• The Pillars of the Earth

  • Kingsbridge, Book 1
  • By: Ken Follett
  • Narrated by: John Lee
  • Length: 40 hrs and 56 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (693 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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Editorial reviews

Award-winning novelist Ken Follett is at his most magnificent in Pillars of the Earth, Book 1 of the trilogy series by the same name, narrated by professional voice artist John Lee. This incredible book has been voted in the top 100 of Britain’s Best Loved Books in the BBC The Big Read. The scope of detail in this audiobook is unparalleled. Its intricate plot is weaved with history, religion, politics, love and dishonour. It is an all-encompassing saga, delicately capturing the very core of existence in 12th-century England. Available now from Audible.

Publisher's summary

An epic, spellbinding tale of ambition, anarchy, and absolute power set against the sprawling medieval canvas of twelfth-century England, The Pillars of the Earth is Ken Follett's historical masterpiece.

A Mason with a Dream

It is 1135 and civil war, famine and religious strife abound. With his family on the verge of starvation, mason Tom Builder dreams of the day that he can use his talents to create and build a cathedral like no other.

A Monk with a Burning Mission

Philip is the church prior of Kingsbridge. A resourceful man, he knows that if his town is to survive at all, it must find a way to truly thrive. He decides, then, to build Kingsbridge the greatest Gothic cathedral the world has ever known.

A World of High Ideals and Savage Cruelty

As the prior recruits his mason, so begins a journey of ambition, anarchy and the struggle for absolute power. Facing enemies that would thwart them, they will stop at nothing to fulfil their grand plans of Kingsbridge. Soon build tensions between good and evil, turning church against state, and brother against brother . . .

The Pillars of the Earth is the first in The Kingsbridge Novels series, followed by World Without End and A Column of Fire.

©1989 Ken Follett (P)2007 Penguin Randomhouse LLC

Critic reviews

"Enormous and brilliant...this mammoth tale seems to touch all human emotion - love and hate, loyalty and treachery, hope and despair. This is truly a novel to get lost in." (Cosmopolitan)

"A historical saga of such breadth and density.... Follett succeeds brilliantly in combining hugeness and detail to create a novel imbued with the rawness, violence and blind faith of the era." (Sunday Express)

What listeners say about The Pillars of the Earth

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Pillars of the Earfh

As usual John Lee is an excellent narrator. Ken Follet is one of the best!

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Thanks

Thanks, this book and the way it was read, certainly made history come alive for the listener.

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Such a deeply thought out rollercoaster ride

Follett has given us a masterpiece here. Everything well and deeply thought out, immediately builds a relationship with each character. Every time I read it I was submerged in this world

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An epic tale!

I am a huge fan of Ken Follett so am somewhat biased, however on this occasion I think he deserves all the praise he gets. It is a long book with many characters in whose lives you become immersed. I never got bored or wished away a single word or sentence. The narration was excellent. It is an epic story and worth more than 1 credit!

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Sensational

I read the physical copy of World without End first sometime ago .... this was even better - SENSATIONAL .... I'm even shouting at the kids in a Welsh accent ;-)

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Riveting story, very well read!

A fascinating story with lots of family members relationships explored, power plays between church and king, very well read. Highly recommended.

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A magnificent masterpiece!

A remarkable book brilliantly read.
Ken Follet wove the connections and consequences of people, families and events into a gripping story while describing the tribulations, heartaches and triumphs around building the most beautiful buildings - cathedrals.

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love the story, didn't want it to end, great

loved the 2 stories, didn't want them to end, really enjoyed listening while I hand sew

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First Class

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

It is difficult to find a book that compaes to this.It could be compared to a pseudo history like Tyrant by Manfredi.There is enough history to be interesting but enough fiction to allow characters to be well developed.

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Lessons to learn from the past.

The story was a bit confusing, at first, but once I got to know the characters it was an enthralling tale.

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