Fall of Giants was published by Macmillan in 2010, the first volume of Follett’s Century Trilogy — a project spanning the entire twentieth century through three novels following five families across five countries. This volume covers 1911–1924, centering on World War I and the Russian Revolution.
The five families: the Williams family (Welsh coal miners who become politically active); the Fitzherberts (English aristocrats whose world is ending); the von Ulrichs (German diplomats and soldiers); the Dewar/Peshkov families (American progressives and Russian emigrants); and the Peshkovs in Russia (swept up in the Revolution). Their lives intersect at key historical moments — the sinking of the Lusitania, the Battle of the Somme, the fall of the Tsar, the Versailles peace conference.
Follett’s method in the Century Trilogy was to embed fictional characters in documented historical events, using the novelistic perspective to make political history emotionally immediate. Real figures — Lloyd George, Woodrow Wilson, Lenin, the Kaiser — appear as characters.
Collecting Fall of Giants
First edition (Macmillan, London, 2010): Boards with dust jacket.
Market values:
- UK first edition, fine in jacket: $20–$40
- Signed first: $50–$100
Projected values (2026–2036): Moderate appreciation.
The Century Trilogy
Fall of Giants (2010) begins Follett’s most ambitious project: a trilogy spanning the entire twentieth century through five interconnected families — American, British, Russian, German, and Welsh. The first volume covers 1911–1924, from the Welsh coal mines through World War I and the Russian Revolution. The scale is Tolstoyan, with fictional characters interacting with historical figures at every major event of the era.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many copies has Follett sold? Over 170 million books in over 80 languages. He is one of the bestselling authors in the world. His combination of meticulous historical research and page-turning narrative drive has made him the dominant figure in historical thriller fiction since the 1980s.