Book Reviews of The Pillars of the Earth

This book looks long, but it draws you in and makes you want to know what happens next, so you'll find yourself finding a spare minute to read every chance you get. Great character development, and the author follows characters for many years. A story that gets you involved, along with some historical aspects of cathedral building. I enjoyed it immensely!

This book is very well written, but it is an epic tale with 983 pages. My husband and I read it together on a road trip (he drives, I read aloud). He would make excuses to go places in the car after we arrived at our destination just so we could continue the book! It is set in the 12th century, but "touches all human emotion---love and hate, loyalty and treachery, hope and despair." The characters are very real and touchable, and it draws you right into their world.

This was a captivating and vividly depicted novel of medieval England. Forget that the main theme is the building of a cathedral- this is a book about the personalities, relationships and history behind that beautiful piece of architecture!I loved this story.

This is one of my all-time favorite books. After reading the jacket, I didn't think I'd like it because it's not my usual fare. But once I started it, I couldn't wait to get back to it. I loved everything about it and still think about the main characters....

I've heard so many people just rant and rave over this one, but i personally could not get into it. It requires some patience to get the storyline rolling, and i like to get the plot rolling immediately. Do not let this description sway you!

One of my all time favorite books. This is the book which piqued my interest in the hundred year war of England period. Great charachter development, I feel like this is an epic movie I have watched a dozen times.

I think this is one of Ken Follett's best books. I was fascinated by this book. The history is so well done and his characters are so interesting. A great book

One of my favorite books! I had read it when it first came out; just listened to it on tape to get ready for his new book. 26 tapes! Unbelievable! Totally different from his other books; an historical novel set in the 12th (I think) century, focused on the building of cathedrals. The next book, just published, is the sequel. Fascinating!

A WONDERFUL book to read if you're going to Europe. Gives you lots more perspective when you're looking at those cathedrals. Besides that it's a great read.

The epic tale of building a cathedral interlaced with suspense, intrigue, violence, passion, greed, bravery, revenge and love.

A great read sometimes requires a great deal of detail and reality. Follett delivers in quantity in this, my favorite KF novel. Also one my all time favorites by any author. He delivers a "feel" for the time period that no amount of non-fiction reading can give.

Ken Follett is a very good writer but why he chose to write such a downer of a book is beyond me. I loved the characters, the feel of the time in history where this story takes place, and the characterization is pretty good overall.

Spoiler alert about plot follows but it is important to note:

But, the main characters suffer so much and never 'get back' at their oppressors. That may be true in real life but I should as heck don't want to suffer through so many pages only to learn that the good guys get so screwed. That ruined this book for me and I really am not sure why as I don't need all of the books I read to have the hero win. But for some reason, this really ticked me off about this book so I cannot recommend it.

The Pillars of the Earth describes a story that is larger than life. All the trappings of medieval twelfth century life in England are depicted. The story includes wild battle scenes, hangings, morality plays, serfdom, courtly and monastic life painted with Follett's broad brush. The political intrigue of the period and the fracture between the church and the state, king and archbishop, rule of law and the rule of God are seen here.

This book contains unforgettable characters like Aliena, the beautiful and penniless daughter of an Earl; Thomas Becket, the priest turned martyr; pious, but ambitious Philip the prior of Kingsbridge whose desire to build a cathedral for the "glory of God" is overwhelming; William Hamleigh, displaced earl, is truly evil. Although long, the book is remarkable to read, with fast paced action and gripping, believable dialogue. The story will leave you breathless and satisfied in its stunning conclusion.

This is one of two best books I've ever read. The reader is transported and becomes part of the Cathedral builders life in the middle ages. An absolute read for everyone!!!!!

My all-time favorite historical novel. Excellent novel about cathedral building in Midevial Europe.

Truthfully, I didn't finish it because it felt like soooo much work. A lot of architectural detail that many readers might love, but I'm a plot/character kind of girl who doesn't like to waste page after page on the detailed cathedral descriptions. Good book, from what I read, but not, in my opinion, an easy read.

I loved this book! I have read it twice and am thinking about reading it again! His follow up book "World without End" is just as good. Very well written, loved the details about early construction methods.

I read this book a long, long time ago and still love it! It is one of the best of all time! Ken Follett brings you into the world of medieval England and as you're reading, it's like you're there. Wonderful character development and you care about the characters! At the time I read it I wasn't even into historical fiction, but I still loved it, it's that good! I just finished the "sequel" World Without End and that was wonderful too!

Unique story, set in a period not often used in novels. All characters are interesting and well-developed. It's quite the page turner.

I read this book about 15 years ago and still remember it - that is how wonderful it is. This is one of those rare books that just catches you from the first page. If you like historical novels, you will love this.

Fascinating. Micheneresque in scope. I was riveted.

Fascinating, riveting blend of history and fiction. It's long, but you'll be glad it is. I just loved this book.

This is the most intriguing, interesting, mind-blowing historical novel I've ever read.
The characters are strong and you care about them deeply as you pass year after year with them in a seemingly endless route to a seemingly impossible goal. Don't forget to read the follow up to the book called "The World Without End". Equally superb.
(unfortunately "World without End" is not listed on this site at this time) And I'm not giving mine up!!!

very interesting discussion of life in the middle ages.

im struggling to get through this book ATM. . . Im trying to hang in there but its so boring at first and how everything moves sooo fast its ridiculous (characters falling in love etc when their significant other JUST died)

anyways its good i can see why people like it but my god it drags on. I will stick with it and hopefully it will pay off!

so far i give it a 3 out of 5 stars

First book I've read in awhile that actually made my heart pound. Some parts are reminiscent of a historical smut novel, but still I had a hard time putting this novel down. Worth the read!

Awesome book...an epic novel that really held my interest!

This book, even reading it in high school was intriguing. I enjoyed it very much although at the time I thought the content may have been very adult for a teenager. I would like to read again, now after more than 10 years.

Awesome, but very long.

This book is definitely in my top 5 of favorite books! I ordered it after seeing it featured on Oprah as her Book of the Month selection, even though I have HATED several of her picks, this one sounded too good to pass up. I wasn't disappointed! I love historical fiction for one, and I loved all of the characters and description of life in the Middle Ages in England.

I gave up on this historical novel halfway. It's old-fashioned, full of cliches, and incredibly predictable. Frankly, I'd rather read Thomas Costain, from whom Follett borrowed a lot of those cliches. Bah!

Don't be intimidated by the size of the book. It is a wonderful book and I couldn't put it down!

This is one of my all-time favourite books -- I have read it over and over again, and enjoyed it every single time like it was the first time.

It seems like a massive book at over 900 pages, but those pages fly by without notice. Follett's writing makes you want to read more as you get engrossed in the character's lives and you want to dive in and kill William youself. This is a book you'll want to get back to after you've put it down. Can't wait to read the sequel.

I was prompted to read the book by a religious book critic who stated it's a wonderful read to learn about the building of great cathedrals. Though I admit I learned about some architectural and carpentry techniques, the immorality and rape that spawned revenge throughout the book took a lot away from the beautiful story of getting the cathedral built. I enjoyed more learning about
the running of monasteries in the Middle Ages and the feudal battles that raged when the royal line was in question. A looooong
book and I put it down many times and took a few days off from it to read other things.

The story was very interesting and very captivating. but the whole book i was waiting for justice and vindication for the good guys. you get tired of the bad guys winning and winning and winning while the good people suffer. only until the last 10 pages or so do you get any satisfaction and even when you do, half the victims are dead or old.

I'm a history buff and have ready a lot of books about English history. This was an interesting interweaving of mediaeval history and the emerging architecture of grand European cathederals. It kept me interested throughout although I had to skip some passages due to the graphic violence.

I think it was a very fair depiction of the era, and helped me better understand the rivalry between the church and state that eventually lead to Henry VIII's dismantling of the monastic system (and Catholic church in England for that matter) centuries later....

An excellent read. Well worth the time!

historical fiction books out there; well written, well researched, with well-developed characters & an amazing story! This book is a classic and I cannot say enough about it. You MUST read this book-it will enrich your life and make you want to read more!

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING........Because I tend to fall asleep too quickly, I listen to 85% of my books........if you can, this book has 32 CDs and could not stop listening - to work, at home, whatever it took to keep going! ************************* EXCELLENT

This novel is a radical departure from Follett's usual novels of mystery and intrigue. Set in the twelfth century it is the story of the conception and construction of a marvelous cathedral. That sounds a little dull and boring, but have faith. You will come to love or hate the wonderful people that you get to know in this book. Give this book a try. You will not be disappointed.

This was my first Ken Follett read. I simply loved it. I finished it in less than a week and haven't stopped thinking about it. Many reviews mention the violence and indeed there is gore, sexual violence and other graphic scenes...but these were not kind times. Nor are these scenes representative of the entire book. However, they were important, I feel, to the story line, the reader's sympathy for some characters and hatred of others. The character development was incredible. Every person was multi-dimensional and even the most lovable were flawed, challenging the reader to understand and forgive them, or not, along the way. I enjoyed this book much the way I enjoyed The Mists of Avalon, The Red Tent, Ender's Game, and other books with flawed, complicated and interesting characters. I found the subplot (primary plot?) of the building of the cathedral fascinating in all its detail...the reading sped along throughout.

This book was very good... it started a tad bit slow, but after a few dozen pages I was absolutely hooked. This story follows 4 main medieval characters you meet in the beginning and chronicles how their lives intertwine throughout the entire story. (The sequel mentions them a few times as well, postmortem.) There is a lot of architecture talk in this book, however, the betrayals and scheming will quickly take you past all of that, if architecture isn't your thing.

This book is a fantastic read for anyone that enjoys historical accuracy with an interesting story line.

I loved this book. It's extremely long, goes on forever, excellent writing and character portrayal. Nothing better!

Wonderful story. Well written. Very long but worth it. I can hardly wait to read the next book.

This is my favorite book of all time. It is wonderfully written and tells of a time when you worked hard from sun up to sun set. It has wonderful characters, interesting stories throughout and detailed descriptions of the lives of the characters. At times I was completely livid at the injustices that happened to the main characters that I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next and if they would get justice. Highly recommend this book.

This book made you want to live in 1100 England and be glad you didn't all at the same time, one of my top 5 books of all time

England.....the twelfth century. A great Gothic cathedral is being built. A masterpiece of history. Gripping tale. Read it and you will know why it is a best seller.

This book was so long, but I had such a hard time putting it down! The last 300 pages kept calling to me--I had to spend a couple of long nights because I just HAD to know how it ended! A GREAT book! One I truly enjoyed reading and plan to recommend to several people.

What I liked about this very long book was its descriptions of life in 1100's England, and of the cathedrals that formed such an important part of that life.

Unfortunately, though, the story was peopled with only a few very strong characters. Those few were well described, well-spoken and interesting, but there were many more who were just one-dimensional scene fillers or distractions. There was a sweeping story whose sweep was disrupted by often abrupt changes in scene and mood. I found the plot repetitive--good guy does something good, bad guy does something bad, repeat--and slow to advance. About a third of the way through, I started skimming large chunks of it, hitting the highlights until the end.

Excellent book.. it was a little difficult to get into at first, but then it became addictive. Some parts of the book talk about rape and brutality which I found a little disturbing, but justice was served in the end.

Set in medival times, this was an insightful book on early culture and laws, particular attention to the catholic church and it's influence. It was a little long at almost 1000 pages. But I am glad I read it, my first novel of Ken Follett. It was a nice change from my usual murder/mystery fare.

I just could not get into this book. I read about half of it and finally gave up. Parts of it were interesting, but overall, it just didn't hold my attention.

Continued to carry my interest through the entire book (and it's a long book). Looking forward to the sequel or is it a prequel?

Very well researched, and with few anachronisms to spoil the 12th-century ambience. Despite its great length (983 pages of small print), it doesn't feel a bit too long. Do not read this book if you expect complex characters or intellectual content, but DO read it if you love what the British call "ripping yarns." An excellent historical novel.

Loved this epic of the twelfith century - couldn't put it down. The entangled lives of his characters through revenge and betrayal were brilliantly portrayed. Highly recommended reading.

Freaking awesome!!

Absolutely wonderful book!

A Literary Guild Main Selection

[review from AMAZON] With this book, Follett risks all and comes out a clear winner, escaping the narrow genre of suspense thrillers to take credit for a historical novel of gripping readability, authentic atmosphere and detail and memorable characterization. Set in 12th-century England, the narrative concerns the building of a cathedral in the fictional town of Kingsbridge. The ambitions of three men merge, conflict and collide through four decades during which social and political upheaval and the internal politics of the church affect the progress of the cathedral and the fortunes of the protagonists. The insightful portrayals of an idealistic master builder, a pious, dogmatic but compassionate prior and an unscrupulous, ruthless bishop are balanced by those of a trio of independent, resourceful women (one of them quite loathesome) who can stand on their own as memorable characters in any genre. Beginning with a mystery that casts its shadow on ensuing events, the narrative is a seesaw of tension in which circumstances change with shocking but true-to-life unpredictability. Follett's impeccable pacing builds suspense in a balanced narrative that offers action, intrigue, violence and passion as well as the step-by-step description of an edifice rising in slow stages, its progress tied to the vicissitudes of fortune and the permutations of evolving architectural style. Follett's depiction of the precarious balance of power between monarchy and religion in the Middle Ages, and of the effects of social upheavals and the forces of nature (storms, famines) on political events; his ability to convey the fine points of architecture so that the cathedral becomes clearly visualized in the reader's mind; and above all, his portrayals of the enduring human emotions of ambition, greed, bravery, dedication, revenge and love, result in a highly engrossing narrative. Manipulating a complex plot in which the characters interact against a broad canvas of medieval life, Follett has written a novel that entertains, instructs and satisfies on a grand scale.

Fascinating, a great story

Suspenseful epic tale

great historical fiction read!

Very long, but I didn't want it to end...Follett tells this story extremely well.

A very engaging book!

This is the kind of book that you just don't want to end. Highly recommended!

Great story. A good long read!

#1 national bestseller is a historical novel that is instructive, involving an execution of an innocent man and with the erection of a cathedral...A Leterary Guild Main Selection

Good read.. lots of interesting characters. Historical fiction, but not sure how fact based. Definitely gives a vivid picture of the middle ages though overall.

A great twelfth century epic! I lost all sense of time while reading this book.

Excellent Ken Follett book, I enjoyed it a lot.

Great look at medieval Europe and the builders of the Cathedrals in a gripping tale as only Follett can do. Could have been real!

Excellent book! I learned a lot about a fairly obscure time period while being entertained by the story!

A departure from your typical Ken Follett. Set in 12th century England and France. The book follows a stone mason and his descendants and their fortunes and travails. This is a good read-enough adventure and real historical detail to make you think you are there.

Publishers Weekly
With this book, Follett risks all and comes out a clear winner, escaping the narrow genre of suspense thrillers to take credit for a historical novel of gripping readability, authentic atmosphere and detail and memorable characterization. Set in 12th-century England, the narrative concerns the building of a cathedral in the fictional town of Kingsbridge. The ambitions of three men merge, conflict and collide through four decades during which social and political upheaval and the internal politics of the church affect the progress of the cathedral and the fortunes of the protagonists. The insightful portrayals of an idealistic master builder, a pious, dogmatic but compassionate prior and an unscrupulous, ruthless bishop are balanced by those of a trio of independent, resourceful women (one of them quite loathesome) who can stand on their own as memorable characters in any genre. Beginning with a mystery that casts its shadow on ensuing events, the narrative is a seesaw of tension in which circumstances change with shocking but true-to-life unpredictability. Follett's impeccable pacing builds suspense in a balanced narrative that offers action, intrigue, violence and passion as well as the step-by-step description of an edifice rising in slow stages, its progress tied to the vicissitudes of fortune and the permutations of evolving architectural style. Follett's depiction of the precarious balance of power between monarchy and religion in the Middle Ages, and of the effects of social upheavals and the forces of nature (storms, famines) on political events; his ability to convey the fine points of architecture so that the cathedral becomes clearly visualized in the reader's mind; and above all, his portrayals of the enduring human emotions of ambition, greed, bravery, dedication, revenge and love, result in a highly engrossing narrative. Manipulating a complex plot in which the characters interact against a broad canvas of medieval life, Follett has written a novel that entertains, instructs and satisfies on a grand scale.

Library Journal
A radical departure from Follett's novels of international suspense and intrigue, this chronicles the vicissitudes of a prior, his master builder, and their community as they struggle to build a cathedral and protect themselves during the tumultuous 12th century, when the empress Maud and Stephen are fighting for the crown of England after the death of Henry I. The plot is less tightly controlled than those in Follett's contemporary works, and despite the wealth of historical detail, especially concerning architecture and construction, much of the language as well as the psychology of the characters and their relationships remains firmly rooted in the 20th century. This will appeal more to lovers of exciting adventure stories than true devotees of historical fiction.

AWESOME BOOK.

I wanted to edit this very thick book. It's very detailed, but some folks just love the richness of it. Great story though.

A great epic tale. I wish I could find more like this! I couldn't put it down!

Great book. If you love medieval fiction, and you love being swept up into the lives of characters you care about, you can't go wrong with this one set in the mid 12th century. I wish I could find another book similar and I would start reading it immediately.

This is a wonderful book, I have the hardcover which is in my "to be read again" pile! A book that contains everything you want great characters, loyalty, treachery, hope, despair, love and hate.

If you are into historical mysteries, or the building of a cathedral, or just a whopping good story, this is a must read. Loooong (983 pages), but it keeps your attention as it follows three generations of men and women through 40 years of social and political upheaval. Set in the 12th-century fictional town of Kingsbridge, England, the book focuses on the building of a great cathedral. In a complex novel of this length, the reader may get confused at times, and may even feel like a scorecard would be helpful in keeping all the relationships straight, but it is certainly worth the trouble. A definite change from Follett's usual novels, and by far the best.

Building a cathedral in 12th century England brings men from all walks of life together-- king, prior, master builder-- each with their own motives.

I think this is one of the best books I've ever read --- even if it wasn't a mystery.

A long almost 1000 page book that starts in the year 1120 and is a multgenerational story about building a Cathedral and all the subplots of power and destruction and The Church as this man attempts to build his dream Church.

Interesting book on the middle ages and the building of a large cathedral

A story of intrigue in England in the 12th century

My all time favorite book by Follett. He is a master of storytelling.

With my fascination of the Middle Ages, I couldn't put this book down. Follett weaved intricate stories of people of power brought to the brink of starvation, or worse, executed, the struggles and triumphs of one of the leading characters, Phillip, who began as a humble monk and the family of the builder of one of the greatest cathedrals in all of England. They were all at the mercy of the whim of the current king and his/her subjects. This book is 973 pages, but there are no "slow spots". It gallops from one fascinating tale to the next.

This is not what I expected from Follett. I loved this book!! I was sorry when I got to the end. I often buy it for people and tell them to just start it-I know you will love it.

one of my favorite all-time books. I've read it three times - SO FAR

This is a clever storyteller but he carries it on too long. I finally lost interest in every victory being followed by a blow from the same villains. Predictable plot.

I didnt read by my dad did and he said it was a good book, he read it way back when....

long

Mine has a different cover but since there is no way I can show what it looks like, let me know. I'll send you a photo of the cover.

I have not read this book, but this is what is stated on the back cover:
"Enormous and Brilliant... A great epic tale... creammed 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 yoruself. This is truly a novel to get lost in and one of the marvels of the publishing year." cosmopolitan

Great story by a great author.

Good story. Historical fiction adventure, epic tale.

Started this one, but just couldn't get into this heavy read. I'm sure fans of Ken Follet will love it.

As a new age dawns in England's twelfth century, the builing of a mighty Gothic cathedral sets the stage for a story of intrigue and power, revenge and betrayal.

A story of intrigue and power, passion and romance set in the 12th century in England.

Suspensful and gripping historical novel with romance, rivalry and spectacle.

Enormous and brilliant...a great epic tale.

my cover differs from the one shown

Another great book by Follett, this one is a historical piece that spans across centuries. You won't want to put it down, its simply great :D

This is the best book I've ever read. All about the construction of the churches in Europe and the troubles and turmoil involved. Excellent writing on the verge of Non-fiction!

3 stars. Enjoyed the story.

A little slow in parts, but overall a very interesting look into the building of cathedrals.

Breathes life into the dusty old past. Vivid characters driven by recognizable passions and fears set in 12th Century England. A big, fat page-turner.

A real page turner!

Exceptional historical fiction. I enjoyed it tremendously.

this chronicles the vicissitudes of a prior, his master builder, and their community as they struggle to build a cathedral and protect themselves during the tumultuous 12th century, when the empress Maud and Stephen are fighting for the crown of England after the death of Henry I. The plot is less tightly controlled than those in Follett's contemporary works, and despite the wealth of historical detail, especially concerning architecture and construction, much of the language as well as the psychology of the characters and their relationships remains firmly rooted in the 20th century. This will appeal more to lovers of exciting adventure stories than true devotees of historical fiction.

Story set in 12th century England. I thought this was a really great book and would recommend it. Great character development.

i really wanted to like this book...first of all just holding it to read was an effort. it si gigantic.but i stick to my 100 page rule and just had to put it down as i could make no sense of this book

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