#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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This is a novel that was destined to be a TV miniseries. Thick with melodrama, many chapters end with a surprise person appearing in a doorway, or, after the arrival of the Black Death, someone sneezing (a sure sign that they had caught the bubonic plague).
Nevertheless, the plot is engrossing and maintains the reader’s interest until the end. The scene is the early 1300’s, 200 years after the setting of Follet’s “The Pillars of the Earth.” Many of the characters are similar to those of four generations earlier, the spunky, feminist-minded heroine, her sensitive, artistic, and talented true love, and the evil villain, who has no ability to feel remorse, guilt, empathy, or mercy for anyone who gets in his way.
As with “The Pillars of the Earth,” a diagram of the town of Kingsbridge would have been helpful, as well as a chart of who’s who among the characters (I found myself making my own chart while reading the first chapters but still had trouble remembering the relationships between so many characters.) There are a lot of cousins involved in the plot line, as well as illegitimate offspring whose true parentage doesn’t come out until later in the book.
Warning: the miniseries that was made from this novel takes many liberties with the plot, completely changing the ending and the relationships (and fates) of many characters. It’s worth watching, to see how the town and infamous bridge were recreated.
Now, this is one of Follett’s great books!
World Without End is a historical wonderful recounting of people lives, occupations, jobs, customs, and buildings. Beautifully written. Characters you love and others you dislike. Enjoyed every page.
I liked this book a lot . I like books that have history but also a story.
want to learn something and his books really deliver
Great book! However it was not as compelling as Pillars of the Earth.
A well researched novel of the times and conditions that existed . Although not his best work it is well worth the read.
Very good read. It’s focused on a period 200 years after the building of the cathedral in Pillars of the Earth…….a time of many changes and how the people accept and adjust to these changes while still holding on to their beliefs and superstitions of the times. Very enjoyable book.
I read this several years ago and it is still rustling around inside my mind. I have the third book in the (sort of) series now and can’t wait to read it.
I loved this book. I am a big fan of Ken Follett. Great historical novel. Read the first page and was hooked. A VERY long book but well worth it.
Historical. The book is fiction but true to historical time and places.
LOve Ken Follett. My favorite is still.. Pillars of the Earth. This book was a great book
Intriguing characters and a plot with twists and turns all wrapped up in fascinating historical picture of building a cathedral in the 12th Century.
I like everything he writes.
I loved this book. Ken Follet is such a great story teller. This book is filled with great characters and interesting storylines. When it came to an end, I felt like I had just lost my friends.
This is one of my favorite books. Pillars of the Earth and this are terrific. couldn’t put either one down
Great story.
My favorite book of all I’ve read.
I’ve read it 2 or 3 times. The best!
I am a medieval history buff and totally enjoyed this well written, well researched epic tale
I’ve read everything Ken Follet has written, I’m always eagerly waiting for his next book! Definitely in my top 5 authors.