#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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One of my all time favorites!
A book I will remember forever. English serfs and African slaves . A excellent book for all to read
I love Follet and I tell people that he’s my favorite author but this series is my least favorite. For some reason I couldn’t identify with the characters.
This story about building a cathedral is amazing and inspiring. The men who begin the gigantic undertaking have no illusions about living to see it finished. Still, they pour their entire lives into the venture. The writing is excellent; the medieval world is realistic, the characters are engaging, and the building process is meticulously documented.
Made me lose sleep sometimes! Can be very brutal in places. …. But a wonderful read.
One of my all time favorites.
Best book I ever read.
Great recreation of Europein the XII century!! Vividly described!
Historic as much of Follett’s work; illuminates the multi-lifetime endeavor in 1100s to dream, envision and actually build a cathedral. Intertwined with lives of shameless greedy ambitious bishops, institutionalized fear and abuse of women, utter disregard for the poor, theft of talent; the growing agreement of “divine right of kings;” would have earned 5 stars if not for being a downright slog in several parts. Despite that, a must read for anyone interested in the period.
The only reason for my not rating this book as 5 stars is the amount of mayhem, which I realize probably depicts the way it actually was back in the 12th century. The characters are engaging whether the heroes or the villains. The process of building a cathedral was interesting to me, reminiscent of a recent Nova program on the structure of the Byzantine Hagia Sophia.
This has to be my favorite book of all time. The plot is intricate, but still not so complex that it’s hard to follow. Characters are so beautifully developed, and the “bad guy” is so VERY bad! I have read it numerous times because I love it so much. I have also read the next two books in the series, but they can’t begin to touch the quality of this one. This is a must read for anyone who enjoys historical fiction; it’s the best!
I read this a long time ago. Probably when it first came out. At that time, I lost it half-way through reading then didn’t find it for a year or so. I finished it, but obviously, I didn’t enjoy it as much. I then re-read it about ten years later and really enjoyed it that time. I found the depiction of life during that time period fascinating and learned a bit about building. I had no idea how long it took to build a church back then. Incredible!
Not bad but repetitive
A favorite of mine and my husband’s for many years. It is at the top of both of our favorites.
This book has been out for some time, but it is the first of a series called Kingsbridge. Those of you who are hooked on Game of Thrones will enjoy the read.
This book is marvelous historical fiction. It takes place in Medieval times and is a wonderful story.
One of my favorite books of all time!
How did that gorgeous cathedral get built and who were the people who were doing it? Follett never disappoints.
Clumsy. Can’t recommend it.
One of these books I’ve read. Quite a surprise from Follett when it first came out, very long but so worth it!