One Sentence Summary
Winter of the World: Book two of the Century Trilogy by Ken Follett is a historical novel series which brings us through the turbulent decades of WWII and the Cold War, as five families struggle to stay together.
Book Genre
Winter of the World is a historical fiction novel series in two parts.
Main Topic
This novel brings us through the WWII and Cold War periods – a time of significant changes and upheaval – by means of five (initially European) families. The characters are placed under extraordinary and challenging circumstances, with unparalleled stress on their relationships, goals as well as private beliefs.
Key Ideas
The main theme of the book is the struggle of the five families to stay connected and vital despite the disruptive effects of two world wars and the tensions of the Cold War. We see their lives reshaped by the Zionist-Palestine conflict, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the social unrest of Nazi Germany and more. It also touches upon the theme of political power, as some of the characters gain influence over their governments.
Main Parts of the Book & Short Summary
Part I: The War – It follows five intertwined families through the course of WWII and the immediate post-war period. They are based all around Europe, and each member of the family plays a major role in the ongoing drama (some as activists, others as soldiers, some as refugees, etc.)
Part II: The Times Of Change – Here we find our five families struggling to survive the aftermath of WWII, as new nations emerge, political tensions mount and social unrest continues around Europe and North America. We also witness how their fates are intertwined with each other over time.
Part III: The Promise of Peace – With Stalin dying and the Cold War coming to an end, the families are once again confronting major changes in their lives. However, the end of these turbulent decades is not without difficulties for our characters.
Part IV: The New Century – The five families finally meet the year 2000, as the world is reshaping itself, with globalisation, environmental changes and technology revolutionising the way of life. For some of them, the future looks bright, while for others, the shadows of the past still linger.
Key Takeaways
● The story of five families as they bravely navigate the tumultuous years of the two World Wars and Cold War.
● One can explore the effects of war on individuals and their relationships
● The success, failures and treachery of political movements and regimes
● The effects of our decisions on our future generations
● In the end, hope and hope for a better future despite the predictive shadows of the past
Author’s Background & Qualifications
Ken Follett is an internationally-renowned, number one best-selling author of thrillers and historical fiction novels. He has written many successful books, including the well-received historical fiction novel series, The Century Trilogy.
Target Audience
This book series is suitable for readers who enjoy historical fiction, political and military thrillers, as well as stories about war, its implications and consequences.
Publisher & First Publication Date
Winter of the World was published in September 2012 by Macmillan Publishers.