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    When the English Fall: A Novel
    When the English Fall: A Novel
    When the English Fall: A Novel
    Audiobook5 hours

    When the English Fall: A Novel

    Written by David Williams

    Narrated by Eric Michael Summerer

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    When a catastrophic solar storm brings about the collapse of modern civilization, an Amish community in Pennsylvania is caught up in the devastating aftermath. Once-bright skies are now dark. Planes have plummeted to the ground. The systems of modern life have crumbled. With their stocked larders and stores of supplies, the Amish are unaffected at first. But as the English (the Amish name for all non-Amish people) become more and more desperate, they begin to invade Amish farms, taking whatever they want and unleashing unthinkable violence on the peaceable community.

    Seen through the diary of an Amish farmer named Jacob as he tries to protect his family and his way of life, When the English Fall examines the idea of peace in the face of deadly chaos: Should members of a nonviolent society defy their beliefs and take up arms to defend themselves? And if they don't, can they survive?
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHighbridge Company
    Release dateJul 11, 2017
    ISBN9781681685250
    When the English Fall: A Novel
    Author

    David Williams

    David Williams was a writer best known for his crime-novel series featuring the banker Mark Treasure and police inspector DI Parry. After serving as Naval Officer in the Second World War, Williams completed a History degree at St Johns College, Oxford before embarking on a career in advertising. He became a full-time fiction writer in 1978. Williams wrote twenty-three novels, seventeen of which were part of the Mark Treasure series of whodunnits which began with Unholy Writ (1976). His experience in both the Anglican Church and the advertising world informed and inspired his work throughout his career. Two of Williams' books were shortlisted for the Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger Award, and in 1988 he was elected to the Detection Club.

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    Reviews for When the English Fall

    4/5

    134 ratings20 reviews

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    • 5/5
      The author has painted the most perfect images of this story in my mind, and imprinted it there for many years to come.
    • 5/5
      "That is part of the greatest danger to our souls, a pride that can come when we set ourselves apart to be servants, but then assume that our servanthood makes us better" (Page 167).

      What happens to Amish when the world of The English doesn't hold?
      As people discover that all their modern day conveniences and luxuries stop working, they seek out the help of the Amish, with devastating consequences for both societies. This debut novel is as much a meditation on the ways of Amish & the past it is a reflection of today's world and possible future.
    • 4/5
      4.5 stars. Spare, moving, and suffused with unexpected bursts of beauty in the midst of a fallen world. I wish Jacob and his family well.
    • 4/5
      This is a good read, compelling in its description of Amish community life and how one lives day to day embracing Christ's teachings against pride and violence, even in self-defense. As an atheist, this was outside my "comfort zone" but I had no trouble empathizing with Jacob and his family as they endure a catastrophe that puts all of humanity in the pre-electric age.
    • 4/5
      Something Happens – it’s not described much beyond that – that knocks out all forms of electricity, burns out motors, knocks out communication etc.This focuses on a Mennonite colony a day or two’s walk from a big city. As the Mennonites are very self-sufficient and use very little technology, they are in a much better position than the non-Mennonites whom they call the English. They have been careful to store every bit of what they have grown over the years, and have an abundance of home canned food, animals for meat, and simple methods of harvesting their crops. The Mennonites are happy to help, giving generously to food drives for the city, and taking in a few friends that they can teach to help with farm work.But as food stocks run out, there are more and more desperate refugees violently attacking the Mennonites for their stores. The refugees are willing to kill; the Mennonites eschew violence of any kind and would rather stand quietly to be killed with their entire family rather than fight back.A choice must be made.I thought the premise of this book was very interesting. My only disappointment was that it ended so soon after the Event – about six weeks I think, just as the flow of violent, desperate refugees was truly beginning. I wonder if the author envisioned this as the first part of a series. I would really like to know what happens next.
    • 5/5
      "English" in the title refers to anyone who is not Amish. In this dystopian novel, a solar storm disrupts civilization in the same way it often does in novels of this genre. What is different is that our narrator is Amish, lives in an Amish farming community that unlike the English, doesn't rely on those things that have been lost. The Amish have food put by, the knowledge to produce more and their power is primarily provided by men or animals. Our narrator tells us with despair, fortitude and sympathy what happens to them when desperation in the form of English city dwellers comes into their lives.Well written with a very sympathetic narrator, When the English Fall is an entertaining and thoughtful novel. I don't read many dystopian books, but I'm glad I read this one.
    • 4/5
      This is a different take on the postapocalyptic novel. It is told from the point of view of an Amish farmer just after a solar storm knocks out almost all technology, reducing the world to a preindustrial state. Written as diary entries, this was slow-moving and introspective, and I found it to be really a meditation on our dependence on technology and whether this is how we are meant to live life. I did not think the framing device (which didn't really frame, since the author never returned to it) was necessary, but that's a small quibble.
    • 5/5
      What would happen if something catastrophic knocked out the power grid and caused even vehicles and farm equipment to fail? An Amish farmer's daughter seemed to know the English would fall. Told through the farmer's diary, readers see life day by day as his daughter predicts the catastrophe, as the catastrophe unfolds, and as the crisis worsens. I am not a fan of science fiction or dystopian literature, but I loved this book! I listened to the audio book narrated by Eric Michael Summerer whose voice was a perfect fit for the character. While the ending left the reader with all sorts of questions, it was the perfect place to end the story, encouraging the reader to ponder not only the events of the book, but also the events yet to come. This book will probably be among my top reads of the year, and perhaps my favorite.
    • 4/5
      How does a cataclysmic event (in this instance, a solar storm, bringing about an end-of-the-world type scenario) affect an Amish community in Pennsylvania? That's basically the idea behind this novel. Jacob, an Amish man, both a husband and father, writes his thoughts down in a diary. When chaos begins to reign in the "outside" world (whose inhabitants are also know as "the English") and martial law takes effect, what happens to the close-knit Amish, when people begin to invade their community with guns, demanding food & shelter?This was a book club pick, and I was previously unfamiliar with both this author & title. But I was very pleasantly surprised by this one. Though it would be considered a dystopian novel, it's not exactly a typical example of a book from this genre and is written from a unique perspective. It was well written, and in this instance, I thought the diary entries were effective, especially listening as I did on audio. I'm somewhat surprised this novel hasn't received more hype, as I think it's deserving of it. Recommended!
    • 3/5
      I live near a few Amish communities, so the idea of an end-of-the-world dystopian novel set from their point of view caught my interest. And this book was definitely interesting - sort of like a book about the end of our own society told from someone not directly involved in that society. However, I didn't really like the ending - the story felt very unresolved to me and I actually flipped back through the last few pages of the book, certain I had missed something. Read this if you'd like an original post-apocalyptic novel told from a new perspective, but not if you like your plots to neatly resolve.
    • 5/5
      Life for Jacob and his family is steady and predictable within their faithful Amish community. After a solar flare destroys the functionality of most technology, the surrounding English community begins a slow decline towards desperation and starvation. Jacob and his community initially try to provide food for their English neighbors, however, as violence and crime escalate, the pacifist Amish community is forced to make decisions about their own survival in this post-apocalyptic world.This novel is a simply written perspective of Amish life in a post-technological world. When the solar flare stops 21st century life as most know it, the Amish notice little change in their day-to-day life due to their lack of reliance on electricity to survive. However, surrounded by desperation and escalating violence, the Amish way of life is threatened by external forces. With a slowly developing suspense, I greatly enjoyed this unique story, which was one of my favorite reads of 2017, and a great addition to the apocalyptic literature genre.
    • 5/5
      Bookstores are awash in dystopian and post-apocalypse novels, especially in the YA category. "When the English Fall" is a story about the apocalypse, not its aftermath. It is brief, ruminative, a reflection on our reliance on weapons, material things and labor-saving devices. Much of its power comes from Williams' choice of an Amish farmer as his narrator: the book is in the form of about 6 weeks of journal entries by the farmer, also a husband and father. I don't know whether Williams' accurately portrays the Amish, but this short novel moved me and set me thinking.
    • 4/5
      Unlike most dystopian books, this one is pretty mild. The world looses power when a solar flare destroys the grid and leaves most mechanical things unusable. The pace is much slower and lacking in an antagonist until human's baser nature takes over. In spite of that, it left me clearly affected by its message."When the English Fall" is written in the form of a diary. The narrator is a middle aged Amish man. Jacob and his small family lead a hard working, quiet but happy life and are nearly self-sufficient along with their community. The language he uses is simple and straight forward. He writes of his family, their work, his concerns, and his faith. He opens his heart on the page (albeit with a bit of guilt), and I really connected with his honesty.Jacob's teen aged daughter, Sadie, has been experiencing seizures recently, and the whole family is very concerned about her. She seems to have a sense of the disaster to come. She seems almost otherworldly at times.When the solar flare creates havoc for the rest of the world (the English), the lives of the Amish are minimally effected. They have a stock of non-perishable food and the means to harvest their crops. Because of this, they eventually become the center of attention for a world without means to feed itself using modern equipment. Sadly, they see their lives changed by the violent actions of those who find themselves desperate and starving.The real beauty of the book, for me, was the absolute faith and commitment to a non-violent way of life exhibited by the Amish. The "English" world is in complete chaos, but the Amish continue to freely help when they can, even when their lives are threatened.Although I was resigned to the ending, I was hoping that it would wind up different. I think the book gave a very clear look at a group of people who most of us would consider backward and naive. I suspect that like me, many readers might find that there is something to be admired in people who live lives of such faith and integrity. Even in the midst of hardship and loss, they exhibit the ability to peaceably accept what comes.This book is a quick read in spite of it's slow burning plot. It will appeal to those who wish for or appreciate the idea of a simpler life and a faith in something other than man's power and prestige. It speaks of a form of courage that is rarely heralded by the world.I found it to be a timely read with many of the current disasters and thought provoking as to where our world puts it's confidence and our future hope.I thank the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.
    • 3/5
      I was initially excited at the new twist on the dystopian genre, how clever to show things from the eye of the Amish. But I felt the story lacked in momentum and information as it was framed as journal entries by Amish farmer Jacob. Granted, it was the bits of info these isolated people would receive, but that may make it a better book club read to discuss, rather than read alone. I wanted more info about Sadie's possibly prophetic episodes and really wondered about the Army document that began it all.
    • 5/5
      Quite a different sort of dystopian novel, this one told through the journal entries of an Amish man writing in the aftermath of a severe solar storm that knocks out the power grid, &c. Sparely, beautifully written, and a profound exploration of "modern life" and the sort of thing that could easily derail it in a moment.
    • 2/5
      I was looking forward to this book with it’s apocalyptic theme. A solar storm / EMP causes a collapse of society as we know it. Survivalists would be able to hunker down and survive a good long time but face it, most of us would starve or die from lack of necessary medication and sanitation issues if something like this happened.This book tells a story of how the English (non-Amish folk) reacted and how they eventually prey on the Amish community. Amish know how to grow food, store food and rely on the natural elements. When things get desperate people from cities invade the nearby farms.The story is laid out in diary fashion. Jacob writes in his diary everyday and though his writings you get to know his family and way of life. As society disintegrates, at what point do you ditch your values and take up arms to defend your family against looters? In this slow plodding story of only 242 pages I was glad to be done with it. Truth be told, I started skimming through the last few entries I was so bored. The end was a disappointment.Reviews are mostly 5 star and I am in the minority here so…..take that for what it’s worth.
    • 4/5
      There has been speculation that if solar flares or some sort of electro-magnetic pulse could lead to starvation, disease, and societal collapse. If that happens, survival may depend on a group of traditionalist Christian church fellowships commonly referred to as the Amish. Author Williams uses Jacob, head of an Amish family living in Pennsylvania, to look at what chaos may occur, and how a community based on nonviolence may react. Written in plain language without the usual embellishments, this journal of events, speaks to both the worse and the best humans have to offer.
    • 5/5
      A friend lent me her ARC and I devoured this book. The story is told in diary entries covering the late summer and early fall. The narrator's daughter is suffering from seizures and hallucinations. Sadie has always been delicate and has a reputation for foreseeing the future. She becomes suddenly better in mid-September and tells her father that the "angels are coming, but we will be OK." Mid-September brings a solar storm that knocks out the power grid all over the world. The Amish experience a few casualities but since their every-day technology doesn't rely on electricity they are barely affected. The "English" around them though, suffer mightily. Food and gas quickly become scarce. Who has food? The Amish larders are fully stocked and they come vulnerable to desperate English looters.
    • 4/5
      WHEN THE ENGLISH FALL by David WilliamsThis not your usual “end of the world” book. It is a LOT better! An Amish community is well prepared when a solar storm knocks out all machinery worldwide. But the English (anyone not Amish) begin to run out of food and their money becomes worthless, civil society breaks down. The Amish are called to help. When they do, their closed community is affected as never before.Written entirely from the viewpoint of Jacob, an Amish farmer who lives near several large cities, the book explores the challenges and fears of a community that wants to avoid “the English” and their worldly ways. Written with sympathy for both groups and displaying an intimate knowledge of the Amish, the book is a look into the future of a disaster. The one quibble with the book is a weak ending.4 of 5 stars
    • 4/5
      This was a very entertaining book which told of the apocalypse from an Amish view. The "English" are people who do not follow the Amish order. It dealt a lot with the Amish order and only mentioned what was going on with the "English". Written from Jacob's diaries, the story tells of Jacob's daughter having "spells" and repeating the phrase "The English are Falling". Suddenly, his daughter gets better, but doesn't stop talking about when "The English are Falling". When one night Jacob and his daughter are watching the skies and a plane drops out of the air, crashing miles away, his daughter says "And now it has begun". Cars stop on the road, the lights of Lancaster are not burning anymore and everywhere is eerie and pitch black.The story tells of how the Amish are sending food and supplies to the local city and others things that the Amish do to help their fellow mankind. All is well until everyone finds out that this phenomenon is not going to be solved in a few days, it's here to stay.The was a very entertaining debut by David Williams and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. The ending led me to believe that there is more coming in this series, however, I could be wrong.Thanks to Algonquin Books and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.