Not unlike a typical 8yr old, my son has a romantic notion of wars, the bravado it takes to fight in a war, etc. This only got worse when he started reading a book called World War Stories. Despite the stark reality (as explained in the book) of millions getting killed, spread of diseases, people losing their loved ones, his view didn't change. however, this got us talking about who fought who, what triggered the wars, why did a country enter or not enter the war, etc. I realized my knowledge of the war was a little murky and required frequent triips to Wiki. To refresh my memory I went back to the one book that tells you all you need to know about the war - Fall of the Giants.
For the uninitiated, Ken Follet has written some of the best researched historical fictions, especially on the World Wars. 'Fall of the Giants' is the first of his World War trilogy focusing on the events that led to the war, what happens during the war, how it ended and a teeny glimpse into what would trigger the next war. He also covers the major political, economic and social upheaval in these countries.
Ken Follet has placed his central characters among the key players in the World War. They become your eyes and ears that tell you all that happens. They make it even more insightful by giving their perspective of the happenings.
In Britain we are taken beyond the elegant and elite aristocratic society, into the hardships faced by the working class. We have an Earl in Aberowen (a small fictional town) representing the aristocracy, while a worker in his coal mine represents the labor class. We get to know about the Woman's suffrage movement through the Earl's sister who is one of the key feminist characters who drives the movement, along with her maid.
In Russia, two orphaned brothers show us the state of the country under their Tsar. The autocratic ruling of the country, which also seeps into the way factories are run, while making the police and army corrupt are also explained through these two brothers. We also get to know how these led to the emergence of the Bolsheviks and Lenin as their ruler.
While Germany's role in the war is depicted through an intelligence officer in their Foreign office in Britain, the insight into their society, political climate, etc., are very limited.
In the US we have a secretary to Woodrow Wilson (the then US President) who moves among the aforesaid characters and thus gives us the American viewpoint as well as their role in the war. Of all the major players in the war, you can't help but feel that Follet greatly admires the US and appreciates their role in bringing the war to an end.
Apart from the above key characters, there are a few more that add layers to the story and bring out that much more detail of that period.
One of the key impacts from reading the book was how the lives of millions of people rests in the hands of a few who make the decisions! While at the top decisions are made to save the pride and standing of the country, further down the line the mismanagement of people strikes you real hard. In Britain we see novice army men with aristocratic background or from league schools getting key positions in the army. Decisions taken by these people with no real experience in the front kills many a men in the war. There are few scenes in the book that bring home this fact. An ill-planned attack by the Earl leads a majority of his platoon to death at the hands of German soldiers. Soon after we are taken to Aberowen where a postman arrives to delivers news from the war. Every time he visits a house, it is to deliver news of the death of the family member in the war. The sheer number of people from the town who were killed in the war, and how a peaceful Sunday suddenly turns tragic is very heartrending.
In Germany, we see how it is ruled by an older generation of Lords and ministers who are out of sync with the reality, and thus lead to the downfall of the country in the war. The protagonist from Germany is a peace-loving forward thinking man who appreciates the power Britain and the US hold. This starkly brings out the mismanagement by the Kaiser and his ministers and ultimately leads to their downfall. We also see their hand in the Bolshevik movement in Russia and how it changed the tide for Germany.
Russia is shown in very poor light, obviously due to the state the country was in at that time. Here, many get killed not only because of the poor decisions of the people in position, but also due to the complete apathy towards the people. Soldiers are enlisted without a choice, they are sent to war without adequate food, water, ammunition, transportation....the list could go on! Quite naturally, the protagonist in Russia has come up in the army rank through cut-throat means with nary an ounce of guilt for his actions. He gives as good as it comes and you only feel admiration for him! A great supporter and active worker in the Bolsheviks movement, he dreams of a better future for Russia under the new regime. But is shocked when faced with the eccentric behavior of the people in power and is unable to do anything about it.
By far, US seems to be the hero of this story. The tactical way in which Woodrow Wilson handles the situation, the way the country is forced to enter the war and how it helps win the war are wonderfully explained. We also get to see the underside of the US - the mafia-like fiefdom by Russian immigrants.
Ken Follet has managed to weave a wonderful story that combines all the above characters with one impacting the life of another at some point and how that changes their lives forever! While I have only touched upon the aspects pertaining to the war, the book is actually a wholesome entertainer with love, romance, violence, sentiments, beliefs and much more!
The next book in the series is the 'Winter of the World' which is about the Second World War. I hope to start reading it some time soon...
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