BookPath
Home/Authors/Ken Follett/The Century Trilogy

The Century Trilogy Reading Order.

Quick Answer

Start The Century Trilogy by Ken Follett with "Fall Of Giants", then follow the publication sequence. This order preserves the intended narrative twists and world-building progression.

This epic trilogy follows the lives of five interconnected families—American, German, Russian, English, and Welsh—throughout the 20th century.

Official Verdict

Short Answer:
Start with "Fall Of Giants"

To experience the narrative as intended, read the main sequence in Publication Order.Ignore novellas and side stories until you finish the first 3 core novels. This resolves all timeline confusion and preserves every major twist.

Community Consensus

Low Debate

"The recommended approach is to begin with the core foundational series, often suggested as the first Elric book or the Eternal Champion. Readers should focus on 'the big four' or core texts first, potentially placing the 'End of Time books' midway through the sequence (following the old Millenium order). Works that draw heavily on the wider multiverse, such as 'Moonbeam Roads,' should be reserved for later reading."

Key Reddit Advice

Start with the first Elric book or the Eternal Champion. Ensure 'Moonbeam Roads' is read later in the sequence due to its heavy reliance on wider multiverse context.

Why This Order Is Confusing

Many reading lists for The Century Trilogy conflict because early publishers often labeled short story collections as standalone novels, or rearranged internal chronologies for marketing. This guide follows original author intent and narrative continuity to settle the debate for good.

Can I skip the short stories?

Technically yes, but we strongly advise against it for The Century Trilogy. The shorter volumes often establish the core character motivations and world-building that the main saga assumes you already know.

I watched the show/movie first — where should I start?

Ignore the screen adaptations' timeline. Start with "Fall Of Giants" to see the original depth of the world. The books offer a significantly different (and usually more complete) experience than the on-screen versions.

Why do people disagree on the order?

Disagreement usually stems from the conflict between purely chronological order and publication order. Most long-term fans recommend publication order to preserve the emotional arc and mystery reveals.

Curator's Strategy

Recommended Reading Order Strategy

The authoritative way to read the "The Century Trilogy" series is in Publication Order. Start with the first published book. It's the way the author intended the world to be revealed.This ensures you experience character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended.

Complete Series Reading Order

Publication Reading Order3 Titles

Why Publication Order?We recommend reading in Publication Order (default). This follows the author's release schedule, ensuring you experience plot twists, character growth, and world-building exactly as intended without spoilers.
Best Start Here
1

Five interconnected families across the globe navigate the treacherous politics, class conflicts, and devastating warfare of World War I.

2

Winter Of The World

Pub: 20183.92

Plot details hidden until you finish "Fall Of Giants".

1933, and at Cambridge, Lloyd Williams is drawn to irresistible socialite Daisy Peshkov, who represents everything that his left-wing family despise, but Daisy is more interested in aristocratic Boy Fitzherbert, a leading light of the British Union of Fascists. Berlin is in turmoil. Eleven-year-old Carla von Ulrich, struggles to understand the tensions disrupting her family as Hitler strengthens his grip on Germany. Many are resolved to oppose Hitler's brutal regime - but are they willing to betray their country? Shaken by the tyranny and the prospect of war, five interconnected families' lives become ever more enmeshed. An international clash of military power and personal beliefs is sweeping the world, but what will this new war mean for those who must live through it?

3

Edge Of Eternity

Pub: 20154

Plot details hidden until you finish "Winter Of The World".

Ken Follett's extraordinary historical epic, the Century Trilogy, reaches its sweeping, passionate conclusion.In Fall of Giants and Winter of the World, Ken Follett followed the fortunes of five international families—American, German, Russian, English, and Welsh—as they made their way through the twentieth century. Now they come to one of the most tumultuous eras of all: the 1960s through the 1980s, from civil rights, assassinations, mass political movements, and Vietnam to the Berlin Wall, the Cuban Missile Crisis, presidential impeachment, revolution—and rock and roll.East German teacher Rebecca Hoffmann discovers she’s been spied on by the Stasi for years and commits an impulsive act that will affect her family for the rest of their lives. . . . George Jakes, the child of a mixed-race couple, bypasses a corporate law career to join Robert F. Kennedy's Justice Department and finds himself in the middle of not only the seminal events of the civil rights battle but a much more personal battle of his own. . . . Cameron Dewar, the grandson of a senator, jumps at the chance to do some official and unofficial espionage for a cause he believes in, only to discover that the world is a much more dangerous place than he'd imagined. . . . Dimka Dvorkin, a young aide to Nikita Khrushchev, becomes an agent both for good and for ill as the United States and the Soviet Union race to the brink of nuclear war, while his twin sister, Tanya, carves out a role that will take her from Moscow to Cuba to Prague to Warsaw—and into history.

Prefer Listening?

Best if you commute

Get the professional narration of "Fall Of Giants" free with an Audible trial.

Try Audible →

Own the Physical Copy

Best value option

Add "Fall Of Giants" to your library. Curated links ensure you get the correct edition.

View on Amazon →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it okay to skip books in the The Century Trilogy series?

We recommend ignoring novellas and short stories until you finish the core sequence. However, main sequence novels should never be skipped as they contain critical character development and plot progression.

What is the best order to read The Century Trilogy?

The final answer for the best experience is to start with "Fall Of Giants" and proceed in publication order. This sequence preserves character developments and plot reveals exactly as Ken Follett intended.

Can I read The Century Trilogy books in any order?

No. The main narrative is strictly sequential. Skipping volumes or reading out of order will lead to significant plot spoilers and confusion regarding character arcs.

Are there spin-offs or companion books?

Yes, the The Century Trilogy universe includes several companion works. These are marked as 'Optional' in our guide and can be read at any time without disrupting the main storyline.