• The Pillars of the Earth

  • By: Ken Follett
  • Narrated by: John Lee
  • Length: 40 hrs and 56 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (34,728 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)

Featured Article: The Best Historical Fiction Audiobooks


Often based on real people, events, and scenarios, historical fiction gives us the opportunity to learn about worlds and times we will never experience while introducing fascinating characters and stories set in their midst. Sometimes, the genre can even give us a peek into hidden storylines that routinely go unmentioned in traditional history books, showing us that those of ages past are perhaps not so different from ourselves.

What listeners say about The Pillars of the Earth

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    26,261
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Historical fictional masterpiece

Hate it when an audiobook won't allow me to sleep. It was so good that I had to keep listening. His historical references of that time were extraordinarily researched. I was skeptical about the story plot. I thought, why would I care about a building of a cathedral but it was riveting from the beginning. Kudos to Narrator John Lee. His voice made it easy to visualize.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great book, great reader

This is one of my all time favorite books and probably the 3rd or 4h time I’ve listened. His time I took it with me to the U.K. as I toured 5 cathedrals across the country including the cathedrals that inspired the fictional Kingsbridge and several real cathedrals mentioned in this book. It was an incredible bucket list trip inspired by this novel.
Hope you enjoy this book as much as I do!

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

Epic story

Loved it. Provided many hours of pleasant listening as I drove a long commute. enjoy!

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

Epic Story

What a journey from beginning to end! Follett grips you from page 1 and never lets go. The story made me laugh, cry, and shout. Pillars of the Earth is well worth the investment of time.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Pillars

One of the most interesting and exciting books I've read. Just a brilliant book.

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

a five star read

I ve been a fan for years and he never disappoints . His research in to a subject allows him to spin such an exotic tapestry that enfolds the reader to the very last page.

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

Stunningly real characters, beautifully written

I truly enjoyed this book. The characters felt so real, their emotions conveyed perfectly. There is gritty violence and hot passion that only serve to strengthen this book. From the other reviews I read, it seems as though some people were appalled by parts of this book, but don't let them scare you away.

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

timeless

the story speaks to how men may rule but in the end it is God and the will of the people that truly run our lives.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Very good book

I decided to read this book after reading the comments. It was a very good read, with excellent character development, a great plot, and lots of twists and turns. I am now going to read the sequel and I hope it is just as good. If you like historical fiction than you will love this book with its rich characters.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Twelfth Century Mayhem

Where does The Pillars of the Earth rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Historical fiction is my "go-to genre" and so far is at the top of my list.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Aliena, because she perseveres in spite of all...

Which scene was your favorite?

Not sure I can pinpoint one favorite scene because I was smitten from the get-go.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

It started with the very first chapter of the book about Tom, his wife and newborn babe.

Any additional comments?

Learned a lot about the stone masons and the cathedrals they built -- amazing! You have to wonder how civilization continued with all the blood and mayhem, but it WAS the 12th century...

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