The Pillars of the Earth - Ken Follett

The Pillars of the Earth

By Ken Follett

  • Release Date: 1999-07-01
  • Genre: Historical Fiction
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 3,247 Ratings

Description

#1 New York Times Bestseller

Oprah's Book Club Selection

The “extraordinary . . . monumental masterpiece” (Booklist) that changed the course of Ken Follett’s already phenomenal career—and begins where its prequel, The Evening and the Morning, ended.

“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 stands as a testament to Follett’s unassailable command of the written word and to his universal appeal. 
 
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.
 
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.

Reviews

  • Highly recommend

    5
    By markhsloan
    Great read. Interesting twists and turns along the way and the thread of history interwoven was extremely well done.
  • A Very Interesting Novel

    4
    By TigersJC86
    This was a very long novel to read and it gives an almost full telling of many of the characters lives. I do think in terms of prose this was a well written novel. I think story wise it did at times become a bit repetitive (the “good guys” would find a way to prosper and the “Bad Guys” would find a scheme or take an action to remove their advantage) and that continues on pretty much throughout the whole novel. Also, while some of the characters we are introduced to in the beginning of the novel eventually leave or die off the villains remain throughout the entire novel and I wish maybe there were some new characters to come in to give a little more variety. This is also a very graphic novel in terms of sexual content and it became egregious and unnecessary IMO. There are some satisfying resolutions in this novel and while I’ve seen a lot of criticism towards the author regarding his views on religion I didn’t feel like this was a novel criticizing religion but just examples of men in power doing things for their own reasons and not God’s which has been the case throughout history (not just in religion but also politics). Overall, I would recommend this novel and I do think I will continue the series at some point.
  • 4.5 stars

    5
    By Findaddy16
    Got a little long winded with the building descriptions, but a great book all in all.
  • Gloriously Epic

    5
    By riverhorsez
    One of the deepest stories of our time rich with emotion. Each page turned faster than the last.
  • Shock and Blah

    3
    By Colin Reid W
    Every major obstacle in Pillars of the Earth relies entirely on the cruelty and cartoonish malice of its antagonists. This works in battle-of-civilization epics, but not in the context of squabbling countrymen. Add in the perpetual naïveté of its protagonists, and the result is a tedious, often predictable tale. Virtue is however ample in its scope, setting, and architectural meditations.
  • Often Tedious, thoroughly engaging

    4
    By LionelJ
    Too often in this book, the good guys faced setback. The cruelty of the times are evident in this epic story spanning generations. The historic context of the times and stories of love and hate make this book a thoroughly good read. Just be ready for an emotional roller-coaster.
  • Great Story

    5
    By riverchef42
    Great story about many interesting people and the twists and turns that befall them!
  • Good vs evil

    5
    By readingridinghood
    This was a journey that took the reader through multiple controversies and battles whereby it was good vs evil…I won’t say who wins
  • Enjoyed and Loved

    5
    By TLD2024
    I found the history and characters to be intriguing. An era in history that I was fascinated with. Follett does an excellent job of writing in great detail which paints the picture in your mind. Good vs evil and there was plenty of it.
  • Great story

    5
    By hdjkfncnc
    Great read!! Didn’t think it would be my type of book but really enjoyed.