• The Pillars of the Earth

  • By: Ken Follett
  • Narrated by: John Lee
  • Length: 40 hrs and 56 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (34,726 ratings)

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The Pillars of the Earth  By  cover art

The Pillars of the Earth

By: Ken Follett
Narrated by: John Lee
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Publisher's summary

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 12th century England, this is Ken Follett's historical masterpiece.

©1989 Ken Follett (P)2007 Penguin Audio, a member of Penguin Group (USA), Inc.

Critic reviews

"Follett is a master." (The Washington Post)

"A historical novel of gripping readability, authentic atmosphere and detail and memorable characterization." (Publishers Weekly)

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What listeners say about The Pillars of the Earth

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great Book, Great Narrator

This audio book has it all. I had read the book many years ago and enjoyed the historical accuracy and sheer scope of the project. I decided to give it a listen and it was even better due to the great skill of John Lee. He sets the standard for narrators and with this material did a superb job. If you liked this one, you'll also love the sequel.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

Perfect narration. Perfect plot and character development. Highly recommended.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

phenomenal

Relive the history of twelfth century England. Be patient and the descriptive opens up to worlds of complex, and simple beings, in a time of history when life was both beautifully simple, yet ignorantly cruel. Wonderfully written by Ken Follett and brilliantly narrated by John Lee. Without a doubt, one of the contemporary masterpieces of our time.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

The Pillars of the Earth

Excellent book. The characters were highly developed and the tight story kept my attention throughout the looooong book. I also learned a lot about cathedral architecture in the 1100's, with good and evil dueling in the background. I am looking forward to reading the author's follow-up book,World Without End.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

LOOOONG!

I enjoy the historical fiction, but it is an awful lot about cathedrals! The book could have been edited down to 25 hours without compromising the story. I liked the reader though.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic

This is book is a great listen. Fantastically well researched, and brilliantly written. Well read too!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Absolutely Terrific!

I couldn't wait to get in my car, walk the dogs or just sit on my patio and listen to his wonderful book. What is the equivalent of "couldn't put it down" for an audio book? That's how I felt about this listen. The narrator was amazing..brought each character to life with just slight changes in his vocal expression. Follett did an incredible job of bringing his characters to life in a time when life was not easy. I also enjoyed the facts presented about the building of great European cathedrals in the 1100's. When it was over, I felt a sense of loss. I miss Alleana, Jack and Father Phillip!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Needs a Five

Even though it finally wore me out with about 3 hours left, it needs to get a five.Very entertaining book.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Awesome

So richly told. Loved it! Highly recommend this to anyone that loves history / fiction. Follett is a master story teller

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Follett and Lee are a magnificent team

I'm a Follett fan. Unreservedly, totally. I read his books avidly and now I'm listening to them...and the enjoyment continues...

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