• World Without End

  • Kingsbridge, Book 2
  • By: Ken Follett
  • Narrated by: John Lee
  • Length: 45 hrs and 34 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (448 ratings)

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World Without End  By  cover art

World Without End

By: Ken Follett
Narrated by: John Lee
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Editorial reviews

The marvel that is Pillars of the Earth written by master novelist Ken Follett swept over the world gathering millions of devoted fans and now the sequel is here in full unabridged audiobook, World Without End, narrated by the brilliant John Lee. Four young children hide in the woods and unexpectedly witness the brutal murder of two men. Throughout their lives they feel the constant tug of a powerful connection from the haunting of that fateful event. Then revolutionary change sweeps over the lands and the world they once knew is now more dangerous than ever before. Available now from Audible.

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

What listeners say about World Without End

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Astounding!

If you are ready for a 40 hour plus epic that runs seemlessly through an ancient age then put this on your list. There are writers and epic writers. Many may achieve the former but to write a book of such length, interest, diversity and spiced with history and keep it flowing and connected takes a master craftsperson. It is not heavy or intellectual or complicated; it is a great yarn and I loved it.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

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.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Engaging, absorbing, difficult to turn off...

Ken Follett's epic 'sequel' to Pillars of the Earth is engaging, absorbing, magnificently structured and wonderfully read by John Lee.

The downside of not being able to stop listening is that the repetition (necessary perhaps in a novel of this length) is more glaring than it might be to a reader not listening for hours and hours at a time.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Nearly as good as Pillars

After listening to Pillars of the Earth (POE) I was avid to listen to this one. I think John Lee's narration is better in World Without End (WWE), his voice seemed more relaxed. I've read reviews of it elsewhere and these expressed a strong theme of the story being more like a soap opera, and objections to the frequent description of sex scenes, rape, violence etc. I can't say I agree with either of these criticisms, though I do agree that there is more of the latter in this book than in the previous one. There also seems to be more talking/scheming behind closed doors - I've interpreted this as a reflection of the changed times, after all, the book is set 200 years later and I'm sure that the level of fear about 'sinning' may have become more conscious, thus more verbalised than in POE. Further, the motivation toward accumulation of wealth and the justification for this (added to the growing distrust for the church) would mean that the scheming/scamming could be less 'secret' than 200 years beforehand. Anyway, all criticisms aside, I loved this book, just as I loved the previous one and I highly recommend it - particularly to those who have an interest in medieval history - it brings the period alive. Follett has a very candid and realistic approach to human nature; if you like that approach then this is the book for you!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Epic tale

Would you consider the audio edition of World Without End to be better than the print version?

I have never read the print version so unable to comment on a comparison.

What did you like best about this story?

Never a boring moment, fast paced.

Have you listened to any of John Lee’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, John is a great performer, specially in this and Pillars of the Earth.

Any additional comments?

Do yourself a favour and listen to this and Pillars Of The Earth!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

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.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it!

Would you consider the audio edition of World Without End to be better than the print version?

John Lee is amazing! He does all the accents without fail. I don't normally read or listen to this sort of book but Ken Follet just has such a gift for story telling. I now feel as if I have so much insight into WW1 and the people who lived in that time. He made it come alive.I will read everything else he's written now, especially read by John Lee.

Which scene was your favorite?

I loved the story about the Russian brothers

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I didn't want it to end.

Any additional comments?

Read it if you are interested in History.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A worthy sequel to Pillars

You need to read Pillars of the Earth first. This sequel then starts a few hundred years after the end of Pillars and makes references to the characters and events in Pillars. The story however stands up on its own, and is a thrilling read from start to finish, just like the original.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

a totally riveting story

An audio book you can totally get immersed in, story great, narration great and you really feel as though you you are in the 14th century. This is the second in a series but you don't need to read the first to enjoy this.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful book

The story was breathtaking in its scope. Kept you wanting more...and thankfully it was a lovely long book. But even so I did not want it to end. Makes you want to read more about this period of history, and also more from Ken Follett - highly recommended

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