The Pillars of the Earth (historical fiction)

Ken Follett (1989)
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THE A5 BOOK REVIEW

In our opinion, one of the best historical novels ever written is Ken Follett’s The Pillars of the Earth.  The book is set in the 12th century in England, during a time period called the Anarchy, when King Henry I died without a clear heir to the throne.  The story revolves around the fictional building of a monumental Gothic cathedral and the fates of the inhabitants of a fictional town called Kingsbridge, weaving actual historical true events in as background.  Follett is a master storyteller; he quickly draws readers into a story filled with the quest for survival of the common man, the spectacle of nobility, the genius behind the architecture of these cathedrals, romance, and the devastation of poverty and war.  He captures this time in history perfectly, and his characters are impressively realistic.  There is a reason this topped bestselling lists everywhere; you truly won’t be able to put this epic novel down.  The Pillars of the Earth is one of our top recommendations, and a great read for anyone planning to visit England.
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THE SEQUEL - WORLD WITHOUT END

Thankfully, Ken Follett followed Pillars of the Earth with a sequel called World Without End (2007). The novel takes place in the same fictional town of Kingsbridge 150 years later, and the story is just as gripping.  Follett’s rich cast of characters face many of the same clashes among social classes and many new progressive ideas around business, architecture, and social justice.  The plot again incorporates important historical events, including one of the worst catastrophes of all time, the Black Plague.
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THE CENTURY TRILOGY

Those who like historical fiction will also love Ken Follett’s “Century Trilogy”, three books chronicling the fictional story of five families during a very turbulent time in world history: World War I, the Russian Revolution, the Spanish Civil War, World War II, and the Cold War.  These epic novels also cover these families – American, English, Welsh, German, and Russian – during the struggle for women’s suffrage and civil rights.
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ABOUT KEN FOLLETT

With over thirty best-selling novels, Ken Follett is one of the world's most popular authors.  Born in 1949 in post-war Wales, toys were a scarcity and so books became his greatest pleasure.  ​He is known as an amazing story teller, with numerous World War II, spy and contemporary thrillers, including Eye of the Needle (1978), The Key To Rebecca (1980), Night Over Water (1991) and A Dangerous Fortune (1993).
(Photo Credit: Oliver Favre.)

GREAT QUOTES FROM THE PILLARS OF THE EARTH

“You never know," Jack said speculatively. "There may come a time when savages like William Hamleigh aren't in power; when the laws protect the ordinary people instead of enslaving them; when the king makes peace instead of war. Think of that - a time when towns in England don't need walls!"

INTERESTING LINKS:

  • Want to know more about The PIllars of the Earth?  Check out the review from Oprah; the book was selected as part of the famous Oprah Book Club.
  • The Pillars of the Earth was made into an eight hour TV series.  See the IMDB review here.