A Place Called Freedom is another example of Follett's familiar and usually successful mix of romance and adventure.  However, APCF is not quite as good as the author's other works.  The chief problem is characters that are far too black or white be believable.  WARNING:  SPOILERS AHEAD  This is perfectly illustrated by Jay and Lizzy.  Jay is written without a single redeeming quality.  Lizzy, on the other hand, is always virtuous.  On the plus side, the novel offers an interesting examination of freedom, showing that this ideal frequently eludes not just slaves and indentured servants, but, in other ways, members of the elite class as well.

very good book, typically Ken Follett's good story-telling. I had no knowledge of the "slavery" aspect of the mining industry in the United Kindom - Scotland, but it should have been apparent to me - i just have never tho't about mining in Scotland at all. It gives a good look at how thruout history the people in power have little concern for the laborer and only the courageous have opposed the powers-that-be. Only in America, particularly colonial America, had there been a chance in history, until that time, for people to be able to improve their own social and economic circumstances. Interesting characters, good story, a little history taught to us. This was my second KF historical novel, i will look for more.

Mack McAsh is a young man born into slavery in eightieth century Scotland and refuses to accept a life of servitude and hardship working down a Scottish coal mine. This is the bases for a fantastic fast paced story that moves from the Scottish coal mines to the back streets of eightieth century London, before moving on to the state of Virginia just prior to the American revolution. There is also a rich array of characters that Follett really brings to life. The story is underlined by the beginnings of social unrest in Scotland and London. Also, Americans are beginning to voice their discontent with living under colonial rule. Follett’s attention to detail when it comes to historical fact is as always excellent and woven into the story in such a way as to increase its depth and texture. I do enjoy reading Ken Follett books but in my view this is one of his best and I couldn’t put it down. A really entertaining read.

This book is immensely interesting and hard to put down.A beautiful story line,believable characters and simple English had no option rather than to give it 4 solid Stars.

Simplesmente brilhante, intenso e viciante! Os três adjetivos que adoro encontrar nos bons livros!!

This historical novel follows the lives of Mack McAsh and Elizabeth Hallim, two contemporary youth from different socioeconomic classes in Scotland. Mack, a coalminer, and Lizzie, a youth born with an inheritance worthy of the landed gentry. However, both feel oppressed by their stations in life and the novels follows a plausible path for both from Scotland to the English colony of Virginia.

Told with the familiar storytelling hallmarks of a Ken Follett novel including a persistently present bad guy and a sweeping narrative of place and time, it will appeal to those dedicated Follett fans. However, the book also suffered a bit from being a bit too neat, venturing near becoming a caricature of early-America, and being somewhat predictable.

I'm not disappointed to have read it, but think there are a number of similar historical fictions which are stronger and would read/recommend before this.

Probs a 3.5. I learned a lot about the conditions that people had to live in during this time period but the lead female character was somewhat annoying to me so it took away from my enjoyment of the book.

Este livro é antigo, editado em 1997, portanto o Follett ainda não tinha muita experiência em comparação com a Trilogia "O Seculo" e "Mundo Sem Fim".
Mas este livro não desilude, o ambiente histórico e as personagens são cativantes, é perfeito para o Verão.
Gostei bastante.

I loved this book!!! It was basically 3 books in one, set in the late 18th century: (1) the coal mines and mining industry of Scotland; (2) industrial London, focusing mainly on the unloading of coal; and (3) colonial America, and the push to escape to, and populate, the frontier. One learns not only the technology of mining coal in that era, but also the terrible conditions that the miners had to endure to earn a living. Then in London, one learns about the intrigue and conditions involved in the unloading of coal, following the same main character that was followed in Scotland. He gets captured on a trumped-up charge, and is lucky enough to be sent to America as an indentured servant, where he eventually escapes to try the frontier life. He has been romantically yearning for the same girl throughout all 3 sections, and finally links with her in the end

Książka niepozorna, ale pięknie napisana. Nie spodziewałam się że tak wsiąknie w losy głównych bohaterów. Mam jednak niedosyt przy zakończeniu. Opowieść zbyt szybko się urwała i nie odpowiedziała żadnych dalszych losów. Pomimo tego - polecam

Pelo maravilhoso enredo, pelo interesse histórico do mesmo, pela excelente contextualização e pelas fantásticas personagens, este livro merece sem dúvida cinco estrelas.

Malachi e Lizzie são prisioneiros do século XVIII, ele por ter nascido um escravo nas minas de carvão escocesas e ela por ter nascido mulher. Depois de Mack fugir da Escócia voltam a encontrar-se em Londres quando Lizzie casa com um dos filhos do proprietário da mina. Na capital, Mack começa a arranjar problemas por difundir as suas perigosas ideias sobre os direitos dos trabalhadores e sobre como a autoridade do governo devia vir do consentimento do povo, Ao chamar a atenção de homens importantes, Mack é vítima de uma cilada, julgado e condenado a ser transportado para uma colónia americana onde será vendido como escravo, juntamente com muitos outros criminosos. Lizzie viaja no mesmo barco, antecipando uma vida feliz e de liberdade na propriedade que o sogro passou para o marido na Virgínia.
Assim, as vidas de Mack e Lizzie seguem a par como se os seus destinos estivessem ligados, ajudando-se um ao outro em várias ocasiões.

Ken Follett criou uma viagem fantástica para os seus leitores. Não ficamos indiferentes perante as atrocidades que "presenciamos", pelas péssimas condições em que viviam homens, mulheres e crianças e pelo duríssimo trabalho diário que executavam em tempos em que as pessoas eram propriedade.

O escritor aborda a instabilidade política na capital do império britânico e posteriormente a discussão que a soberania de Londres começa a gerar nas colónias, bem como as respectivas falhas que estavam a provocar insatisfação, afastamento à Coroa e à formação de um nível colonial político que viria a fazer-se ouvir.

Sem dúvida que os personagens enriquecem muito o livro. Follett criou excelentes e odiosos vilões com a mesma capacidade que construiu heróis fantásticos, ligando o leitor aos mesmos através das terríveis provocações que os vemos passar. Não sendo perfeitos, Lizzie e Mack têm espaço para crescimento pessoal e é isso mesmo que presenciamos ao longo do livro, um amadurecimento de acordo com as experiências vividas.

Por vezes é necessário muita coragem para lutar pelo que se acredita ser correcto, pelo que se quer... e pela liberdade que se merece.

4.5 rounded up