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)

what a great story

I fell in love with this story. I bought the book for my brother and downloaded the audible for my mother. This is probably one of the best books I have ever read.

Heard it again.

Listened to this book more then a 1/2 dozen times.

I recommend this book to everyone I see.

Flawless

Best audiobook I've ever listened to. The story is completely engrossing and the narrator is flat out the best I've ever heard. Highest recommendations.

An excellent historical take on the 11th century.

This is an excellent novel about a period of time most of us know virturally nothing about, the feudal 10th and 11th centuries, and it takes place in England. It is from the perspective of the common man, the average tradesman and serf, instead of the kings and queens you had to read about in high school and college. If nothing else, it will give you an appreciation for the "easy" good life we have now. You see what they eat (when they can), where they sleep, what they wear and where and, in general, how they live. It is also a very good story, and it's LONG. Once you've finished reading this book, you will want to read "World Without End," also by Ken Follet (also LONG), which is a continuation of this same story, but it takes place 200 years later during the 13th century. I guarantee you will enjoy both novels.

Fabulous

What an incredible book and set of characters to which you can’t help but mourn and cheer with thought the book. The monks and the building just incredible. Love building aspects where awe inspiring and daunting. We take so much for granted in this modern age.

Loved it

Third time and I still see deeper into the subject!
I loved it all over again

What a great book!

This is a long story but well worth it. I enjoyed this every bit as I did Sho Gun or Tai Pan.

Powerful, engrossing and highly informative tale.

Ken Follett's characters grabbed my imagination and ran away with it revealing a dark tapestry of 12th century English love, lust, villainy, despair and hope.

Pillars of the Earth

Excellent story and the performance was superb! Loved the story. I highly recommend this book.

Typical Follett: Brilliant

A properly written historical fiction leaves the reader feeling that the fabric of the world of the time depicted, if not verifiably accurate, is at least plausible. Follett goes beyond this. His use of detail in the daily lives of those unrecorded peasants of centuries past brings that quotidian existence to colorful, believable life. We learn facts we did not know and experience the feelings and thoughts that the characters, were they real, could have, should have, must have felt and thought. Beautiful craftsmanship.