What do readers think of Winter of the World by Ken Follett? Write your own review.

Great literature this is not. But great history it is.

This is a first-rate lesson in history—from 1933 to 1949 with most of the emphasis on World War II—told with real facts and imaginary characters in a plot-driven novel that will place you, the reader, on the ground in Nazi Germany, war-torn, bombed-out England, coal-mining country in Wales, frozen Russia, and in the balmy waters around Pearl Harbor on a fateful December Sunday morning. And while the dialogue is often unrealistic, and the writing a bit forced, the history lesson is riveting and one that we must never, ever forget.

Before British author Ken Follett shocked his publisher and surprised his reading public by writing engrossing, bestselling sagas about the building of medieval cathedrals, he paid his bills by penning World War II spy thrillers. So Follett is in his element in this book, the second in a trilogy about the 20th century that is officially called the Century Trilogy. (And, yes, you really should read them in order to better appreciate the characters.)

The book follows five primary families, with many supporting characters, who live in the hot zones of Germany, England, Russia, Wales, and the United States. And while there are plenty of bloody battle scenes and horrific details of Nazi behavior, the story is tempered with lots of love and sex.

The characters are well developed and the history is accurate. Very well written and interesting story lines.

Author seems obsessed with the sex life of all characters however and it seems somewhat overdone. Was not needed.