Lots of characters and lots of interesting details about banking in the robber baron days. Overall, a really good read! (And some poetic justice well served in the end pages!)

Follet never disappoints. It was a really interesting story and I could not stop reading it. I love his complex characters and background, he achieves that you always sympatize with some and hate others. I have never read the story about bank movements in Europe and I found it very interesting topic. :)

Another good Ken Follett book, based on the end of the 19th century in and around London. Schoolboys are a part of a murder and what happens to their lives afterward. A great description of the banking industry in Britain in the 1966-1892. Those that are good vs those that are evil. You'll enjoy this one.

As a great fan of Ken Follet, this book was as expected.

It takes place in the past and spans many years/generations.
A strong male character who managed to raise from the bottom to the top due to hard work and honesty.

A strong male villain who is rich, corrupt, lazy, dishonest, powerful and more. This character manages to gain power and wealth and spreads wickedness and misery.

A powerful female villain, usually connected to the powerful male villain who manages to manipulate her surroundings.

Many characters that can be plotted between the above characters from the power and wickedness point of view.

The end is usually happy so you can guess what will happen, the main question is how and to what extent.


I like his books for the historical background and research, and for this I accept the mostly one sidedness and predictability of the characters (which, to be frank is not so bad, I have seen worse)
The flow and story of the book are good and there are no dull moments and you always are waiting for what will happen next

I would give it 3.5 but I have to round it to 4

Ken Follett has a talent for weaving complicated plots, creating complex characters, and for leaving you in suspense. None of those talents are evident in this book. The characters are one dimensional, the plot is predictable, and there's never really any kind of suspense in the book. It ends up reading like a Harlequin.

Personajes planos, situaciones inverosímiles, demasiados clichés. Pese a ser mi primera novela de Follet, el autor me decepcionó.

Uma narrativa interessante sobre o período áureo do império britânico respeitante ao último quarto do século XIX.

Acompanhamos durante três décadas a história duma família poderosa de banqueiros.

A matriarca da família espelha extraordinariamente bem como uma mulher consegue manipular os homens a seu belo prazer através dos seus dotes femininos, a sua sedução, postura e intimidação.
Quantas vezes os homens são subjugados sem terem essa noção? Incrível a constatação. Sinceramente não sei se me revolte ou se me regozije com a sua estupidez, e ver destronado o estigma que perdurou durante séculos: o homem designado como o “elo mais forte, mais capaz, mais inteligente”.

Aborda igualmente a banca, numa era isenta de tecnologia, mas em tudo o mais idêntica, nos bons e maus investidores, nos riscos necessários e calculados ou arriscados, nos lucros arrecadados de forma lícita ou ilícita. Na bancarrota como um flagelo exponencial para uma sociedade. No poder financeiro, na credibilidade e seriedade de que se devem revestir estas instituições, que é em tudo contrário ao que infelizmente assistimos actualmente.

n  ”- Nos últimos anos, o volume de negócios da City decuplicou. E, com a complexidade e a sofisticação que a actividade bancária atingiu, estamos mais interligados, que nunca. Algumas pessoas cujo dinheiro nós perdemos não vão conseguir pagar as suas dívidas e, por isso, também vão entrar em bancarrota, e assim por diante. Para a semana, vai haver dezenas de bancos falidos, centenas de empresas forçadas a fechar as portas e milhares e milhares de pessoas atiradas para a miséria da noite para o dia…”n

Assistimos também à estratificação social bem delineada assim como a caracterização das personagens. A trama desenrola-se a bom ritmo, as oportunidades ou ausência delas vão impactando as suas vidas, criando avanços ou recuos e incitando a sua leitura.
Não considerei extraordinário, achei-o interessante q.b.

Empieza un poco lento, pero avanzadas algunas páginas mejora y mantiene tu atención, lo acabe en una semana!

Es más una novela histórica que un gran drama, la historia es buena pero algo predecible. Pero los detalles históricos y la narración te envuelven y hacen volar la imaginación sobre Londres antiguo y la sociedad del siglo 19.

Si te gusta Downton Abbey es una lectura obligada.

Ken Follett spins a nice tale about a family caught in web of betrayals, conspiracy and greed. This is something in the class of Jeffery Archer. A beautiful story with enough plots to keep you hooked. However, I thought that some characters were unnecessary like Nora & Albert Cammell. Nora's character served no purpose in the story since she is etched out as a gold digger with apparently no contributon to Hugh Pilaster's life except to give birth to his three kids. Come to think of it, his kids also do not add any value to the story. Micky Miranda's & Augusta Pilaster's characters are strong and beautifully carved out and central to the plot. Overall a very good book. Something different from his other books. Reminded me of book written by Harold Robbins.

Who doesn’t love a family saga with double-crossing villains, debauched, cowardly rich kids and savvy, problem- solving heroes? This is another Ken Follett page-turner with all his hallmark drama and intrigue, set in 1860s - 1890s London, providing an historical insight into the banking world and English society. Hugh is the maligned member of the powerful Pilaster family and we follow his story as he battles to out-manoeuvre all the cunning plans that act as roadblocks on his path to success. There is scandal and unrequited love, it really has got it all, wrapped up in Follett’s characteristic gender balance and excellent plot. A great read for immersing yourself in another world.

Few can write so many personalities telling a complex story spanning decades from the poor to the privileged in a period piece as successfully as Ken. Captivating and exciting, this book, like his others, make you love the good characters and despise the bad ones. Great characters who have lives you become invested in. Very entertaining and educational.

Could have and should have been a better story. 3 of 10 stars