believe the Germans must pay for the war. Wilson arrives in France with a large group of people, including Rosa who thinks he should have brought a Republican representative. Is it significant that Fall of Giants begins with the stories of Billy and Ethel Williams? Would the novel have been different if other characters’ stories opened the book, such as those of Grigori and Lev Peshkov, or Gus Dewar?

Need Help?

After dinner, the talk is of the possibility of war between Germany and Britain. Gus Dewar brings up many reasons for conflict between the two nations. Walter von Ulrich points out that Britain and Germany are the only major European countries not seeking territorial expansion. I certainly hope so. I have never before committed to such an ambitious and wide–ranging project. It is probably the publication event of my life. I keep recommending this book to friends. It's one of those books that both educates and entertains - a real winner as I feel I'm improving myself rather than simply indulging in escapism. If the sheer size of the traditional paper version puts you off, then this is definitely one to do audio-style. The narration is spot on. There are several key themes linking facets in world history at this point. They include the causes of the First World War, the collapse of the Russian Empire, and Germany's role in the continuance of a bloody war that led to its economic collapse and the postwar rise of Hitler. Afterwards, as they leave, Walter asks Maud to marry him, showing her the marriage license he managed to obtain at short notice. He says they should be married the next day as he will most likely have to leave as soon as the German army begins to move.