The Pillars of the Earth

De: Ken Follett

Narrado por: John Lee

If you liked the Century Trilogy, you’ll love the “extraordinary . . . monumental masterpiece.”—Booklist, that changed the course of Ken Follett’s already phenomenal career.

“Follett risks all and comes out a clear winner,” extolled Publishers Weekly on the release of The Pillars of the Earth. A departure for the bestselling thriller writer, the historical epic stunned readers and critics alike with its ambitious scope and gripping humanity. Today, it stands as a testament to Follett’s unassailable command of the written word and to his universal appeal.

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 twelfth-century England, this is Ken Follett’s historical masterpiece.©1989 Ken Follett; (P)2007 Penguin Audio, a member of Penguin Group (USA), Inc.

Reseñas de la Crítica

Praise for The Pillars of the Earth

"Enormous and brilliant . . . a great epic tale . . . crammed with characters unbelievably alive across the great gulf of centuries . . . touches all human emotion—love and hate, loyalty and treachery, hope and despair. See for yourself. This is truly a novel to get lost in." —Cosmopolitan

"Wonderful . . . will hold you, fascinate you, surround you." —Chicago Sun-Times

"Follett is a master." —The Washington Post

"A towering tale . . . a ripping read. . . . There's murder, arson, treachery, torture, love, and lust." —The New York Daily News

"Ken Follett takes a giant step." —San Francisco Chronicle

"With this book, Follett risks all and comes out a clear winner . . . a historical novel of gripping readability, authentic atmosphere, and memorable characterization. Beginning with a mystery that casts its shadow, the narrative is a seesaw of tension, suspense, impeccable pacing . . . action, intrigue, violence, passion, greed, bravery, dedication, revenge, and love. A love that entertains, instructs, and satisfies on a grand scale." —Publishers Weekly

"An extraordinary epic buttressed by suspense . . . a mystifying puzzle involving the execution of an innocent man . . . the erection of a magnificent cathedral . . . romance, rivalry, and spectacle. A monumental masterpiece . . . a towering triumph from a major talent." —Booklist

Pillars of the Earth

I have over 250 audiobooks in my library. This is by far the best book to which I have listened. It has all the elements that make a book exceptional. John Lee's reading makes you feel you are right there in medieval England. The characters are so real I never wanted the story to end. How lucky I am there is a sequel.

Captivating

This was the best book I've ever listened to . I would come up with chores to do just so I could put my head phones on and listen. I finished Pillars last night and just downloaded World without End. I'm going to be seriously depressed when I finally have to leave the amazing world Ken Follett has created. Enjoy.

Dark Age Intrigue

This is *not* just a book about pretty buildings. That would be dull. Follet writes thrillers. So this is a book about *lives* of the people who were all needed to create the towns that built the central cathedral to this book . There is the suspense involving wicked earls and evil bishops to hiss at as well a breathtaking love stories occurring around the building of the cathedral which takes nearly a lifetime. The narration is spot on including a nice brogue for the main monk. You get real insight into what life was like in "dark ages" when so many more people truly feared and revered God. There are so many elements, (this is a *full on novel*) but there *isn't* a single dull page! Follett carefully intertwines all his characters ending with a true historical event making it all the more realistic. There is a reason this is his best selling book, this is Follet's masterpiece. His reason for writing a book so out of his usual style is explained perfectly in his prologue. It has become a "word of mouth" success. Well, here are my words to encourage you. We audio book lovers can't get enough truly *good long books* since we listen as often as possible. Many have said, they "can put it down or "can't wait to listen to more". I felt the same. For all it delivers, the drama, the history, the insight and commitment it takes to build such a building, and the evil that threatens to stop it.... all make this book is a real value.

Take a chance

I took a chance on this book. I almost let the dry sounding title, and the thing about the cathedral scare me off. This is a very entertaining book, and well narrated. It's less about monks and cathedrals, and more about the things people do, and the things that drive them. This is different than the usual Ken Follett, but then this is better than his rest. I am glad there is a sequel and am looking forward to it. I guess some authors can tell a good story regardless of subject. Enlightenment or edification, maybe not, good listen, yes.

A dark view of the dark ages

If you are looking for light reading, go else where. If you are a history buff, and can deal with the horror of England in it's dark age, this is for you evil and goodness at every level. I enjoyed every word of this unique story. Brilliant.