#1 New York Times BestsellerOprah’s Book Club SelectionThe “extraordinary . . . monumental masterpiece” (Booklist) that changed the course of Ken Follett’s already phenomenal career. Look out for Ken’s newest book, A Column of Fire, available now.“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 … 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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Informed the reader how much detail went into creating buildings in medieval times and also how politics affected everything. Also makes you aware of the power of the church and religion.
An epic! One of my favorite books of all time.
A classic.
Good cast of characters, real good versus evil. Not for people offended by sexual scenes.
My all-time favorite book. Great story, great writing, and nice and long.
One of my favorite of all time books.
This entire series is a fabulous, informative journey.
I love historical fiction and this was excellent.
Great story about the intricacies of the lives of those who spent their lifetime building cathedrals. An informative look at the lifestyle of the times.
Historical!
Better than the best history class ever.
One of the best novels I’ve ever read. An absolute favorite — I’ve read it twice!
Well developed novel with great characters
Admittedly, I’m a huge fan of Ken Follett, I’ve read most of his books but the Trilogy is definitely my favorite! The way Follett molds his characters, you get to know them and just want to follow their lives. He also places you firmly in that time period, his descriptions are vivid, real.
Still my favorite book.
I literally did not want to put this book down.
Pillars of the Earth gives you an understanding of life during the early middle ages and the organization of the Catholic Church and its control of the local population. The building of enormous churches, and the poor life and conditions of serfs.
Great story loved all the books!
Ken Follett is brilliant !! I loved this book and will read all his historical novels .. I used to read his murder mysteries but now that I’m older all I want to read is historical fiction. Unbelievable !! This is my favorite book so far and I know he’ll never disappoint .. Who would have thought a book about the building a Cathedral could be so utterly fantastic !! I loved the characters and now that I’ve finished the book I miss them .. Can’t wait to read the 2nd book in the series .. Thanks to Ken Follett for many hours of escape into another century and the people who lived at that time .. I’ll read this book again in the future for sure !!!!
Even after reading this book more than 25 years ago, it still ranks among my top 10 favorite books of all time.