A Place Called Freedom

Ken Follett seems to have dialed in plots, characters and locale to come up with an epic tale of 18th century Scottish, English and finally, the American struggles of slaves and indentured servants. The book grabs your attention right away. Mack McAsh (everyone loves an underdog) is determined to escape the inhumane drudgery and servitude of the coal mines. Lizzie Hallim (everyone loves a spirited, beautiful young woman that says what’s on her mind and is a crack shot). Jay Jamisson (everyone loves a rich young man who gets the stiff from his fat, rich, overbearing father). With these and an assortment of very rich as well as very poor supporting characters, Follett has produced another historical gem.The book doesn’t go in the direction the reader is initially led. There are some surprises along the way, a shock or two, and a satisfying, if not entirely accurate, conclusion.Follett excels at adventure, and his writing zooms the reader through action scenes. Even when the pace bogs down a bit with historical details, you are quickly thrust into a new direction with more action. I am sure there will be some grumbling about the sex scenes, which were more explicit than I had expected. However, I wasn’t put off by them.By and by, Follett’s offering is a fun and enjoyable adventure. With the exception of a few items, what’s not to like?Spoilers aheadMack seemed to have little remorse that his fellow strikers that were arrested with him in London were hanged. This is not consistent with his character. Also, I doubt that the protagonists would have had much luck digging a grave deep in the Appalachian forest of the 18th century with only a “spade from their kit”. They would had been lucky to dig deep enough through the tangled root systems to get a body underground at all, much less expending the effort needed to bury a person that was so cruel to them. Lastly, it is highly doubtful that Peg would have fell for an Indian brave, taking into account her English proclivities and the early Native American’s role for women in the tribe. Most likely all the survivors in this tale will fall prey to a violent death in the near future, but that is beyond the scope of the story.

Ken Follett’s skill for delivering historically accurate fiction is unparalleled. In A Place Called Freedom he enters into the world of colonial America (and England) with cool aplomb and keeps you enthralled with his delivery of details. I can’t give it five stars though because from a storytelling point of view, it is very good but not great. Certainly not like his previous efforts especially those involving the building of cathedrals. However, I wouldn’t let that be a detriment to picking this one up and going for a journey across the seas.

A Place Called Freedom really personalized the beyond-our-imagination courage it took for the frontiers men and frontiers women who rode our country westbound and made it ultimately liveable and wonderful for the rest of us. Mr. Follett showed me one riveting set of characters and dire circumstances with accurate historical facts to have branded on me what it took for one European couple to immigrate here - yes...bravo immigrants...for we all are minus the Native American - and establish a home. Lizzie, a high born beauty, and Mack, an inspiringly honest and brave coal miner cross paths and ultimately find their way to America before the Revolution. The mining is depicted marvellously. The high born's entitlement as well. His fight for the right to be given honest money for an honest day's work and her right to be allowed to be independent as a women in a severely restrictive and oppressive male culture is an evolving sight to behold in this book. What fascinated me besides the varied and torturous circumstances which could bring anyone here to America - as slaves, as convicts, as those seeking property or religious freedom - was how much I just like who the author peopled this book with. Lizzie was as loveable as she could be a willful brat. Her essence beyond her independence was her open-mindedness. Mack's rebellious insistence on his freedom was often juxtaposed with an idealistic and honorable belief in right and wrong. And they both believed in the meaningful compact of precious, true and equal rights within the chalice of love and romance. Lastly, here's one nobody openly mentions but it always has a huge covert impact. Follett's depictions of sexuality was spot on, minus a lot of artifact and oh so loving. Thank you for that. That cemented my fiver on this book. Read it and weep. Read it and grimace. Read it and be overjoyed at the raw, strong and righteous personalities here. Just read it!!!

This was the first book by Ken Follett that I have read, and I found it to be well-written with believable characters and plot that just kept me turning the (Kindle) pages.The period in history where the story unfolds is one of my favourite and this will rank as one of my favourite tales of that era. I shall certainly be trying some of the author’s other titlesWell worth a read

Ottima edizione con copertina flessibile. Altezza del carattere perfetta

Ameno y entretenido

Combining fiction with historical events KF continues to raise the bar in writing novels. This time he explores slavery and the high cost to obtain freedom.

L’éloge de Ken Follett n’est plus à faire. C’est un « best seller » qui ne déçoit jamais. Ce livre-ci est, comme tous ceux qu’écrit cet auteur, parfaitement documenté et tient en haleine du début jusqu’à la fin. Par moment, le suspens est presque intenable et l’on souffre avec ses personnages et l’on tremble pour eux. Encore une énorme réussite de Ken Follett.