The Pillars of the Earth

by Ken Follett

Book Overview

If you liked the Century Trilogy, you ll love the extraordinary . . . monumental masterpiece ( Booklist ) that changed the course of Ken Follett s already phenomenal career. 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 thriller writer, the historical epic stunned readers and critics alike with its ambitious scope and gripping humanity. Today,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451225244
• ISBN13: 9780451225245
• Release Date: November 2007
• Publisher: New American Library
• Length: 973 Pages
• Weight: 2.59 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.8" x 6.0" x 9.1"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

My favorite book..

I have read this book twice and am tempted to read it again. Dont know how he could write such a good book then write such a bad book in "Night over Water."

This book has everything.

I just finished the sequel and am looking forward to finishing a trilogy I will never forget. I only regret that it has to end. These books remind me of James Clavell, shogun and King rat.

One of my favorite books of all time

I cannot express how much I enjoyed this book, and the entire series for that matter. If you are a historical fiction fan, this is top tier reading. Although lengthy; (if I can remember it is over 1000 pages,) the prose is so flowing and easy to follow that you will devour this in a night. The Early Medieval setting can be a difficult timeframe to write about, where most authors end up writing a dry and stuffy story with unlikeable characters, but this book is the exact opposite. You will fall in love with the characters immediately. You will find yourself laughing with them, crying with them and cheering them on. This book feels like you are traveling back in time while reading this masterpiece. I cannot recommend this enough.

Favorite book

I'm an introvert in almost every way. But when I walk past someone in a waiting room who is reading this book, I feel responsible to tell them out loud "my favorite book right there." *shrug* May not seem like a lot, but to me, it's the epitome.

Absolutely spell binding

Just the right amount of suspense, romance, fear, violence, and facts. I have been so captivated with this book, I read it every spare minute I get.

A RIVETING STORY OF LIFE IN TWELFTH CENTURY ENGLAND...

This masterful, well-written saga of life in twelfth century England is epic storytelling at its best. The author weaves a rich and colorful tapestry of people, places, and events surrounding the building of a magnificent cathedral in the medieval town of Kingsbridge. Early twelfth century England was a country in a state of flux. King Henry I had died without a male heir. His daughter Maude was to be queen. The English barons, for the most part, however, refused to swear fealty to her. Maude's first cousin, Stephen of Blois, then usurped her rights and proclaimed himself king. This was to plunge England into a civil war that was to last for many, many years, turning England into a virtually lawless and tumultuous land, until Maude's son became King Henry II of England. For most people, however, life would go on with every day concerns being paramount. The book tells the story of a number of these lives. One story is that of Tom, a master builder, whose life long dream was to build a cathedral. The lives of Tom and his family would intersect that of a humble and intelligent monk named Phillip who would become the prior at Kingsbridge Priory. The fates would intervene and provide Tom with an opportunity to pursue his dream. Their lives would intersect with a number of other individuals, some good, some evil, who would have a great impact on their lives and their goals. Tom would lose his first wife, Agnes, by whom he already had two children, brutish Alfred and sweet Martha, due to complications sustained during the birth of another son. This son was to provide a connection between Tom and Phillip of which Phillip would long be unaware. Tom would ultimately marry Ellen, a strong willed independent woman of the forest, perceived by many to be a witch. Her son Jack, a sensitive, highly intelligent lad, whose father was deceased, would grow to manhood. His dream would begin where Tom's had left off. In Jack's background, however, was a mystery surrounding his deceased father, a French jongleur. That mystery in some way involved Sir Percy Hamleigh, Waleran Bigod, and Prior James, the old prior of Kingsbridge before Phillip. When Earl Bartholomew of Shiring makes the treasonous mistake of siding with Maude in the conflict with Stephen, he ends up on the losing side. Sir Percy Hamleigh and his son William, siding with Stephen, attack the Earl's castle, and take Earl Bartholomew captive. Imprisoned for treason, he loses his earldom to the Hamleighs. His young son and heir, Richard, and his daughter, the beautiful Lady Aliena, are left to fend for themselves, but not until William Hamleigh has slaked his thirst for revenge upon them. You see, William had been engaged at one time to marry the Lady Aliena, only to be spurned by her to his vast public humiliation. This was the moment for which he had been waiting. Aliena and Richard would ultimately migrate to Kingsbridge to begin a new life. Meanwhile, the church itself was having its own politi

Una Obra Maestra

Magistralmente narrado, en una prosa que captura a través de las más de 1,300 páginas, "Los Pilares de la Tierra" es uno de los mejores libros que he leído. Desgarrador en algunos pasajes, inspirador en la mayoría, la historia del Prior Philip y la construcción de la catedral de Kingsbridge es una exquisita vitrina a la vida del hombre común en la oscura Edad Media, cuya problemática en esencia no resulta ser muy diferente de la nuestra: el amor como el valor supremo, el sentido inalienable del deber y la búsqueda incansable por la justicia son los ejes de la narración en "Los Pilares de la Tierra". No se lee la última página sino es con la melancolía de que la historia tenga que terminar. En definitiva, una obra maestra.

A RIVETING STORY OF LIFE IN TWELFTH CENTURY ENGLAND...

This masterful saga of life in twelfth century England is epic storytelling at its best. The author weaves a rich and colorful tapestry of people, places, and events surrounding the building of a magnificent cathedral in the medieval town of Kingsbridge. Early twelfth century England was a country in a state of flux. King Henry I had died without a male heir. His daughter Maude was to be queen. The English barons, for the most part, however, refused to swear fealty to her. Maude's first cousin, Stephen of Blois, then usurped her rights and proclaimed himself king. This was to plunge England into a civil war that was to last for many, many years, turning England into a virtually lawless and tumultuous land, until Maude's son became King Henry II of England. For most people, however, life would go on with every day concerns being paramount. The book tells the story of a number of these lives. One story is that of Tom, a master builder, whose life long dream was to build a cathedral. The lives of Tom and his family would intersect that of a humble and intelligent monk named Phillip who would become the prior at Kingsbridge Priory. The fates would intervene and provide Tom with an opportunity to pursue his dream. Their lives would intersect with a number of other individuals, some good, some evil, who would have a great impact on their lives and their goals. Tom would lose his first wife, Agnes, by whom he already had two children, brutish Alfred and sweet Martha, due to complications sustained during the birth of another son. This son was to provide a connection between Tom and Phillip of which Phillip would long be unaware. Tom would ultimately marry Ellen, a strong willed independent woman of the forest, perceived by many to be a witch. Her son Jack, a sensitive, highly intelligent lad, whose father was deceased, would grow to manhood. His dream would begin where Tom's had left off. In Jack's background, however, was a mystery surrounding his deceased father, a French jongleur. That mystery in some way involved Sir Percy Hamleigh, Waleran Bigod, and Prior James, the old prior of Kingsbridge before Phillip. When Earl Bartholomew of Shiring makes the treasonous mistake of siding with Maude in the conflict with Stephen, he ends up on the losing side. Sir Percy Hamleigh and his son William, siding with Stephen, attack the Earl's castle, and take Earl Bartholomew captive. Imprisoned for treason, he loses his earldom to the Hamleighs. His young son and heir, Richard, and his daughter, the beautiful Lady Aliena, are left to fend for themselves, but not until William Hamleigh has slaked his thirst for revenge upon them. You see, William had been engaged at one time to marry the Lady Aliena, only to be spurned by her to his vast public humiliation. This was the moment for which he had been waiting. Aliena and Richard would ultimately migrate to Kingsbridge to begin a new life. Meanwhile, the church itself was having its own political intrigues. P

Best historical novel I've read in 10 years

I've never been a fan of Follett, and picked this book up with some misgivings - anyone these days can try to do an "historical" novel with some quick sex, some fake archaic new-speak, and a TV-movie-miniseries concept of history. While there are some minor flaws in this book, its sweep, characterization, tensions, and love of its subject are simply riveting. I could not put the darned thing down and have lost sleep for a week compulsively page-turning. Follett, unbelievably, seems to have made little splash with this book when it first came out - more shame to the critics who missed a "Gone With the Wind" from a conventional thriller author.His primary strength in the book is his magnificent characters. By the end, Prior Phillip, Aliena, Jack, Richard, "Witch" Ellen, William of Hamleigh, Waleran Bigod, and a host of supporting characters are as real as people you know. Their strengths and weaknesses feel as sound as earth. I've just reached the part where the Cathedral is finished, and its magnificent image, built in love, hardship, and devotion, colors the whole book like light through stained glass. And I suspect the ending will be as immensely "right" as the entire rest of the book in its proportion in spinning out complicated human lives and emotions.Follett manages to write of an age of religious devotion without tumbling into the two pits - making fun of medieval Christian faith, or uncritically adopting it. An IMMENSELY satisfying read.I could quibble with what I feel is some gratuitous sex, some slightly contrived plot twists, but that's like complaining about some flotsam in the river as you're going over Niagara. DO NOT MISS THIS BOOK if you love wonderful story-spinning and history.Well done, Mr. Follett!