If you liked the Century Trilogy, you’ll love the “extraordinary . . . monumental masterpiece.”—Booklist, that changed the course of Ken Follett’s already phenomenal career. “Follett risks all and comes out a clear winner,” extolled Publishers Weekly on the release of The Pillars of the Earth. A departure for the bestselling thriller writer, the historical epic stunned readers and critics alike with its ambitious scope and gripping humanity. Today, it stands as a testament to Follett’s unassailable command of the written word and to his universal appeal. The Pillars of the Earth tells the story of Philip, prior of Kingsbridge, a devout and resourceful monk driven to build the greatest Gothic cathedral the world has known . . . of Tom, the mason who becomes his architect—a man divided in his soul . . . of the beautiful, elusive Lady Aliena, haunted by a secret shame . . . and of a struggle between good and evil that will turn church against state, and brother against brother. A spellbinding epic tale of ambition, anarchy, and absolute power set against the sprawling medieval canvas of twelfth-century England, this is Ken Follett’s historical masterpiece.
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"For such a large read, it kept me anticipating every page. Lots of characters with EXCELLENT character development. Lastly, Pillars was a great method of learning a little about cathedral construction and design, as well as the politics and struggles between church and the throne during the period." — Lacorota (5 out of 5 stars)
"For such a large read, it kept me anticipating every page. Lots of characters with EXCELLENT character development. Lastly, Pillars was a great method of learning a little about cathedral construction and design, as well as the politics and struggles between church and the throne during the period."
“Fast-paced, engaging—an enjoyable historical thriller, well told.”
“A towering tale…a ripping read…there’s murder, arson, treachery, torture, love, and lust.”
“Wonderful…will hold you, fascinate you, surround you.”
“Enormous and brilliant...A great epic tale.”
“Follett has written a novel that entertains, instructs, and satisfies on a grand scale.”
“Arguably the best work of an author known for spy thrillers, this is historical fiction at its finest...Follett’s poignant characters blossom with Lee’s reading...After forty-one hours of listening, readers will yearn for more.
“An extraordinary epic…a monumental masterpiece…A towering triumph from a major talent.”
“[Full of] historical detail...This will appeal...to lovers of exciting adventure stories.”
" What a great story that covers many years and twists and turns to the plot. John Lee is amazing as the narrator: he has a separate voice for each character so you never get confused as to who's talking. Brilliant! "
" John Lee's narration is excellent and engaging. The story is remarkable and really gets your attention and keeps it throughout. Lots of characters, but not too many, with a good balance of each story line involved in the weaving of the plot. "
" Very long story but it held my interest. Enjoyed learning about the architectural descriptions related to building those beautiful cathedrals and churches in those days. Reminded my of my travels to England and France and how I marveled at the architecture. "
" Great story, though the a bit tedious towards the end with the same characters going after each other....AGAIN. "
" I loved this book. While it is long it held my attention the whole way through. I'd definitely recommend it. "
" I love this book so much I have read it almost a dozen times. I will read it again. "
" This book grabbed me & did not let go! "
" Excellent Book!!! Could not put it down, didn't care that it was over 1000pgs the story drew me in! "
" A very long book that's an easy read, but many interesting stories along the way. Again, I'm a big fan of stories from the Middle Ages, so this is right up my ally. "
" OMG. What a wonderful experience. "
" It's a page turner. It's entertaining and has some interesting insights when it comes to leadership and political wrangling, but it is a bit of a mindless read and very predictable. "
" Great read. It's hard to believe that a 900 page book could be such an easy read, though I'm a sucker for historical English fiction "
" Exhaustingly long, but mostly entertaining. "
" Was an assigned reading while in graduate school. LOVED IT! "
" One of the best books I have ever read. "
" I could not put this book down. A good read indeed "
" Big, thick book. "
" for someone who likes gothic architecture "
" I read this twice. It was that good. "
" I story is wonderful and the characters are all interesting through all their goodness and faults. Terrific book. "
" This was one of my all time favorite books!!! 5 stars!!! "
" I loved this book!!!!!!!! "
" Pillars of the Earth is the best novel I've ever read. The depth of the characters made this story great. "
" I may not be a good person to follow on a book tour, but this and its successor were really good. "
" Favorite book I have read yet. Loved it!! "
" THis book is great and so is the mini series! "
" Completely engaging even though it's such a long book. Character development was amazing. "
" Loved it! Another long read, but worth it. "
" Almost as good as Pillars of the Earth, Follett's stories are just irresistible. "
" Though I enjoyed Pillars of the Earth slightly more, I would definitely recommend World Without End to anyone who enjoyed the first novel. It may be long, but it's well worth the read. Many of the characters will stay with me for a long time to come. "
" Excellent book. Ken Follett is a master world builder. "
" Not as great as "Pillars," but still fascinating... "
" I was so looking forward for the sequel to Pillars of the Earth that I asked one of my students to get it for me in his trip to London. I read it in the metro to work in 4 days. It confirmed that his writing compels you to read it till the end, and leaves you wanting more. "
" Unfortunately too similar to Pillars of the Earth. The characters are nearly transplanted, and while the circumstances are different they are quite similar. Still a good book, but if you've read one you've basically read the other "
" Excellent Book!!!! Ken Follett can tell a story!! "
" A must read! Pillars of the Earth was great and World Without End met every expectation. "
" Good story - pretty much similar to Pillars of the Earth "
" Once again, Follett wowed me with his epic work. I especially like the way the lives of his characters intertwine and the detailed descriptions of all facets of life in the 1300's. "
" Although not as gripping as the first one, it is set quite some time later, I still really enjoyed Follett's writing and the saga he presents. What a masterpiece. "
Ken Follett is one of the world’s best-loved authors, selling more than 160 million copies of his thirty books. His first bestseller was Eye of the Needle, an Edgar Award–winning spy story set in the Second World War. In 1989 The Pillars of the Earth was published and has since become the author’s most successful novel. It reached number one on bestseller lists around the world and was an Oprah’s Book Club pick. The series has sold more than fifty million copies worldwide and hitting the New York Times bestsellers list.
Richard E. Grant is a British Swazi actor, screenwriter, and director. A prominent figure on television and film since the 1980s, he achieved international recognition as John Seward in the 1992 blockbuster film Dracula.
John Lee is the winner of numerous Earphones Awards and the prestigious Audie Award for Best Narration. He has twice won acclaim as AudioFile’s Best Voice in Fiction & Classics. He also narrates video games, does voice-over work, and writes plays. He is an accomplished stage actor and has written and coproduced the feature films Breathing Hard and Forfeit. He played Alydon in the 1963–64 Doctor Who serial The Daleks.
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