The Pillars of the Earth

By: Ken Follett

Narrated by: John Lee

Length: 40 hrs and 56 mins

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)

Engrossing, sometimes beautiful

The characters were more richly developed than in any other single book I've read. I can see why it took 40 hours of audio to span 50 years of life. This was also the longest audiobook I've listened to, and I found it very challenging. The narrator did a wonderful job, but now I know that I prefer to tackle these long ones by reading the physical book.

Very long but enjoyable!

It took me forever to get through this book because it's very long but I was entertained the entire time so definitely worth the time commitment!

an epic Tale worthy of every accolade!

the story is a page-turner and I cannot recommend it more. one of the great epic stories of all time.

Stunning

An epic story told by a great storyteller. Time will tell if this goes down in history as a great read or true literature. The form if the language tells the story as much as the content. The audio performance is masterful.

Absolutely Fabulous!

The Pillars of the Earth is one of my family's favorite books! It is a sweeping historical fictional account that provides one some insight into the difficulties of life in old England. The extremely well-narrated book flies by.

One must listen a second time

one must listen the second time less you regret it for the rest of your life

The power of a good review.....

I am so happy I took the time to read this book. All of the reviews and ratings definitely helped in selecting it as something I would enjoy. Once I got going, I couldn't put it down. I was initially put off by one of the reviews commenting that the rape scenes were way to graphic. Upon reading them myself, I felt that Follett did a great job in providing a brutally honest level detail without being lewd or overly crewed. He used the rape to show how it shaped a woman's life over decades. The architectural aspects of cathedral building were presented in a very digestable manner and now I am hooked. I am not ready to read the sequel yet, but it is on my reading list.

Thoroughly enjoyed

What did you love best about The Pillars of the Earth?

I loved the era the book was written in, as well as the characters. Loathed William and was glad to see him finally get his just rewards. Would recommend to those wanting a good listening experience.

What did you like best about this story?

The time era.

Which scene was your favorite?

Williams hanging (smile)

Any additional comments?

Good listening. Does author have any other books?

Amazing

This was absolutley one of the best books I have ever listened to. The story holds your attention and John Lee as a narrator is terrific.

Monks, Cathedrals and Good vs Evil!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I would highly recommend this book to a friend. Follett manages to make a book about medieval architecture extremely interesting and engaging. He does a great job of giving the reader a sense of life in the 12th century through his characters and their challenges and adventures.

What other book might you compare The Pillars of the Earth to and why?

This books reminded me of The Book Thief, another historical fiction novel that depicts a particular time in history through the characters in the book, never boring, but educational nonetheless.

Which character – as performed by John Lee – was your favorite?

Archdeacon Waleran

Who was the most memorable character of The Pillars of the Earth and why?

Ellen was the most memorable character. She was one intense and independent woman who managed to be self sufficient in a time when women were not supposed to have independent lives.