World Without End [Hardcover]

In the same vein as, and equal in excellence to, its prequel 'The Pillars of the Earth' (which was voted into the top 100 of Britain's favourite books), 'World Without End' is a historical epic centred around the lives of a varied group of characters living in a mediaeval town.

Weighing in at 1111 modestly printed pages (the hardback edition), 'epic' is a well earned description. Yet the novel is gripping and engrossing from the first chapter and remains so thoughout. It is a testimony to Ken Follett's writing that despite its size, it doesn't feel like a long book. It's the correct length, the length it needs to be to tell the story, and there is no waffle, padding or wasted words.

The story is set in the same town as 'Pillars of the Earth' but takes place 200 years later, so could be enjoyed without having read the former (there are couple of very mild spoilers, but nothing too revealing). Of course, all of the original characters are long dead, although some of the principal characters are descended from them and their acheivements are occasionally referred to.

Beginning in 1327, the four major characters are children who witness a mysterious murder in the forest. It follows them through their lives, ending in 1361. A diverse group, through these characters Follett is able to cover many aspects of 14th century life. One becomes a knight, another is a builder (picking up on the principal theme of the prequel), the third enters the church and the fourth is a peasant. They are supported by a varied and vividly drawn cast of secondary characters; scheming monks, corrupt noblemen, merchants and peasants struggling to make their way in the world.

The historical events of the period are covered through how they affect the characters, but the novel focusses on people and their personal dramas, both large and small, rather than relating facts. The plague is an important storyline as it enters the town, and the French wars are touched upon for a few chapters. The real joy of the story is in how it relates small details of daily life for mediaeval people - their clothes, food and customs. It truly brings history alive and I felt like I was really there despite knowing little history myself.

From the first page Follett conjures up the earthiness and superstition of those times. I can't comment on how accurate it is as I wouldn't know, but it certainly rings true and even if it wasn't all compeltely correct, I don't think it would really matter. It's a great story, not a textbook, and has certainly interested me in the history of the period far more than any amount of history classes in school ever did.

Injustice is an important theme throughout the book, as the decent characters see their aspirations thwarted again and again by the corruption and self-interest of those in power. It does make you appreciate the UK legal system we have now, despite its faults. Ambition is another element present in all of the disparate characters, even if it is for very different things, and their struggles to acheive their dreams in spite of the odds makes for a thoroughly gripping tale.

The only real disadvantage of the book is its size, which in hardback at least practically prohibits reading 'on the go' (on holiday or whilst commuting, for example). However, I hope this doesn't put people off as they will be missing out on a great read. Also Christian readers may be uneasy with some of the storylines involving the monks and nuns, who do not always behave in a very Christian manner. However, this is always down to the individuals and the circumstances of the era and do not imply any criticism of the religion itself, so I would think it unlikely to give offence to most readers. It is also probably realistic.

Overall, I would highly recommend this novel as a fine piece of writing. It's rare to find a historical novel that reads like a thriller, yet all the pace and suspense that have made Follett a successful writer in the latter genre are apparent here. There's also an intriguing plot, well rounded characters, and just the right level of description. As with all Follett novels there is a fair bit of sex, although this does not overly dominate. It's very easy to read as well and should appeal to a wide range of readers. Even if you have to keep it at home and have a slimmer book for taking out, this is a book not to be missed.

Having read and loved the author's epic saga, "Pillars of the Earth", a novel about the building of a cathedral in the town of Kingsbridge in twelfth century England, I very much looked forward to reading this book. I was not disappointed. This is a masterful saga of life in fourteenth century England, and the author weaves a rich and colorful tapestry of people, places, and events in the medieval town of Kingsbridge, where a magnificent cathedral now stands.

There are a number of rich and colorful characters that drive the story, and the age old battle between good and evil plays itself out through them. Spanning a period of thirty-four turbulent years, this is a spellbinding story of love, hate, betrayal, revenge, and triumph. Moreover, the Black Plague has reared its ugly head, and England will never be the same. New ideas are germinating on the horizon, coming into conflict with the settled way of doing things, and the town and people of Kingsbridge are in a state of flux.

Although the novel is a lengthy one, the reader will be unable to put the book down, so engaging and absorbing is the story. Those who are partial to the historical fiction genre will very much enjoy this book.

The World Without End is a story that is wonderfully told. We care about the characters and the style is a real pleasure.

However it was disappointing to find such a huge number of similarities between this book and the Pillars of the Earth: the evil lord, the victimised-but-resilient woman, the nasty cleric, the enlightened-craftsman-who-goes-on-a-voyage-of-discovery... are all here. In fact, ALL the major characters from the plot in Pillars of the Earth can be found again, with different names and backgrounds. This new book is clearly built on the same model and follows closely the same plot, including a very tenuous link to some royal secret master-plot that doesn't really add anything to the overarching theme. Time after time, I was pulled out of the story by a feeling of "deja-vu" I would have preferred to do without.

If you have read "Pillars of the Earth", you have read "World Without End". Pity.