The Pillars of the Earth: Amazon.co.uk: Ken Follett: Books

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Review

"'A historical saga of such breadth and density... Follett succeeds brilliantly in combining hugeness and detail to create a novel imbued with the rewness, violence and blind faith of the era' Sunday Express" --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Description

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.

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203 Reviews

5 star:		(143)
4 star:		(26)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(14)
1 star:		(8)

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4.4 out of 5 stars (203 customer reviews)

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86 of 89 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars loved it loved it loved it, 31 Jul 2006

By	Laura Phillipson "Pern Fan" (UK) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Pillars of the Earth (MP3 CD)

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. Follett has taken key moments in medieval british history and woven around it 3 dimensional characters which just bring it all to life.

I'm now off to buy some more from this time period!

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78 of 82 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My all time favourite novel., 15 Feb 2005

By	"janlaws" - See all my reviews

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.

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46 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I've never looked at a cathedral in the same way again, 7 April 1999

By A Customer

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.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars The Pillars of the Earth
Absolutely fabulous, I could not put it down and I was really sad when it was finished. Loved the sequel - World Without End - almost as much. Highly recommended.

Published 12 days ago by Mrs. Penelope A. Raine

4.0 out of 5 stars pillars of the earth
I have not read all of this book yet, but have read "world without end " which is the follow up. Both books are very realistic and true to their timeline. Read more

Published 23 days ago by yve

5.0 out of 5 stars great read, lousy publication
I read this novel many moons ago, and recently researched high and low to remind myself of the title. Read more

Published 1 month ago by sweetheart

2.0 out of 5 stars Its a clunky beach novel set in Medieval times and not a good one!!
This is a Medieval romp written in the accessible style of Saturday night telly. Follet has taken huge liberties with the period and the novel seems like a secondary structure on... Read more

Published 1 month ago by pete

2.0 out of 5 stars Pillars and pop ups
I found this book a struggle to read, not difficult in the academic sense but in the walking through treacle sense. Read more

Published 1 month ago by Mr. G. Lewis

5.0 out of 5 stars A stranger recommends
I have been aware of this book for a long time, but didn't read it as I was suspicious of all the hype. Read more

Published 2 months ago by Good Book Fan

5.0 out of 5 stars Pillars of the earth
This book is an epic. And soon to be a bit of a cult classic if its not already. You must read this book.

Published 2 months ago by T. G. Wharton

3.0 out of 5 stars impressive but...
This book does leave some questions - primary about the swearing - it made me ask why if you use swear language in newspapers you have to use * in some letters, there is a warning... Read more

Published 2 months ago by Chris

2.0 out of 5 stars No Brainer.
I heard rave reviews about this book from a lot of people, but I was really disappointed. It is, indeed, a page-turner, and a pretty fast moving summer read, if that is what you... Read more

Published 2 months ago by Laura Vick

5.0 out of 5 stars You cannot put it down
Despite being a mammoth challenge in terms of its length this novel absolutely held me spellbound for a week as I read it. Read more

Published 2 months ago by D. W. Miller

› See all 203 customer reviews...

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