Product Description

"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, it is a beloved favorite of countless readers, standing as a testament to Follett's unassailable command of the written word and to his universal appeal. A spellbinding epic set in twelfth-century England, 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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #130 in eBooks
• Published on: 2007-10-02
• Released on: 2007-10-02
• Format: Kindle Book
• Number of items: 1

From Publishers Weekly
Set in 12th-century England, the narrative concerns the building of a cathedral in the fictional town of Kingsbridge. The ambitions of three men merge, conflict and collide through 40 years of social and political upheaval as internal church politics affect the progress of the cathedral and the fortunes of the protagonists. "Follett has written a novel that entertains, instructs and satisfies on a grand scale," judged PW.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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.

From AudioFile
Arguably the best work of an author known for spy thrillers, this is historical fiction at its finest. The hope and despair of several people are tightly woven with the enormous task of cathedral construction in medieval England. Narrator John Lee adds vigor to Follett's descriptions of otherwise mundane matters: the graceful arch of a gothic spire, the innovation of using a mill wheel's power to felt wool. Follett's poignant characters blossom with Lee's reading. Lee reveals level-headed Prior Phillip's rare moments of pride as the church construction flourishes, and his anguish in the face of stolen funding. Phillip's nemesis, an ambitious nobleman, is cunning, and his lack of self-confidence is clear in Lee's capable reading. After 41 hours of listening, readers will yearn for more. N.M.C. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Customer Reviews

Absorbing historical read
Couldn't put the book down once I started reading it. Loved the characters, loved the building of the Cathedral and I particularly liked how Follet brought the rediscovery of ancient Greek texts such as Euclid into the story. So many things I liked about the book. Sure there was plenty of sex and violence, the story was set in the 12th century after all. Plus I assume we're all adults here so I think we should be able to deal with it. For those who don't like violence and sex in their fiction I would keep clear of this book, that will save me having to read the ridiculous negative reviews.

wonderfully brilliant
Some of Oprah's book club books are good and some are bad, but this was wonderful. It was really long but not once did I ever look ahead to see how many pages were left so I could go on to my next book. I am amazed that someone can write like this. There is so much detail and character development. You can picture yourself in various towns. You can see everything in your mind as it is portrayed in the book. There is a lot of despair and sorrow in this story. I would recommend it to anyone who has the patience and time to read such a long book.

Pillars of the Earth
Pillars is a long book but very good. Not your usual Ken Follett, had I not known better would have thought he had a ghost writer here. I love his works but this is so different. It has to be a good read to keep me going over 900 pages. I think you will like it.