When the English Fall: Review
When the English Fall by David Williams recounts the fall of our tech-centric society in the aftermath of a major natural event. There are other tales with a similar apocalyptic trigger, like Auroroa. Here, the twist is that it is recounted from the perspective of an Amish farmer. After the event destroys most electronics, the Amish (who rely largely on hand tools and simple machines they have crafted themselves to maintain their self-sufficient farming lifestyle) are uniquely positioned to survive largely without impact. However, with the non-Amish ("English" in their vernacular), rapidly running out of food and turning to violence, the protagonist, his family, and his community must decide if they can continue to live their lives following the same principles of isolation and non-violence that have served them well for generations.
I found this novel quite the page-turner. As I watched the remaining page count dwindle, I could tell this was going to be one of those great books where I didn't want the story to end when it did. It is gripping, compelling, and will have you invested from the earliest chapters.
Rating:
- Recommend? Yes
- Buy as a gift? Yes
Last modified on 22 Oct 2025 by AO
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