World Without End

Kingsbridge, Book 2

By: Ken Follett

Narrated by: John Lee

Length: 45 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

The historical saga that has enthralled millions of fans, Ken Follett's Kingsbridge series continues with World Without End.

On the day after Halloween, in the year 1327, four children slip away from the cathedral city of Kingsbridge. They are a thief, a bully, a boy genius and a girl who wants to be a doctor. In the forest they see two men killed.

As adults, their lives will be braided together by ambition, love, greed and revenge. They will see prosperity and famine, plague and war. One boy will travel the world but come home in the end; the other will be a powerful, corrupt nobleman. One girl will defy the might of the medieval church; the other will pursue an impossible love. And always they will live under the long shadow of the unexplained killing they witnessed on that fateful childhood day.

Ken Follett’s masterful epic The Pillars of the Earth enchanted millions of readers with its compelling drama of war, passion and family conflict set around the building of a cathedral. World Without End takes readers to medieval Kingsbridge two centuries later, as the men, women and children of the city once again grapple with the devastating sweep of historical change.

World Without End is followed by the third of Ken Follett's Kingsbridge novels, A Column of Fire.

©2007 Ken Follett (P)2007 Penguin US

a medieval soap-opera

Varied characters and well researched at times, yet written as if with a modernist's eye.

Meet modern characters in 14th centuary Britain

If their is one book that makes the words, "Historical fiction says more about the day and age in which the writer lives, than about the time in which it happens" ring true, it is "World without End." Caris and Merthin reminds you of Jack Jackson and Aliena, but the characters is a bit more tarnished and not so ethical in their ways. You meet the same priory, but in a different day and age. While Follett is able to contrast the Kingsbridge of "World without End" quite successfully with the one of "Pillars of the Earth," his characters have in my opinion a too modern feel. Feminist issues, the theodicy question and medical science are addressed with a 21st century ring to it. This makes the book at places unbelievable. Yet the intrigue and changes in the main characters keeps you spellbound enough to listen through it.

As with "Pillars of the Earth" John Lee does an excellent job in narrating the story. I actually think that his narration has improved much since the previous book.

The book will not be everyone's cup of tea. For those who want to see a sequel to "Pillars of the Earth," this is it! Listen and enjoy it. However, if you're a bit of a purist of thoughts and practices of the time, this book might be found a bit much to stomach, Those who love good stories will enjoy it.

The book is strongly recommended to those who have fallen in love with story of "Pillars of the Earth." While not so good, its still a good book to listen.

Noooo, stupid beyond words!!!!

I hated this story. but I read it all. I have no idea what Follett was trying to prove with this book, it must be that every author writes bad books sometimes. He sat down and wrote hours of tripe. The narrator was good but that was it. Caris was so disgusted I don't know why she was the main character. she got the best of both worlds completely unrealistic Merffin was worse than her their love annoyed me. The story was one long ramble that led nowhere, Follett thought too hard when he wrote this, it didn't come from his writers heart it came from his commercial brain. too much sex which was not necessary. Gwenda was so stupid, Follett tried to make her clever, but if she were so wise how come she stayed poor. Ralph was too singular in his portrayal he too was very stupid. the characters never came together at any point to fight a joint cause they were just scattered throughout the story. Will I read another Follett novel? yes but with caution.

Over the top

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

This story is a very cynical view of the life of faith. It makes a mockery of all that is good and pure and decent and promotes all the basest aspects of human nature. Its" anything goes if you can get what you want" attitude really put me off. Apparently there is no right or wrong and no where to draw the line. I cannot recommend it to anyone. It started as an interesting story and just got boring.

New Narrator

This would be much more exciting if you don't use this narrator. I have no issues with the person. His voice just doesn't make anything sound exiting.