#1 New York Times BestsellerIn 1989, Ken Follett astonished the literary world with The Pillars of the Earth, a sweeping epic novel set in twelfth-century England centered on the building of a cathedral and many of the hundreds of lives it affected. World Without End is its equally irresistible sequel—set two hundred years after The Pillars of the Earth and three hundred years after the … of the Earth and three hundred years after the Kingsbridge prequel, The Evening and the Morning.
World Without End takes place in the same town of Kingsbridge, two centuries after the townspeople finished building the exquisite Gothic cathedral that was at the heart of The Pillars of the Earth. The cathedral and the priory are again at the center of a web of love and hate, greed and pride, ambition and revenge, but this sequel stands on its own. This time the men and women of an extraordinary cast of characters find themselves at a crossroads of new ideas—about medicine, commerce, architecture, and justice. In a world where proponents of the old ways fiercely battle those with progressive minds, the intrigue and tension quickly reach a boiling point against the devastating backdrop of the greatest natural disaster ever to strike the human race—the Black Death.
Three years in the writing and nearly eighteen years since its predecessor, World Without End is a “well-researched, beautifully detailed portrait of the late Middle Ages” (The Washington Post) that once again shows that Ken Follett is a masterful author writing at the top of his craft.
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Awesome as part of Follet’s trilogy. I recommend all three books in this series to those who love the history of Europe and England and the building of the massive cathedrals there. Fascinating look at what life was like during the time!
I really enjoyed reading it. It is long and he loves words so it’s longer than a weekend read. Unless you’re on your own all weekend!
I found this story filled with adventure. I was intrigued by the insights into engineering and medical practices of the time
One of the best books I’ve ever read. Ken Follet is so talented.
I love all of the books in this Ken Follett series: Pillars of the Earth, Column of Fire, World Without End. They paint a realistic picture of what life was probably like in medieval times.
This is a classic story than expands generations.
Love the Ken Follett historical novels!
Love of of Follets books
This is the first Ken Follett book I have ever read. I was delighted with it and will soon start on the third book in the series. (Reading “Hornet Slight” right now. It’s good, but I think I prefer the epic historical books).
There are writers and then there are authors . Follet is the best of both .
Hard to put down. Love the history woven in
Loved it. A wonderful history lesson!
Good story and characters. Came alive
wonderful!!!
Good sequel to previous book.
It was okay but no where near as as Pillars of the earth
Ken Follett can tell a story. This is one of his greatest. The series is exceptional and the characters, both good and bad, are completely believable. I met people that inspired me or pissed me off! You are drawn into the times that they lived and the suffering of that age. I wish that I was just starting the book again…it was that good and more.
A sequel to my favorite book, Pillars of the Earth. Also set in my favorite period in history, the Middle Ages, it brings the reader into the midst of that world. Cathedrals and castles, wicked bishops and tragedy, romance and twisted characters abound.
This novel makes the Middle Ages so interesting and real. The details of daily life from the workers to the land owners to the clergy create a real world that modern readers can relate to. The characters become life-like with complicated situations requiring endurance, courage, wit, and problem solving. This was a great book with sufficient details to create a movie-like experience.
This book continues the story of “Pillars of the Earth” only two centuries later.A wonderful historic novel with memorable characters.