A story of passion and idealism, which describes a group of men and women in the Middle Ages whose destinies are fatefully linked with the building of a cathedral. In a country torn by civil war, two generations struggle to rise above their primitive circumstances and create something beautiful.
The Pillars of the Earth
and over 1.5 million other books are available for Amazon Kindle . Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Special Offer until June 30, 2013: Receive an additional £5 promotional Gift Certificate, when you trade-in at least £10 worth of books. Learn more. |
|
There is a newer edition of this item:
|
Book Description
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Product Description
Review
"A novel of majesty and power." -- Chicago Sun-Times
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
Book Description
Set in the turbulent times of 12th century England where civil war, famine, religious strife and battles over royal succession tore lives and families apart, The Pillars of the Earth tells the story of the building of a magnificent cathedral. Against this richly imagined backdrop, filled with intrigue and treachery, Ken Follett draws the reader irresistibly into a wonderful epic of family drama, violent conflict and unswerving ambition. From humble stonemason to imperious monarch, the dreams, labours and loves of his characters come vividly to life. The Pillars of the Earth is, without doubt, a masterpiece - and has proved to be one of the most popular books of our time. 'This mammoth tale seems to touch all human emotion − love and hate, loyalty and treachery, hope and despair. This is truly a novel to get lost in' Cosmopolitan 'A highly enjoyable tale . . . this book evokes its period brilliantly' Sunday Times
--This text refers to the
Audio CD
edition.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Browse and search another edition of this book.
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
265 of 280 people found the following review helpful
Format:MP3 CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I dont care what the rest of you think, but I loved this book. I am a hardcore fantasy reader and was really loath to start this 1076 page monster. But a 2 week holiday with the kids loomed ever near, and I decided that this was the perfect thing to while away those long evenings.
We went camping in Southern France, it was hot, the van was cramped and we had no food as we were miles from a shop. Every time I felt sorry for myself I started reading about 12th century life and thanked my lucky stars, looked around and felt gratefull that raping and pillaging were no longer a problem and my only real worry was getting 5 kids ready for bed in less than 2 hours!
If you love medieval history, romance, factual events and treachery all woven together with fantastic characterisation, great descriptions and dialogue then this is the book for you. It depicts the life and times of the dark ages in a very real way, nothing is romanticised. The rawness of the descriptions was a refreshing change and I feel I could build a cathedral from scratch thanks to Follets excellent descriptions. (which are not boring but facinating)
It describes the lives of the aristocracy, peasants, royalty and follows the individual lives of about 5 various people including a monk Father Philip (for 63 years of his life_)and about some other very different characters who's lives and destiny's are all irrivocabley interwoven.
The opening paragraph describes a hanging in the most brutal way, and the descriptions of the behaviour and attitude of the observers just had me gripped from the begining.
I was so impressed that the minute I got home I was on the net trying to verify some of the facts therin. And sure enough it was all there.... Read more ›
We went camping in Southern France, it was hot, the van was cramped and we had no food as we were miles from a shop. Every time I felt sorry for myself I started reading about 12th century life and thanked my lucky stars, looked around and felt gratefull that raping and pillaging were no longer a problem and my only real worry was getting 5 kids ready for bed in less than 2 hours!
If you love medieval history, romance, factual events and treachery all woven together with fantastic characterisation, great descriptions and dialogue then this is the book for you. It depicts the life and times of the dark ages in a very real way, nothing is romanticised. The rawness of the descriptions was a refreshing change and I feel I could build a cathedral from scratch thanks to Follets excellent descriptions. (which are not boring but facinating)
It describes the lives of the aristocracy, peasants, royalty and follows the individual lives of about 5 various people including a monk Father Philip (for 63 years of his life_)and about some other very different characters who's lives and destiny's are all irrivocabley interwoven.
The opening paragraph describes a hanging in the most brutal way, and the descriptions of the behaviour and attitude of the observers just had me gripped from the begining.
I was so impressed that the minute I got home I was on the net trying to verify some of the facts therin. And sure enough it was all there.... Read more ›
57 of 60 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have never read any of Ken Follett's work before but was intrigued by The Pillars of the Earth at is purportedly based on Salisbury Cathedral .It is certainly about cathedral building in 12th century England. The story follows Prior Philip, a monk with ambition to build a great cathedral, allied with architect Tom. It is an epic novel (900 + pages )and took me a considerable time to read. The author's love of the project shine through and he draws a very realistic picture of the period, with strong characters and plot full of the timeless struggle of good versus evil. If you like Epic Classics, this is the book for you.
Anon
The Spire Chronicle
Anon
The Spire Chronicle
98 of 104 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
From the outset, Pillars of the Earth gripped me. My imagination was captured by the day to day lives of some of the most real characters I have met between the pages of a novel. Each character evokes a response: compassion, respect, revulsion or even lust. The story spans many years, yet gives remarkable detail concerning the changing politics, lifestyle and even architectural and building practices of the day. I was given the book by a friend several years ago, and have given copies as gifts several times. My own copy is so battered from being read, reread, lent and returned that I'm now needing a replacement.
123 of 132 people found the following review helpful
By "janlaws"
Format:Paperback
I found a copy of the pillars of the earth whilst scanning the shelves of my local bookshop. I hadn't come across Ken Follett before then, but as an avid reader of historical fiction, it seemed a safe bet. WOW! From the very first page I couldnt put it down. I hardly ate or slept for the duration. I felt I knew the characters personally and laughed and cried with them throughout the years we were together. I feld such grief when someone died, I sobbed openly. I lived in the middle ages and could hardly bear to drag myself back into the 20th century when I put the book down. I cried buckets when I finished the book and wanted to just open the front page and start again. I frequently recommend this book and all my family in australia were sent copies, such was my passion. I read the book quite a few years ago now but nothing I have read since, has grabbed me in quite the same way. It is still my all time favourite historical novel, I just cant rate it highly enough.
33 of 35 people found the following review helpful
By Amazonian Al
Format:Hardcover
My mum recently gave me her old, battered copy of this tome! I was hesitant to read it at first as it looked like it was too historical and full of namby pamby priests and monks. Was I mistaken!?!?!? I have since been getting into trouble for not doing my chores as I am to be found constantly with my nose in the book as I cannot put it down! It is quite exhausting - no sooner is one crises managed/averted/suffered, than it is straight into the next. At the same time, a kind of peaceful, calm and compelling delivery of how to build a cathedral - where's my mason's hammer.......? Fantastic.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By matinyoupi
Format:Paperback
I've just finished the book and I liked it very much. I've been burning midnight oil: the story is really captivating. It's really good entertainment and I'm happy with that. I've enjoyed the depiction of the everyday life in the Medieval Ages and it had me browsing history books to refresh my memory (a little chronology of real-life events of the time appended to the novel would have come handy to me). However, after getting used to the plot, you can see quite clearly the way the writer works. All the events in the book follow more or less the same pattern. And I hate to say that, but some of the events seem far-fetched, or not plausible at all: (WARNING! SPOILER: who would fall in love instantly with a starving family and leave everything behind, who would fall in love instantly the very morning when his dear wife passes away? And there are many many things like this in the book. Also, the bit about the hike of a woman on her own with a baby through Europe was a bit too much, too easy and too short for me really. There is another bit which has annoyed me, but I can't tell you, otherwise I'd be saying too much END OF SPOILER). Events happen to the heroes in a timely manner, which makes me think, well... it is a little bit too easy. I haven't liked the shortcuts sometimes abruptly used to tell us "... oh by the way, I hadn't told you, but they are now a happy bunch because this happened to them, full stop... I'm not gonna write another fifty pages about how that could happen and let me now get on with my story..." The characters are all black and white: the baddies are filthy scums and the goodies are glorified.
But, never mind, if you're after a good captivating read that will transport you in the medieval age, that is the book you need.... Read more ›
But, never mind, if you're after a good captivating read that will transport you in the medieval age, that is the book you need.... Read more ›
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 2,510 reviews
4.3 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant Brilliant Brilliant
Do not be put off buy the thickness of this book. Intricate plot line, that makes you want to keep reading. One of the few books I have read multiple times.
Published 3 days ago by M Glover
5.0 out of 5 stars
novel
loved this book also its following book was great. loved the series on the tv and had to have to books
Published 5 days ago by eve
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant reading!
The author not only tells an intriguing story but gives an insight into the life and times of that era. Read more
Published 12 days ago by mrs geraldine elliott
4.0 out of 5 stars
A truly epic saga
This is a very long book, mingling history with fiction, and I found the insight into life in the middle ages fascinating, although it did make me thankful that I live in the 21st... Read more
Published 13 days ago by D. L. Gaubert
5.0 out of 5 stars
A riveting read
I actually purchased this book by mistake but I found that this book completely took over my life for a few days and I fell in love with the characters. Read more
Published 16 days ago by Mr. S. J. Beckett
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic Read
From the very first page this book had me gripped and I have not read any book so intensely - I could not put it down and I look forward to the sequel. I love it !!!!
Published 21 days ago by gordon scott
3.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable
To be honest, reading the previous reviews I was expecting more from this book, nevertheless it is a very enjoyable piece of writing. Read more
Published 22 days ago by Giorgio Brocco
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pillers of the earth.
An excellent book. It was recommended by a friend but wasn't sure it was my type of book, but I started it, and was glad I did as I struggled to put it down. Great read
Published 23 days ago by BEV
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great historical drama
A fantastic read from cover to cover with several independent stories weaving their way in-between each other and the actual history of Norman England. Read more
Published 25 days ago by Big Man
5.0 out of 5 stars
A nice long read!
I haven't read any of Ken Follett's books before, but I really enjoyed this and will certainly read more. Read more
Published 25 days ago by Maggie Oakman
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/02/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192198663_.gif){kind=small}
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
- Books > Fiction > Historical
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
