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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"This book is a wade, but a wonderful wade if you enjoy English History. Revolving around the building of a cathedral, it vividly portrays what life was like in the days of King Stephen. I must warn the potential reader, there is much brutality here, but it is counterbalanced by people for whom love is a vocation. It is a world very different from out own, where success has a very different meaning, but family, is still family. Within this book, I have met people whom I shall never forget. That is the true sign of great writing."
— Rob (4 out of 5 stars)
" One of the greatest sagas I've read, fantastic and captivating characters !! "
— Chefalan30, 2/19/2014" A wonderfully book, read it in two days. That was a great two days... "
— Zarus, 2/9/2014" A bit longer than I would like, I enjoyed most of it but the narrative provides little surprises and impact. "
— Carlos, 2/4/2014" Really enjoyed the book!! The tv series, not so much. "
— Jaime, 2/4/2014" Not as good as Rutherford's historic novels, but definitely a good read. And better than vol. #2. "
— Daryl, 2/3/2014" Gritty realism it all seems so unfair! "
— Mervyn, 1/31/2014" This was a re-read as I was given World Without End and wanted to ensure that I wasn't missing anything. I enjoy Ken Follett although find his writing repetitive at times - likely wants to make certain that we remember the plot line as convoluted as it can be! Thoroughly enjoyed the concept of building the cathedral as the central focus for a historical rendition of life in the 1100's. "
— Dorothy, 1/24/2014" Love this book, could not put it down either. Long, but great to read!!! "
— Monica, 1/20/2014" One of my favorite books of all time. Didn't want it to end. "
— Lissettegomezarevalo, 1/13/2014Ken 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.