Copied from a testimonial:"Good thrillers are like elegant geometrical proofs. Their drama lies not in their ultimate outcome but in their method. Though we know that the good guys will eventually triumph, we don't know how; a good thriller should keep us guessing until the last page. Ken Follett does just that."This is the first thing I had to say about Ken Follett when I completed this book. For long Jeffrey Archer has been my favourite writer and I have believed the fact that I can count on fingers the number of writers who are equally good if not better than Mr. Archer in story-telling. I think I have just come across one of those writers in Ken Follett. There were quite similarities I found out between the two. Even though this is the very first Ken Follett book I have read I can pretty much say that he's a master story-teller. As mentioned in the testimonial, you know a writer is a great writer if he can make a predictable thriller as exciting as possible.At first I was not quite sure what this book was about. I thought it was about a murder, a crime story. But it was far different from that and that is where I like this book. Normally one would continue writing about the crime and it wouldn't have been bad either. But Follett has done the duel thing, not only has he written about the crime but he's mostly focused on its effects on several peoples lives. It was not about the crime but the aftermaths of the crime. How deeply can one hidden crime can change the lives of all the people involved in it. How it can make them more suspicious of each other and how they can become more villainous. Though a bit predictable this book has a mix of everything you want in a fiction book - love, friendship, drama, crime, rivalry, treachery, suspense, thrill, family-saga etc... When someone can cover so many topics in one book, it more often than not is bond to be an excellent book. The most striking thing perhaps I think about this book was its setting. The historical details makes this book an instant like. The men's clubs and brothels, the ballrooms, the 19th century villas and carriages, the ethich of the liveried footmans and butlers is all perfectly set up by Ken Follett. It was like going back into time and witnessing all these things. I felt myself transported to London and fell in love with the city. The setting was so good. Wherever the story lacked the bite, the setting more than enough made up for it.The character development is another thing why you love this book. Right from the start it makes you feel sympathy for all the people involved in the drowning incident and you are not able to decide which character you like the most. Most of the book goes on like this only, you are not able to guess for yourself what exactly do you want from the characters even though you know what you want from the story. Though not absolutely lovable the characters are quite captivating.Now talking about the reason for which I decided to write this review. The Story-telling. Its not an easy thing to write family-sagas, and describe the feelings of the characters for 30 years. So much changes in that time period. But Ken Follett in this book certainly has set a mood and created an atmosphere which has made it deeply engrossing. I especially liked the fact that Follett kept his writing very simple and to the point all the time, nothing so extravagant just to excite the readers and things not related to the story. All 568 pages of the book are very much linked up with the story. Many a times when the book is set over decades writers drift away from the actual plotline and thats what blights a great book. There was only one thing I didn't like in this book and that was the reason why I am not adding it to my favourites. The thing was(view spoiler)[ the relationship between Hugh and Maisie. How can you fall so deeply in love with a person with whom you have spent only 1 night, and Maisie and Hugh in this case feel in love on that very night only when they spent time with each, it was not like a haunting memory which made them love each other. And before that night they used to hate each other. Through out the book I was never able to understand their love for each other though I would have to just like everything in the book, it had a good end but I am certainly not up for one-night stands. I wish it could have been written better and more realistic feelings or at least should not have been a one night feeling. (hide spoiler)]
RATING: 4 stars.Wow, o Follett sabe mesmo escrever. 500 e tal páginas em dois dias. O_O---------------Só muito recentemente comecei a ler livros do Ken Follett (com uma notável exceção). Apesar da sua enorme popularidade, tanto internacional como em terras lusas, confesso que tenho algum receio de ler este tipo de autores super famosos, com inúmeros bestsellers em seu nome. Isto porque, geralmente, estes autores escrevem thrillers e livros de ação que, para mim, se revelam leituras muito semelhantes umas às outras e de uma forma que não aprecio particularmente. Exemplos são os livros de Dan Brown, que li uma vez e já não consigo reler e os de James Patterson, que não achei nada por aí além.Suponho que não serão os meus livros de eleição. Mas Ken Follett escreve também ficção histórica e, depois de ter lido o famoso "Pilares da Terra" (e de ter gostado) e o primeiro livro da trilogia "O Século" (do qual gostei ainda mais), comecei a pôr este autor num patamar diferente dos Dan Browns e James Pattersons do mundo.Quando saiu este novo livro (novo como quem diz... a versão original é de 1993), corri a comprá-lo, até porque, mais uma vez, se tratava de um romance histórico. E não fiquei desiludida.Corre o ano de 1866 quando uma tragédia se abate na Windfield School, uma escola preparatória para a classe média e para a classe abastada composta por homens de negócios. Um rapaz de 13 anos é encontrado morto numa lagoa e, no centro do mistério estão alguns dos seus colegas: Edward Pilaster, filho de um rico banqueiro, Micky Miranda, filho de um rancheiro de Córdova, um país na América do Sul e Hugh Pilaster, primo de Edward, cujo pai tem uma fábrica de tinturas. O segredo do que aconteceu naquele dia em 1866 vai unir estas personagens ao longo das décadas seguintes, acabando por dar origem a um acontecimento de proporções devastadores, que quase destruirá a família Pilaster, na altura uma das mais ricas de Inglaterra.O livro explora então a vida destas personagens, a sua relação e o clima de segredos que são perpetuados por Augusta Pilaster, a matriarca da família que tem, deixei-me dizer-vos, uma afeição quase obsessiva pelo filho Edward.As personagens não fogem muito aos seus papéis predefinidos. Ou seja, vemo-las crescer, certamente, mas as características fundamentais de cada uma continuam sempre inalteradas: Hugh é o homem reto e honesto, cuja vida está repleta de adversidades, quer nos negócios quer no amor; e claro, é um génio banqueiro. Edward é o indolente, o permissivo, aquele a quem tudo lhe é dado em virtude do seu nascimento e que, no fim, toma decisões desastrosas. Micky é o encantador de serpentes, sedutor e manipulador. E temos Augusta, também manipuladora, que apenas se interessa em avançar a causa do filho, cega aos seus defeitos e que quer mover-se em círculos cada vez mais elevados. Achei que a sua personagem é algo irrealista porque Augusta não me pareceu burra e, no entanto, apesar de estar casada com um banqueiro e de conviver com banqueiros, não mede as consequências das suas ações no banco.O enredo está cheio de intrigas, segredos, traições e todas essas coisas que fazem uma boa telenovela e lê-se de forma compulsiva.Gostei também de todo o desenvolvimento do mundo. Follett dá-nos informações aprofundadas sobre o sistema financeiro da época, sobre como eram geridas as instituições bancárias, sobre quais eram as leis relativas à finança e sobre o panorama económico da segunda metade do século XIX. E claro, sobre a posição destas famílias, muitas vezes mais ricas do que os próprios nobres, numa sociedade de classes rígidas. Esta foi, para mim, a parte mais interessante do livro.O romance pareceu-me bastante irrealista, o que não me incomodaria tanto se não fosse uma força motriz para a criação de tanto drama para a nossa personagem principal: Hugh Pilaster.No geral, um livro que se lê muito bem mesmo e que é extremamente interessante. Recomendado para quem gosta de ficção histórica.
What do You think about A Dangerous Fortune (1994)?
Things you can count on in a Follett book:A strong male protagonist who everyone else is determined to make fail.A strong female protagonist who acts in ways women of their time period just do not act, and doesn't give a damn about what others think of her. One of the above parties either rises from their low station or falls from their high station. A nasty villain who does nothing, but bad and surrounds himself with powerful people who he manipulates to get what he wants and to cover his bad deeds. He is rewarded handsomely for his bad deeds. A meddling relative or in-law of the male protagonist who aligns herself with the villain to destroy him. A gay couple who are in the closet about their secret. Most everyone knows of their secret, and don't care about their preference, but use it against them to manipulate and control their decisions to suit the villains. A few illegitimate children or two that are spawned from true love, but whose parents can't be together because of the plotting of the villainous relatives. Men who pretend to be gentlemen, but go whoring around at night and look down upon the women they use for their gratification. Too much description of the scenes described above. In his writing Follett tends to repeat character descriptions that he already described in previous chapters. Usually this is done from the point of view of different characters throughout the novel. Either way, it gets annoying. I don't need to be reminded that so and so is from such and such town and has freckled arms four or five times. Follett definitely does his historical research. His descriptions of the era he writes about are so vivid and a main reason why his books are so engrossing. All in all I like Ken Follett and have read many of his books. Even though they follow the same plot pattern described above, I will continue to read them. However, I don't think any of the ones I read from now on will come as close to being as well written as Pillars. Maybe this is because that was my first Follett novel?
—Shauna
***Attention! This review contains spoilers. So, don't read it unless you finished the book***This book, what to say about this book? I absolutely love all Ken Follett’s book, he is genius. Dangerous Fortune is not typical Follett’s book, set in 19th century , story follows the fortunes of famous and rich family Pilaster. At the beginning I thought it will be criminal book or something like that, I didn’t expect so much drama, romance and malice (all in good way).First, my favorite character was Micky, I love that kind of smart and astute guys who knows how to care to themselves and passion between him and Augusta was really interesting. Unfortunately Micky showed that he was enormous evil, but at some way I was really sad when Augusta killed him.Hugh is good character, I love that he is so careful to others and he loves Maisie for so long. They are meant to be together.After reading Follett’s books I’m always so sad and want more. I give this book 5 stars because it has everything that book should have in one place and I really enjoy reading it. Way to go Follett
—Petra
A Dangerous Fortune is my third Ken Follett book, after Fall of Giants and Hornet Flight and I have to say after Fortune, he is fast becoming a favourite author of mine. This book was a tremendous read and one that had me hooked and longing to return to its pages to find out what would happen next.Set in the 19th century, the story spans the decades between the 1860s and 1890s and follows the fortunes of the powerful Pilaster family following the death of a student one summer at a swimming hole near the prestigious Windfield School attended by two Pilaster boys - cousins. The death at the swimming hole set off a chain of events that drove shady alliances, unsavoury deals, intrigue and desperate acts in the name of preserving position and wealth. The Pilasters own Pilasters Bank and are pivotal and powerful in the London society of the time. Our central character is the family 'black sheep' Hugh, son of a Pilaster who went bankrupt and committed suicide. He suffers from the scheming carried out by his Aunt Augusta in favour of her son Edward and the potential benefits to be gained for her branch of the family, its power and position in society.Follett has created an impressive cast of characters, set within a richly painted picture of Victorian England - a scene of privilege, position, power and wealth juxtaposed with the decadence of the rich at play amongst the poverty and depravity of the underclass. The characters were so engaging, both good and bad, I found myself rooting for the 'good guys' and hoping for justice to prevail as I read. It was also interesting drawing parallels with the current day and the global financial crisis. It's remarkable how little has changed in 150 years and how little we've learnt when it comes to financial probity. A Dangerous Fortune is a strong and timely reminder of the tenuous nature of the wealth and comforts of life and how quickly it can all disappear, often through no fault of your own. I highly recommend A Dangerous Fortune. For me it has everything - murder, intrigue, romance, sex, personal vendettas, revenge, gentlemen's clubs and top hats!
—Gee
