#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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I loved this book and went on to read the whole series.
This is my favorite book of all time!
It’s my favorite book of all time.
Must read series.
Love Follett. This was my first book of his I read. Excellent on all parts. It’s a long book but fell in love with the characters.
Extraordinary storytelling!
A wonderfully epic piece of historic fiction. How could a book about the building of a cathedral be riveting, you ask? Just you wait and see. Couldn’t put this book down and the surprise twists never stopped coming, right through all thousand-plus pages.
I was already in love with medieval cathedrals. Never knew the men and women who built them could be so brilliant, inspirational and, yes, romantic. Great writing and the audiobook narrator is terrific too.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It is so well researched and gripping. Don’t pick it up later in the evening. I made that mistake and was still reading when my alarm went off.
Pillars of earth is a fantastic book, loved every minute of it.
A one in a million story, still one of my all time favorites! Anyone with a curiosity about how the spectacular cathedrals of Europe were built will enjoy this massive story. Wonderful characters with emotional stories you must follow to the very end. I would read it again, and recommend it over and over.
Great book. The series is incredible. great writer, keeps you engaged. Love h iui s work.
One of the most engaging books I have read in the past decade.
It took a long time to read this on audio tap but have found a profound appreciation for the masonry of early UK. I hope now to spend some time there to learn more.
An amazing epic, with plenty of history woven into a series of characters living in a fictional town in 12th century England.
I enjoyed the history as it unfolded, although some parts were pretty brutal.
One of my most favorite books of my life! I didn’t want it to end, even though it was over 1,000 pages.
Ken Follett writes the best historical fiction of anyone in the business. In this book he makes the middles ages come alive. A long book that you wish would not end. Fortunately he has written sequel and prequel to continue the enjoyment. Outstanding!
The development of the characters, the plot and subplots weaved expertly, the stories believable…yes, I would recommend any of the Cadfael books, this one in particular.
Again, read years ago. Very long book and very interesting