Joanna
š§ Audiobook
If you love ancient history, this should be on your to read list. I felt echos of Jean M. Auelās Earth Children series, along with Follettās trademark sweeping generational epic with a strong sense of place.
As with most Follett books, it took a while to warm up through slow setting of the scene and characters, but gains its pace around 40% in. It is a quiet, slow-burn which reflects the period well (stress was not a word in Neolithic England). Not much actually happens though - even the building of Stonehenge isnāt really central to the story. Itās more a prehistoric slice of life, which can get a little dull. I think if I had read the book, rather than listened to the audiobook which was skilfully narrated by Richard Armitage, I may have gotten bored at times. But Iām also appreciative of a more meditative story these days, so it suited my mood.
I appreciate Follettās refreshingly sexuality-inclusive take on prehistory, and the subject of gender equality that Follett delved into, particularly the way he tackled the issue of women as property throughout the story. This was well done and something I donāt think Iāve ever encountered by a male author in historical fiction.
This is fiction, so of course there were a few modern sensibilities thrown in (such as men knowing their biological role in making babies, or it being taboo for older men to want to have sex with young women (though it still doesnāt seem to register in mainstream 2026 that this is an issue)). But these were pretty minimal.
I did feel the story could have benefited from more detail to the spirituality, ruling nature of environmental forces, and relationships with nature and animals, since these would all have been primary forces in peoplesā lives at the time.
Overall, an enjoyable slow-burn read, but not Follettās best.
āā
5/5 for narration by Richard Armitage. Armitage has such a lovely voice to listen to. His narration draws you in, he paces his speaking really well, and does an amazing job bringing the characters to life.
š§ Audiobook
If you love ancient history, this should be on your to read list. I felt echos of Jean M. Auelās Earth Children series, along with Follettās trademark sweeping generational epic with a strong sense of place.
As with most Follett books, it took a while to warm up through slow setting of the scene and characters, but gains its pace around 40% in. It is a quiet, slow-burn which reflects the period well (stress was not a word in Neolithic England). Not much actually happens though - even the building of Stonehenge isnāt really central to the story. Itās more a prehistoric slice of life, which can get a little dull. I think if I had read the book, rather than listened to the audiobook which was skilfully narrated by Richard Armitage, I may have gotten bored at times. But Iām also appreciative of a more meditative story these days, so it suited my mood.
I appreciate Follettās refreshingly sexuality-inclusive take on prehistory, and the subject of gender equality that Follett delved into, particularly the way he tackled the issue of women as property throughout the story. This was well done and something I donāt think Iāve ever encountered by a male author in historical fiction.
This is fiction, so of course there were a few modern sensibilities thrown in (such as men knowing their biological role in making babies, or it being taboo for older men to want to have sex with young women (though it still doesnāt seem to register in mainstream 2026 that this is an issue)). But these were pretty minimal.
I did feel the story could have benefited from more detail to the spirituality, ruling nature of environmental forces, and relationships with nature and animals, since these would all have been primary forces in peoplesā lives at the time.
Overall, an enjoyable slow-burn read, but not Follettās best.
āā
5/5 for narration by Richard Armitage. Armitage has such a lovely voice to listen to. His narration draws you in, he paces his speaking really well, and does an amazing job bringing the characters to life.