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Description edit
The first novel in The Century Trilogy, it follows the fates of five interrelated families-American, German, Russian, English, and Welsh-as they move through the world-shaking dramas of the First World War, the Russian Revolution, and the struggle for women's suffrage. Thirteen-year-old... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Summary edit
audio version of this book - 30 hrs. This is a huge novel that follows five families through the world-shaking dramas of the First World War, the Russian Revolution, and the struggle for votes for women. It is 1911. The Coronation Day of King George V. The Williams, a Welsh coal-mining family,... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)
Characters/People edit
- Billy Williams: son of David "Da" Williams, brother of Ethel. Began working in coal mines at 13. AKA Billy Twice, Billy-with-Jesus, brave, courageous, smart in battle, cocky, not afraid to stand up for his ideals
- David Williams: Father of Billy and Ethel. Representative of Miners Union in Wales, role model for his kids, tough
- Mrs Ethel Leckwith: Add a description of this character.
- George William Peter Nicholas Fitzherbert: Welsh Earl. Owner of Ty Gwyn. Conservative peer in House of Lords, major aristocrat locked in past customs, philanderer without a heart, ruthless, vengeful, did I say heartless?
- Bea Fitzherbert: Wife of Fitz. "Princess Bea" -Russian princess, cold hearted
- Nina: Russian maid to Bea Fitzherbert
- Mr. Peel: Butler of the Fitzherberts
- Mrs Jevons: Housekeeper for the Fitzherberts.
- Frau Maud von Ulrich: Sister of Earl Fitzherbert. Influential position because she hob knobs with the aristocratic society and she has the ear of powerful men from time to time. Love interest of Walter von Ulrich, suffragist, activist, strong willed, has strong convictions, courageous, determined, loyal
- Lady Hermia (Aunt Herm): Aunt to Fitz and Maud. Raised Maud from 13. Chaperone to Maud, aristocrat
- Herr Walter von Ulrich: School friend of Fitzherbert. Diplomat at German Embassy in London. Secret love interest of Lady Maud, aristocrat, independent thinker,
- Count Robert von Ulrich: Cousin to Walter. Military attache at Austrian Embassy in London. Close to Archduke Franz Ferdinand, homosexual
- H. H. Asquith: Liberal Prime Minister
- Gus Dewar: His father, Senator Cameron Dewar, was an intimate adviser to U.S. President Woodrow Wilson as is Gus. American Diplomat and later soldier in the war, nice guy, wears his heart on his sleeve
- King George V: King of England. Son of Edward VII, grandson of Victoria, younger brother of Albert. Second cousin to Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany
- Grigori Sergeivich Peshkov: Russian factory worker, older brother of Lev. A man of strong values, responsible, caring, hard working
- Rosa Hellman: American journalist - very intelligent, one eye closed, frank, independent, ahead of her times, former anarchist
- Mr. Josef Vyalov: Russian family with Josef Vyalov a Buffalo, NY businessman, wife Lena, daughter, Olga; russian mobsters, night club and bar owners, money launderers
- Lev Peshkov: Russian factory worker, younger brother of Grigori, con man, irresponsible, cad; He is EVERYTHING his older brother is NOT.
- Katerina: Russian woman who falls in love with Lev Peshkov; but ends up marrying his brother Grigori.
- Woodrow Wilson: President of the United States.
- Vladimir Ilyich Lenin: The angry Bolshevik, communist leader, post Russian revolution.
- Mr Bernie Leckwith: suffragette, labour party leader
- Mikhail Pinsky: Russian police officer with a violent temper.
- Olga Vyalov: Daughter of Russian mob boss in Buffalo, New York; spoiled, beautiful and uses men to get what she wants.
- Mildred Perkins: Friend of Ethel's, Billy's paramour.
- Herr Otto von Ulrich: Father of Walter; diplomat and bigot.
- Thomas Ellis-Thomas: Friend of Billy Williams; Welsh miner.
- Comrade Isaak: A friend of Grigori Peshkov
- Franz Ferdinand: Heir to the Austrian throne who was assassinated in Serbia and served as a impetus for WWI.
- Gavrilo Princip: The man who assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand
- Magda: Mother of one of Grigori's comrades
- Theobald von Bethmann-Hollweg: German Chancellor
- Queen Victoria: Monarch of British Empire
- Erich Ludendorff: German, General of Infantry
- Ursula Dewar: Gus Dewar's mother, wife of Senator Cameron Dewar
- Mr. Asquith: H.H. Asquith, MP and Prime Minister of Britian
- Tomchak: Russian Lieutenant
- Leon Trotsky: Senior member of the Bolshevik Party
- Andrew Alexander Murray Fitzherbert: Son of Earl Fitzherbert
- John French: Sir John French, commander of the British Expeditionary Force
- George Barrow: Young soldier, Welshman
- Greta von Ulrich: Walter's sister
- Gwyn Evans: Welshman, in Billy's unit.
- Comrade Konstantin: Factory worker, chairman of the Bolshevik discussion group
- Millie: Sweatshop worker, house mate of Ethel
- Johnny Remarc: Lord Remarc, junior War Office minister
- Arthur Zimmermann: German foreign minister
- Von Kessel: Gottfried von Kessel, cultural attache at the German embassy in London
- Mr Jenkins
- Mrs. Griffiths: Tommy's mother
- Joseph Daniels
- Prophet Jones: Soldier
- Mrs. Edith Galt: Second wife of President Woodrow Wilson.
- Anton: Russian, spy for the Germans.
- Bethmann Hollweg
- Gini: French prostitute.
- Sanderson: Lady Maud's maid/servant.
- Gramper: Billy and Ethel Williams' grandfather.
Quotes edit
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“We'd show those dukes what a pretty girl is, if we had the money for silk and lace.”
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“"They were elegant and charming but not subservient. To be loved by a woman like that was unbearably exciting." pg. 194”
Walter von Ulrich -
“"He who defies the giant must be crushed." p197”
Robert von Ulrich
Setting & Locations edit
- Aberowen, South Wales: coal mining town in Wales where Earl Fitzherbert has his country estate
- St. Petersburg, Russia
- Washington D.C.
- London, England
- Buffalo, New York: Where the Vayalov family live and run their business
Organizations edit
- South Wales Mining Federation: Trade union in Britain.
First Sentence edit
On the day King George V was crowned at Westminister Abbey in London, Billy Williams went down the pit in Aberowen, South Wales.
Themes & Symbolism edit
- World War I: This book shows or rather describes the lives of five families, belonging to different sections of society, that come in contact, time and again, due to the World War I(1914-1918). It also shows how young people mature and how their relationships grow over this period.
Series & Lists edit
This is book 1 of 2 in The Century Trilogy. (standard series)
Followed by Winter of the World.
This is book 31 of 145 in Whitcoulls Top 100 (2011). (authoritative list)
This is book 10 of 17 in New York Times Bestsellers - Paperback Mass-Market Fiction (Current). (authoritative list)
This is book 85 of 121 in Whitcoulls Top 100 (2012). (authoritative list)
This book is in Rainy Day Books (Staff Picks for 2010). (community list)
Authors & Contributors edit
- Ken Follett (Author)
First Edition edit
Original Language: English
Publisher: Dutton
Country: United States
Publication Date: 2010
ISBN: 0525951652
Page Count: 985
Publisher: Dutton
Country: United States
Publication Date: 2010
ISBN: 0525951652
Page Count: 985
Awards edit
- Amazon Best of the Month (September 2010, #4)
- Hungarian Libri Golden Book Award (2010: Hungarian Libri Golden Book Award 2010 for the best fiction title published last year)
- Amazon 100 Best Books (November 2010, #45)
- Goodreads Best Historical Fiction (January 2010: Historical Fiction, #1)
Classification edit
- Library of Congress: PR6056.O45F35 2010
- Dewey: 823.914
Subjects edit
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