Title: O Inverno do Mundo
Author: Ken Follett
First published September 18, 2012
832 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9789722348768
Rating: 4.36
Overview
Continuando a narrativa épica iniciada em A Queda dos Gigantes, O Inverno do Mundo nos leva de volta às vidas das cinco famílias em meio às turbulências do século XX. A segunda geração assume o protagonismo em meio às situações históricas reais, desde a ascensão do Terceiro Reich até o início da Guerra Fria.
Ken Follett nos oferece mais um fresco épico que evolui em complexidade, misturando personagens fictícios e reais em um contexto histórico preciso e fascinante.
About the Author
Ken Follett is a highly successful author with over 36 books sold in 80 countries and 33 languages, totaling over 170 million copies. He was born on June 5th, 1949 in Cardiff, Wales to a tax inspector father and attended state schools before earning an Honours degree in Philosophy from University College, London.
Ken began his career as a reporter for the South Wales Echo and later the London Evening News before joining a small London publishing house, Everest Books, where he eventually became Deputy Managing Director.
Ken’s first major success came in 1978 with the publication of Eye of the Needle, a WWII thriller set in England that earned him the 1979 Edgar Award for Best Novel from the Mystery Writers of America. However, his most popular books include The Pillars of the Earth, an epic novel about the building of a medieval cathedral, and its sequel, World Without End.
The Pillars of the Earth reached number one on best-seller lists worldwide and was turned into a major television series produced by Ridley Scott that aired in 2010.
Ken’s newest book, The Evening and the Morning, is a prequel to The Pillars of the Earth and will be published in September 2020. It is set around the year 1000, when Kingsbridge was an Anglo-Saxon settlement threatened by Viking invaders.
Ken is passionate about literacy and has been active in numerous literacy charities over the years. He was President of Dyslexia Action for ten years and Chair of the National Year of Reading, a joint initiative between government and businesses.
He is also involved in many Stevenage charities and serves as President of the Stevenage Community Trust and Patron of Home-Start Hertfordshire.
Ken, who loves both music and books, is an avid bass guitar player. He resides in Stevenage, Hertfordshire with his wife Barbara, the former Labour Member of Parliament for Stevenage.
Together, they have five children, six grandchildren, and two Labradors.
Editoral Review
Ken Follett’s “O Inverno do Mundo” is a sweeping, epic historical novel that masterfully interweaves the personal lives of its characters with the larger historical events of the 20th century. As a sequel to “A Queda dos Gigantes,” published in 2010, this book continues the story of five families from different countries and social backgrounds as they navigate the tumultuous years leading up to World War II, the war itself, and the post-war era.
Follett is a master storyteller, and his writing is engaging and vivid. He brings to life the various settings of the book, which range from the coal mines of South Wales to the drawing rooms of aristocratic London, from the battlefields of Dunkirk to the resistance movements in Nazi-occupied Europe.
Through his vivid descriptions, the reader is transported back in time and gains a sense of the complexities and nuances of the various historical events and social trends of the period. The book follows the lives of several key characters, including Daisy Peshkov, a Russian émigré who becomes a celebrated film star; Ethel Williams, a working-class girl from Wales who becomes a labor activist and falls in love with a German immigrant; and Lloyd Williams, a Welsh miner who joins the army and fights in the battle of Dunkirk.
Their stories are compelling and well-developed, and readers will find themselves invested in their fates and eager to see how their lives intersect with the larger historical events of the time. One of the strengths of the book is how it explores the complexities of politics and ideology in the face of war and social upheaval.
Follett is particularly adept at exploring the nuances of different political movements and how they intersected with the lives of ordinary people. He does not shy away from the brutal realities of war and its human toll, but he also balances this with moments of hope and resilience in the face of adversity.
At times, however, the book can feel overly ambitious and sprawling in its scope. The sheer number of characters and plotlines can be overwhelming, and some readers may find themselves struggling to keep track of everything.
In addition, some of the historical exposition can feel heavy-handed, with characters bluntly explaining events and trends for the benefit of the reader. Overall, though, “O Inverno do Mundo” is a captivating and well-executed novel that will appeal to fans of historical fiction and those interested in the tumultuous events of the 20th century.
Follett’s writing is engaging and vivid, and the book is packed with memorable characters and moments that will stay with readers long after they turn the final page. Rating: 4/5
