Circle of Days by Ken Follett

With nearly 200 million copies sold across all his books, one could forgive Ken Follett for resting on his laurels; however, once again, he delivers an entertaining and enthralling read. Once again, he brings history alive.

Circle of Days is both a historical masterpiece and family saga set around 2500 BC that focuses on the construction of Stonehenge. The story revolves around the ambitious vision to replace a wooden monument with a permanent stone structure, focusing on the challenges of engineering and construction in an era without advanced tools.

We are introduced to the gifted craftsman Seft, as he walks the Great Plain with his father and two brothers to trade the flint that they mine at the Midsummer Rite. He also hopes to see Neen again, the girl he loves. Her family lives in prosperity and offers a life away from his bullying brothers and father.

Neen’s sister Joia is an ambitious priestess who has a vision of a miraculous new monument of a great stone circle constructed from the biggest stones in the world.

The book also explores the interactions and conflicts among the many tribes who share the Great Plain, including the herders, farmers, and woodlanders.

As with nearly all his books, this is another mammoth effort, but it never gets boring or bogged down and is a delight to be immersed in. There is a mix of drama, action, adventure and romance that unfolds as we are provided a truly insightful look into how the world once was.

Reviewer: Chris Casey

Hachette