The Pillars of the Earth
By Ken Follett
- Release Date: 1999-07-01
- Genre: Historical Fiction
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
Gloriously Epic
5By riverhorsezOne of the deepest stories of our time rich with emotion. Each page turned faster than the last.Shock and Blah
3By Colin Reid WEvery 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
4By LionelJToo 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
5By riverchef42Great story about many interesting people and the twists and turns that befall them!Good vs evil
5By readingridinghoodThis was a journey that took the reader through multiple controversies and battles whereby it was good vs evil…I won’t say who winsEnjoyed and Loved
5By TLD2024I 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
5By hdjkfncncGreat read!! Didn’t think it would be my type of book but really enjoyed.Book Lover
5By bdestepI great read, I laughed, cried, but I could not put it down. One of the best love stores, and good over evil I have ever read 💖Pillars of the Earth
5By mindful NPRoller coaster of a page turning masterpiece!Masterpiece
5By Rescue-loganmeGenius book filled with history, love stories and fills your imagination of the era!I’ve loved this book for 20 years
5By no.youcantmakeme-stopToday, along with the rest of this series, I found the physical version of Pillars of the Earth at my local foreign language book shop in Beijing. I have bought this book in every country I’ve lived, and even though I’m finishing it for the 3rd time here on iBooks, I’m tempted to purchase the whole set (again) before I go. This story is so much more than a story, I’m not even sure how to recommend it, other than to say it is officially the book I’ve read most in my life, and I hope others will continue to love it as much as I do, for the next 20 years.Penance
2By StretchmoreA dreary difficult book to readStill A Chance
5By Still A ChanceEnjoyed this story and writing immensely. It was a slower read for me as I felt the need to maintain character notes for reference. The story and characters were a lot of fun to get to know. Enjoyed the writing style enough to jump over to the other of Follet’s series “Fall of Giants”. I plan to work my way through both series, however I’ll make stops in between for simple reads for a break. We’ll done!Pillars of the Earth!! A++
5By ylovettlovettOne of the greatest books I have EVER read. It was very realistic and terribly hard to put down. Even though this was the second time I’d read this amazing book!!An insightful look into 12th Century England
5By Appr50A well written historical fiction that explores the wide differences in class, rulers and the Church revealing all of the characters human failings as well as their perseverance through evil plotting and eventual victories over dark and powerful forces working against them.Excellent
5By rickalbVery interesting story. Looking forward to the next book!One of the best books i ever read!
5By Kiki088Beautiful story. Amazing characters. Would give a 10- star if possible!Love this series!
5By PtvogelzangTotally hooked now and am loving this Follett series!Brilliant
5By GigiRubinA masterpiece! A tour de force! Exquisite!!
