The Pillars of the Earth
Does this best selling book set in 12th century England live up to the hype?
Plot Summary
What's this book about?
It is the early 12th century and England is about to erupt into civil war. The new prior of the monastery at Kingsbridge is determined to rebuild the current run down cathedral into one that will glorify God. He finds a young master builder who shares his vision of building the most beautiful cathedral in England.
Unfortunately, the local bishop is a power hungry man who has other plans. He works to disrupt the prior's efforts at every turn. His frequent ally in this is a cruel and vengeful earl consumed by his own greed.
The Pillars of the Earth
Amazon Price: $14.96 (as of 07/06/2009)
Thoughts About "The Pillars of the Earth"
It's like a medieval emotional roller coaster. There are moments of love, joy and happiness mixed in with scenes of greed, cruelty, violence and tragedy.
The book is divided into six parts with a drawing of the cathedral in its current state for the start of each part. The drawings are well done and a nice touch.
It was interesting to learn more about medieval life while reading this book. Little everyday practices like people walking right into someone's house unannounced or bringing your horse and other livestock inside the house added flavor to the story.
This is one of those books that so engrossed me in the story, it made me want to play a computer game related to the storyline. In this case, it was Lords of the Realm II where you compete against other nobles (including an untrustworthy Bishop) to control the realm.
Writing Style
The descriptions of how the cathedral is designed and built are very well done. There is enough information to picture the construction in your mind and complement the story without overwhelming the reader in technical details.
One odd thing is that the characters speak like they are living in modern times. There's very little use of language from the time period. Maybe I'm spoiled from reading the Aubrey-Maturin series by Patrick O'Brian, but I enjoy historical fiction more when the characters sound authentic to the period.
World Without End
The sequel to "The Pillars of the Earth"
World Without End
Amazon Price: $14.96 (as of 07/06/2009)
This book is set in Kingsbridge two hundred years after the construction of the cathedral.
Photos of Medieval Cathedrals
Stavanger Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral
A medieval cathedral.
Glasgow Cathedral
Cloisters of Gloucester Cathedral
Ely Cathedral
The Cathedral of Saint Denis
In the story, one of Kingsbridge Cathedral's master builders worked on the Saint Denis Basilica. The beauty of Saint Denis and the advanced building techniques used there inspired an eventual redesign of Kingsbridge Cathedral.
Category: File - :StDenis Fassade.JPG|thumb|230px|West façade of Saint Denis
The Cathedral Basilica of St Denis (, or simply Basilique Saint-Denis, previously the Abbaye de Saint-Denis) is a large abbey church in the commune of Saint-Denis, now a northern suburb of Paris. The abbey church was created a cathedral in 1966 and is the seat of the Bishop of Saint-Denis, Pascal Michel Ghislain Delannoy. The building is of unique importance historically and architecturally.
Founded in the 7th century b...
Pillars of the Earth - The Game
Do you have what it takes to be a master builder?
Mayfair Games Pillars of the Earth
Amazon Price: $39.96 (as of 07/06/2009)
Based on the novel. Manage your own team of workmen and work together with other players to build the great cathedral of Kingsbridge.
What I Liked About "The Pillars of the Earth"
2. Good description of the cathedrals, castles, battles and medieval life that enhance the story.
3. A cool glimpse into medieval times. I enjoyed learning about the construction of cathedrals, the political power struggles and the challenges of daily medieval life.
My Rating of "The Pillars of the Earth"
Medieval times, cathedrals, castles, knights, trickery, love, rivalry and intrigue...there's something in this book for everyone. On top of that, it's a good read and I really enjoy good historical fiction. Historical Figures In "The Pillars of the Earth"
Thomas Becket - Archbishop of Canterbury
Head of the Church of England, Thomas and Henry II were frequently in conflict over the independence of the church from the monarchy.
King Henry II
King Stephen
King of England during most of the story.
Empress Matilda
Referred to as Empress Maud in the book, she is the daughter of Henry I and rightful heir to the throne which her cousin Stephen claimed as his.
King Henry I
Robert - 1st Earl of Gloucester
Matilda's half brother and ally against King Stephen.
The White Ship
This ship sank in the English Channel while carrying the only legitimate heir to King Henry I. The sinking triggered several plot lines in the book.
About Ken Follett
Author of "The Pillars of the Earth"
Ken Follett (born June 5, 1949) is a British author of thrillers and historical novels. He has sold a total of 100 million copies. Four of his works have reached the number 1 ranking on the New York Times best-seller list : The Key to Rebecca, Lie Down with Lions, Triple and World Without End.New York Times List of Number One Best Sellers
Other Books by Ken Follett
How Do You Rate "The Pillars of the Earth"
Your Review...
Thanks for visiting this lens. Please share your thoughts on The Pillars of the Earth, cathedrals or anything medieval.
MikeMoore wrote...
Pillars of the Earth is one of my favorite books! The second one is out and is just as good. Maybe even better. You did a great job reviewing this book too. I've given this lens five stars and lensrolled it into my Godspeaker Trilogy lens ( http://www.squidoo.com/godspeakertrilogy )
Thanks for the read!
Posted March 26, 2009
kficarelli wrote
This was by far the best book I have ever read. I went to bed and woke up thinking about it. I was actually sad when it ended. I was thrilled to learn about its sequel, World Without End, which was nearly as good as its father book. I just personally love the way Mr. Follett writes and now go looking for his titles when at the library. I read Whiteout, which was good. Nothing can compare to Pillars though. Never have I spent 8 hours a day reading a book--seriously, it was that good. I'm about to start on Eye of the Needle. Will try some of his other best-sellers after this. Happy reading!
Posted March 23, 2009
kit564 wrote...
This is my absolute FAVORITE book. World Without End was also a great read. ***** 5 Star Lens.. good job. Thanks.
Posted October 22, 2008
