The Pillars of the Earth

By: Ken Follett

Narrated by: 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.

Critic reviews

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

Wow.

40 hours of my rapt attention. I have hundreds of audiobooks in my library and John Lee is without match in his performance. He brings so much emotion to an already phenomenally written story. You can feel the stress of battle, the despair of the sad bits, the elation of the happy parts. Easily top 3 best listens on audible.

Cry Babies

I loved this book. Blew threw it in a couple days. I don’t understand the people whining and complaining about the violence, sex, and language. Welcome to the world. Welcome to the brutal history of humanity, and the reality that almost all people were slaves up until a few centuries ago. If you can’t handle reading a book that details that reality, then you’re certainly too weak to have survived such a reality and your ancestors would be ashamed to have persevered through it to produce such a soft person!

One of the best books I’ve ever read

The good and evil in constant turmoil during the Age of Anarchy in Middle Ages England is dramatically illustrated by Follett

A Book That Will Stand the Test of time!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I’m glad the author stepped out of his comfort zone to do something differently. I’ve learned a lot about history test, cathedrals all over Europe. Follett kept it thrilling Like his others and his characters are wonderful. I definitely recommend it.

Real good story but...

So many recaps, so annoying. Other than that real good! This is the second time listening to this.