Product Description

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.

Abridged edition read by John Lee

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #917 in Books
• Published on: 2002-02-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 976 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Tom Builder's dream is to build a cathedral, but in the meantime, he must scrounge about to find a lord that will hire him. His search pulls him and his family into the politics of 12th-century England, as different lords vie to gain control of the throne in the wake of the recently deceased king. Prior Phillip, a man raised in the monastery since childhood, also finds himself drafted into the brewing storm as he must protect the interests of a declining church. Richard E. Grant seduces readers early on with a soft and deliberate voice that is like a loud whisper. However, his full range quickly reveals itself as he delves into characters with animated voices that exert their true essence. Even throughout the narrative, Grant musters a lively voice that imbues energy into the story. The only shortcoming is that the abridgment of Follett's 1989 novel proves to be too choppy. Though the story appears complete, there still remain abrupt moments throughout the tale. Penguin Audio's unabridged version is read by John Lee and runs 41 hours. (Dec.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Library Journal
A radical departure from Follett's novels of international suspense and intrigue, this chronicles the vicissitudes of a prior, his master builder, and their community as they struggle to build a cathedral and protect themselves during the tumultuous 12th century, when the empress Maud and Stephen are fighting for the crown of England after the death of Henry I. The plot is less tightly controlled than those in Follett's contemporary works, and despite the wealth of historical detail, especially concerning architecture and construction, much of the language as well as the psychology of the characters and their relationships remains firmly rooted in the 20th century. This will appeal more to lovers of exciting adventure stories than true devotees of historical fiction. Literary Guild dual main selection.
- Cynthia Johnson Whealler, Cary Memorial Lib., Lexington, Mass.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
Here, Follett sets the thrillers aside for a long, steady story about building a cathedral in 12th-century England. Bloodthirsty or adventure-crazed Follett readers will be frustrated, but anyone who has ever been moved by the splendors of a fine church will sink right into this highly detailed but fast-moving historical work - a novel about the people and skills needed to put up an eye-popping cathedral in the very unsettled days just before the ascension of Henry II. The cathedral is the brainchild of Philip, prior of the monastery at Kingsbridge, and Tom, an itinerant master mason. Philip, shrewd and ambitious but genuinely devout, sees it as a sign of divine agreement when his decrepit old cathedral burns on the night that Tom and his starving family show up seeking shelter. Actually, it's Tom's clever stepson Jack who has stepped in to carry out God's will by secretly torching the cathedral attic, but the effect is the same. Tom gets the commission to start the rebuilding - which is what he has wanted to do more than anything in his life. Meanwhile, however, the work is complicated greatly by local politics. There is a loathsome baron and his family who have usurped the local earldom and allied themselves with the powerful, cynical bishop - who is himself sinfully jealous of Philip's cathedral. There are the dispossessed heirs to earldom, a beautiful girl and her bellicose brother, both sworn to root out the usurpers. And there is the mysterious Ellen, Tom's second wife, who witnessed an ancient treachery that haunts the bishop, the priory, and the vile would-be earl. The great work is set back, and Tom is killed in a raid by the rivals. It falls to young Jack to finish the work. Thriller writing turns out to be pretty good training, since Follett's history moves like a fast freight train. Details are plenty, but they support rather than smother. It's all quite entertaining and memorable. (Kirkus Reviews)

This is a long, irresistible, 12th century account of two men's obsession to rebuild a ruined Cathedral. Set against a background of Civil War, religious chicanery, political double-dealing, grinding poverty and personal adversity, Master Builder Tom and Philip, Prior of Kingsbridge, follow their dream. A complex story - a thriller of a different kind - confidently-written, with compulsive drive. (Kirkus UK)

Customer Reviews

I question Oprah's literary tastes
I question Oprah's literary tastes. She gushed over "Pillars," saying she was sad as she neared its conclusion, knowing the read would soon be over. Please! The story wasn't particularly compelling, the characters not that well developed, and Follett's story--taking about 996 pages-- was about 600 pages too long.

A roller coaster of a book!
When my hairstylist recommended this book, my interest was piqued. When my sister recommended the book after she read it in her book club-I decided to order it. WOW! I am in the last section and can't wait to see how everything ties together. This book weaves all the characters together and it is captivating! I am exhausted during the day because I stay up so late at night reading this! I HIGHLY recommend this book for adult reading.

Hoping for better
Enough people had recommended, nay, shoved this book into my hands that I greatly anticipated a good read to take me through the holidays. But the first hundred pages found me thinking, right, this is the scene where she's going to have the baby. . .now she's going to die. . .and he's going to end up with the girl he was attracted to earlier. . .whoa, she shows up in the woods and has sex with him the day after his wife's death?
Please. I think Follett was concerned that people wouldn't like his historial fiction and so inserted sex and violence at formulaic spots. Don't get me wrong, I like sex and violence, but the stuff in this book would have enthralled me when I was a teenager. Maybe that's the right audience. I pulled the plug on this medieval soap opera at 100 pages.