Winter of the World – Ken Follett (2012)

Winter of the World by Ken Follett, published in 2012, is the second volume in the Century Trilogy, a sweeping historical saga that traces the intertwined destinies of five interrelated families – American, English, German, Russian, and Welsh – as they navigate the cataclysmic events of the 20th century. Picking up where Fall of Giants left off, this novel spans the 1930s to the 1940s, encompassing the rise of fascism, the horrors of World War II, and the beginning of the Cold War. Through the lens of personal and political upheaval, Follett crafts a richly detailed and emotionally immersive portrait of a world in turmoil.

Plot Summary

In the grey chill of 1933 Berlin, young Carla von Ulrich watched her parents argue over the dangerous path Germany was taking. Her father, Walter, a Reichstag member for the Social Democrats, held onto the hope of reasoned politics, while her mother, Maud, wielded sharp words in her newspaper column, warning of the growing Nazi menace. Carla, too young to grasp the full weight of politics, felt the tremors of a world shifting beneath her feet. The Nazis, freshly empowered, wasted no time unleashing chaos – raids, censorship, fear. Carla witnessed it all begin, from the storming of her mother’s magazine office to the shattering of her innocence.

Across Berlin, Lloyd Williams arrived from Britain with his mother Ethel, a former Member of Parliament and a fierce opponent of fascism. Lloyd, a spirited and principled young man, found himself drawn deeper into Germany’s turmoil. He trained in a boxing gym in the workers’ quarters, gaining not only physical resilience but an unflinching view of the threats closing in around democracy. When the Reichstag burned, he stood amidst the fire, watching Hitler use the flames as a pretext for terror. That same night, the Nazis unleashed a brutal purge, arresting thousands of Communists and political opponents. The Gestapo’s shadow lengthened over every home and whisper.

In Britain, Daisy Peshkov sought to escape her shallow life among American high society by marrying into English nobility. But marriage to Viscount Boy Fitzherbert brought no peace – only revelations of arrogance and cruelty. Disillusioned but not defeated, Daisy transformed. She volunteered as a nurse during the Blitz, found strength among the wounded, and slowly earned respect. Her path crossed with Lloyd’s, their shared commitment to justice kindling something deeper amid the ruins of war.

Meanwhile in Russia, Volodya Peshkov, an idealistic Soviet spy, navigated the treacherous world of Stalinist power. Trained in loyalty and secrecy, he worked to expand Soviet influence in Europe. But the righteousness of Communism clashed with the cruelty he witnessed – purges, betrayals, silence. He struggled to reconcile duty with humanity, especially as his work brought him into contact with Carla, whose quiet resolve struck a chord in him.

In Germany, Carla grew from a curious girl into a determined young woman. She watched her brother Erik drift into the Nazi ranks, intoxicated by the promise of order and purpose. Erik joined the Waffen-SS, believing he served a noble cause. But the war stripped away his illusions. From the Eastern Front to the darkest reaches of occupied Europe, he saw what Germany had become. Carla, meanwhile, joined the resistance. She smuggled information, helped Jews flee, and risked her life for a country that had lost its soul.

Lloyd became a soldier in the British army, serving with honor in France. He stormed the beaches on D-Day and fought through the hedgerows of Normandy. War hardened him, but never dimmed his resolve. Daisy, too, stood firm – now a war widow, she organized relief efforts, cared for displaced children, and refused to bow to despair. Her transformation from frivolous heiress to formidable leader made her a beacon in dark times.

In the Soviet Union, Volodya continued to serve, feeding intelligence to Stalin, helping shape the Soviet post-war world. But doubts grew. He saw how allies were treated as threats, how the cause devoured its own. Love offered brief reprieve – a fleeting connection with Carla, impossible but unforgettable. Their lives moved on, yet the memory lingered, sharp as broken glass.

As Allied forces closed in on Berlin, Erik von Ulrich, wounded and disillusioned, tried to protect what remained of his family. Carla was captured by the Gestapo, tortured for her resistance work. But her spirit held. At the war’s end, she emerged scarred but unbroken, stepping into the rubble with the same quiet courage that had carried her through.

Lloyd entered the liberated cities with his battalion, witnessing the full scale of Nazi atrocity. In Buchenwald, he stood among the corpses, the stench of genocide choking the air. He wept not only for the dead but for the world that had allowed it. In London, he helped shape the Labour movement, determined that politics must serve people, not power.

Daisy, now a mother, stood beside him. They had found each other again in the war’s wake – older, wiser, bound not by romance but by belief. Together they rebuilt lives, homes, and ideas. Their marriage became a testament to resilience, forged in fire and tempered in peace.

Volodya returned to Moscow, bearing medals and secrets. He rose through the KGB’s ranks, a silent watcher in a world that never truly thawed. Behind his eyes, though, lived the girl from Berlin, the one who had reminded him what courage looked like. He raised a family, served his nation, but never forgot the cost of obedience.

In Germany, Carla worked to heal her shattered homeland. She reunited with Daisy and Lloyd, their lives now strands in a shared history. She uncovered the fates of friends lost, helped prosecute war criminals, and began anew amid the ruins.

And Erik, ashamed and broken, lived in quiet exile. He did not ask for forgiveness. But he planted trees and cared for the land, hoping to grow something better than what he had helped destroy.

As the world divided anew into East and West, those who survived the war bore the burden of memory. They lived, not always in peace, but in purpose – to tell what happened, to stand against the next darkness. And in their children’s laughter, in the quiet of rebuilt cities, the hope endured.

Main Characters

• Carla von Ulrich – A bright and idealistic German girl growing up in Berlin as Nazism takes hold. Fiercely intelligent and morally driven, Carla is deeply influenced by her liberal parents and comes of age grappling with the terrifying realities of the Nazi regime. Her evolution from innocent observer to active resistor anchors a major emotional arc of the narrative.

• Lloyd Williams – The principled and politically active son of English socialist Ethel Leckwith and stepson of Bernie Leckwith. A passionate anti-fascist, Lloyd’s journey from student to soldier mirrors the ideological battles of the era. His integrity and drive to combat injustice put him at the center of key moments in the European theatre.

• Daisy Peshkov – Initially a self-absorbed American socialite, Daisy undergoes significant personal growth, emerging as a woman of resilience and conviction. Her move to Britain and involvement in wartime efforts reveal a complexity beneath her glamorous exterior.

• Volodya Peshkov – A Soviet intelligence officer and son of Grigori Peshkov, Volodya is both loyal to his country and burdened by its brutality. His internal conflict, as he navigates espionage, war, and the ethics of the Soviet regime, provides a profound insight into life behind the Iron Curtain.

• Erik von Ulrich – Carla’s brother and a youth drawn into the Hitler Youth and later the Waffen-SS. Erik’s storyline explores the seductive power of ideology and the devastating consequences of blind allegiance.

• Woody Dewar – The idealistic American son of Senator Gus Dewar, Woody is eager to participate in shaping history. From politics to war, his experiences in Washington and Europe illuminate the American response to global conflict and moral responsibility.

Theme

• The Rise of Totalitarianism: The novel vividly depicts how fascist ideologies take root and thrive in desperate socio-economic conditions. Through characters like Erik and institutions like the Gestapo, Follett reveals the seductive and destructive force of totalitarian regimes.

• Moral Courage and Resistance: A prevailing theme is the quiet yet powerful defiance of tyranny. Carla and Lloyd exemplify the courage to speak truth to power, even at great personal risk. Their resistance serves as a testament to the enduring human spirit in dark times.

• War and its Human Cost: Follett does not shy away from portraying the brutality of war – its impact on soldiers and civilians alike. The novel examines the emotional and physical toll through harrowing scenes of battle, bombings, and occupation.

• Social Inequality and Class Dynamics: Characters like Daisy and Lloyd traverse shifting class lines, illuminating the rigid structures of wealth and privilege, and how they are challenged by war and societal change.

• Love and Identity in a Changing World: Romantic and familial relationships are tested and transformed by ideological divides and wartime upheaval. These personal struggles mirror broader questions of identity, loyalty, and transformation.

Writing Style and Tone

Ken Follett’s narrative style in Winter of the World is both panoramic and intimate. He masterfully balances an epic historical scope with the detailed inner lives of his characters. The prose is accessible yet evocative, enabling readers to grasp complex political developments while remaining emotionally invested in the protagonists. Follett’s use of multiple perspectives allows for a rich, layered understanding of events, as experienced from different national, ideological, and generational viewpoints.

The tone of the novel is earnest and gripping, marked by a consistent undercurrent of urgency. Follett maintains a tone of moral clarity, particularly in his treatment of fascism, war crimes, and human rights violations. Yet, he avoids heavy-handedness, instead allowing the harrowing consequences of his characters’ choices to speak for themselves. His portrayal of heroism is nuanced, acknowledging both the frailty and resilience of the human condition. The tone becomes more somber and reflective as the story progresses into the heart of World War II, with flashes of hope emerging through acts of resistance, compassion, and survival.