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Ken Follett
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World Without End Paperback – Unabridged, 3 Oct. 2008

by Ken Follett (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 38,199 ratings
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World Without End: Ken Follett (The Kingsbridge Novels, 2)
World Without End: Ken Follett (The Kingsbridge Novels, 2)
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On the day after Halloween, in the year 1327, four children slip away from the cathedral city of Kingsbridge. They are a thief, a bully, a boy genius and a girl who wants to be a doctor. In the forest they see two men killed. As adults, their lives will be braided together by ambition, love, greed and revenge. They will see prosperity and famine, plague and war. One boy will travel the world but come home in the end; the other will be a powerful, corrupt nobleman. One girl will defy the might of the medieval church; the other will pursue an impossible love. And always they will live under the long shadow of the unexplained killing they witnessed on that fateful childhood day. Ken Follett's masterful epic The Pillars of the Earth enchanted millions of readers with its compelling drama of war, passion and family conflict set around the building of a cathedral. Now World Without End takes readers back to medieval Kingsbridge two centuries later, as the men, women and children of the city once again grapple with the devastating sweep of historical change. 'Follett's storytelling skills keep you compulsively turning the pages to the satisfactory ending of good triumphant over evil' Daily Mail
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  1. Book 2 of 5
    Kingsbridge
  2. Print length
    1248 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Pan Books
  5. Publication date
    3 Oct. 2008
  6. Reading age
    18 years and up
  7. Dimensions
    13 x 5.6 x 19.7 cm
  8. ISBN-10
    9780330490702
  9. ISBN-13
    978-0330490702
  10. See all details
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  1. It was said that pilgrims should not spend too much time planning their journey, for they might learn of so many hazards that they would decide not to go.
    Highlighted by 1,632 Kindle readers
  2. “Mankind is fallible, so we should not rely on our own reasoning. We cannot hope to understand the world—all we can do is stand amazed at God’s creation. True knowledge comes only from revelation. We should not question received wisdom.”
    Highlighted by 514 Kindle readers
  3. “Never call a meeting until the result is a foregone conclusion.”
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Product description

Review

'Fans of Follett's no-frills style and pacy way with narrative will devour this.' -- Christina Koning, The Times

'an ungainly doorstopper of a book, but gives a real sense of life in a medieval cathedral city'
-- Sunday Telegraph Magazine

Review

'Fans of Follett's no-frills style and pacy way with narrative will devour this.'

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0330490702
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pan Books; Unabridged edition (3 Oct. 2008)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 1248 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780330490702
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0330490702
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 18 years and up
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 13 x 5.6 x 19.7 cm
  • Customer reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 38,199 ratings

About the author

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Ken Follett

Ken Follett

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Ken Follett was only twenty-seven when he wrote the award-winning EYE OF THE NEEDLE, which became an international bestseller. His celebrated PILLARS OF THE EARTH was voted into the top 100 of Britain's best-loved books in the BBC's the Big Read and the sequel, WORLD WITHOUT END, was published to critical acclaim. He lives with his family in London and Hertfordshire.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
38,199 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy the engaging story and historical details. They find the writing style easy to read and enjoyable. Readers appreciate the character development and attention to growth. The book provides an interesting and exciting read with twists and turns. It is a worthy sequel to Pillars of the Earth.

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ReadabilityHistorical detailWriting qualityCharacter developmentEntertainment valueSequelInformation qualityLength
670 customers mention ‘Readability’644 positive26 negative

Customers enjoy the story and find it engaging. They appreciate the well-researched plot and find it a wonderful series that brings the 20th century to life. Readers describe the book as a brilliantly written masterpiece.

"...The author makes you take sides and live in the story with unforgettable people." Read more

"...me is the way the convolutions of the various trials and tragedies weave together so well , that amazes me actually ...." Read more

"...and although it's not as good as its predecessor, it kept me entertained for 40 hours or more on my commute to work without ever boring me...." Read more

"...Again his characters developed nicely and the story progressed at a fair clip. Now on to the next in the series." Read more

191 customers mention ‘Historical detail’172 positive19 negative

Customers enjoy the book's historical detail and descriptions of lifestyles and township demographics. They find it well-researched and engaging, bringing the twentieth century to life in an accessible way. The book provides an effective insight into English history and the changes to our society over the centuries. It is described as a riveting look at life in a medieval town.

"I did enjoy this read. Very detailed and historically accurate. Obviously Mr Follett does do his research...." Read more

"...Lots of action and intrigue, and the world building is excellent...." Read more

"...is just as epic with just as many plot lines, sub plots and depth as the original but I found it even easier to read and more of a page turner than..." Read more

"...loves period history will love this book as it gives fascinating insights into how basic, brutal and unfair life was back in those days when you..." Read more

142 customers mention ‘Writing quality’127 positive15 negative

Customers enjoy the writing style and find it easy to read. They appreciate the vivid descriptions of real life in the 14th century and the author's skill in setting the scene. The book captures their imagination and sparks an interest in medieval times.

"...Still reading it. It’s an easy read and it’s written for everyone. A young teen could read it and it’s just as engrossing for adults ...." Read more

"KF represents quality writing...." Read more

"...of the perilous positions of both the poor and the female are starkly depicted, their vulnerabilities harshly exposed in all their shameful glory...." Read more

"...lines, sub plots and depth as the original but I found it even easier to read and more of a page turner than the original...." Read more

140 customers mention ‘Character development’124 positive16 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book. They find the attention to character growth engaging, though some of the characters are one-dimensional. The book includes true historical characters and places like King Stephen and the Battle of Lincoln.

"...Obviously Mr Follett does do his research. Again his characters developed nicely and the story progressed at a fair clip...." Read more

"...The Kungsbridge series picks different ages and brings them alive through characters that represent the societies of that time." Read more

"...This is quite an impressive feat and I found the attention given to character growth meant I was genuinely invested in the characters as Follett put..." Read more

"Great story line and characters. A real page turner. It’s a shame it is over and I am going to start the next on in the series straight away!" Read more

130 customers mention ‘Entertainment value’111 positive19 negative

Customers find the book engaging with its twists and turns. They appreciate Follett's insight into life and times during the 14th century. The descriptions of life in the period and cathedral architecture are interesting backdrops to an enjoyable plot.

"...All linked and weaving wonder into your reading . Anyone could write that side of it...." Read more

"...Follett does a good job of character building and world building though, meaning that I didn't begrudge him the slow start and build up...." Read more

"...Ralph was despicable but very entertaining. Although I liked Caris, I did really want to slap her at some points...." Read more

"Reading Follett is a highly entertaining way to study history...." Read more

107 customers mention ‘Sequel’101 positive6 negative

Customers enjoyed the sequel to Pillars of the Earth. They found it a good follow-up and part of a great trilogy. The book included action, intrigue, and excellent world-building.

"...Lots of action and intrigue, and the world building is excellent...." Read more

"This book is a fabulous sequel to The Pillars of the Earth!..." Read more

"...the earth, and the second book of this trilogy was, if anything, even more complete...." Read more

"...'ll love this, it's the ALIENS of the book world, the sequel being better than the original...." Read more

57 customers mention ‘Information quality’57 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and well-researched. They appreciate its detailed descriptions of buildings, farming practices, and human reactions to the horrors of war. The book educates them about the English hierarchy and their lives during that time.

"I did enjoy this read. Very detailed and historically accurate. Obviously Mr Follett does do his research...." Read more

"...and the community alike and Follett does am excellent job of showing humanities reactions to the terror of a silent spread of death - both mundane..." Read more

"...Overall, it reads as if a well-informed historian, a comic-book writer and a sex-obsessed teenager played an extended game of consequences over some..." Read more

"...It is just fascinating. This book is well documented and expertly written...." Read more

73 customers mention ‘Length’45 positive28 negative

Customers have different views on the book's length. Some find it engaging despite its length, with short chapters that keep them hooked. Others find it too long and heavy to read in bed.

"...(and there are lot of pages to turn) which is an achievement for a book of this length...." Read more

"...The length of the book also presents practical issues. It really is too big to handle. I hate the whole notion of a Kindle...." Read more

"...As in the best modern TV soaps, chapters are many and short and leave the reader hanging for the next...." Read more

"...reads just as well, is thoroughly engaging, and I think even longer than the first part...." Read more

The master of fiction and fact
5 out of 5 stars
The master of fiction and fact
Another fabulous read from beginning to end, characters with appropriate names and individual stories of their lives the backstabbing ways that evil people do to get their own way, and most of all the portrayal of the good hard working and caring people that this master of fiction and fact has put into this book.
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Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • D. Beadle
    5.0 out of 5 stars Does it have to end?
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 December 2024
    Verified Purchase
    World without end is a novel I wish was never-ending. The intrigues, the loves, the technologies, the power struggles, the land and the city, all against the movements that were changing the world in the 1300s. The author makes you take sides and live in the story with unforgettable people.
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  • The Meek
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Storytelling of Great Stories
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 December 2020
    Verified Purchase
    My first review . Still reading it.
    It’s an easy read and it’s written for everyone. A young teen could read it and it’s just as engrossing for adults . An example of the sort of thing that impress me is the way the convolutions of the various trials and tragedies weave together so well , that amazes me actually . An example being that before we know it we are seeing the Battle of Crecy from the French perspective and their own contribution to that defeat . This battle a added to the long term challenges for the heroes, I felt I understood more of that battle , learned probable origins of some old words we all use , got a bit of adventure , and was set for another one as characters died and inherited or were promoted and new things learned for other characters which continued further the trials , tragedies and minor triumphs . Then another adventure which does the same thing again , and again , and so on. All linked and weaving wonder into your reading . Anyone could write that side of it. I liked how Follet enabled that as part of the story with such economy . And it just goes on like that . There must be plot holes but they are very well disguised as to be unnoticeable . This is the first time I have felt I’d like to seek this author out and demand he tells me how the hell is could get all this story telling in order like this!
    Get it , read it , enjoy . ( it’s an historical adventure novel, not a text book , so ignore the detractors ).
    One person found this helpful
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  • Ruju
    4.0 out of 5 stars Recommended if you enjoyed the first book and like a long read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 April 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Sequels are sometimes described as "more of the same", and that has never applied more accurately than to the second entry in the Kingsbridge series. With the benefit of hindsight, it may have been a mistake to listen to this audiobook immediately after finishing The Pillars of the Earth. Some reviewers have noted how alike the two are, and there are plenty of similarities. To some extent, the story is another version of Pillars of the Earth, two hundred years on, with a shuffled round set of characters. Ken Follett has a habit, in this series at least, of over explaining something that was already obvious through showing. Furthermore, he telegraphs when something momentous is going to happen or not happen by building up the opposite of it. So why the 4 stars? I have to view World Without End as a whole, and although it's not as good as its predecessor, it kept me entertained for 40 hours or more on my commute to work without ever boring me. It felt like a never ending soap opera, but I ended up completely invested in so many of the characters while despising others. Leaving them all behind when it was over was a big wrench. Recommended if you enjoyed the first book and like a long read, but maybe leave a year or so between them.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • S.W.B
    5.0 out of 5 stars Okay
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 June 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I did enjoy this read. Very detailed and historically accurate. Obviously Mr Follett does do his research. Again his characters developed nicely and the story progressed at a fair clip. Now on to the next in the series.
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  • Ian Kelly
    5.0 out of 5 stars Classic literature
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 June 2024
    Verified Purchase
    KF represents quality writing. The Kungsbridge series picks different ages and brings them alive through characters that represent the societies of that time.
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  • pradeep
    5.0 out of 5 stars amazing read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 October 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Although I’ve been a Ken Follet reader for 35-40 years, I missed this series.
    It’s amazing. History with a story woven into it.
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  • Caroline atkins
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great reading
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 January 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Having read this book years ago, I have revisited Ken Folletts' works and was not disappointed.
    This series is as good today as it was 20 years ago.
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  • S. Smedley
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good, but very similar to Pillars of the Earth
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 September 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I would have given it 5 stars where it not for the fact similarities to the first book. It's another page turner (and there are lot of pages to turn) which is an achievement for a book of this length. Lots of action and intrigue, and the world building is excellent. Only issue is how most of the main characters are carbon copies of ones in the first book. Also quite similar plotting.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Perliux
    5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and very descriptive.
    Reviewed in Mexico on 17 July 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I really enjoyed it, even more than Pillars of the e
    Earth.

    For some people, the length of descriptive phases Follet take in these books are tiresome, but for me are beautiful and nurtured.

    I highly advice to read the books in order:
    - Pillars of earth (beginning of the middle age 1100 AC)
    - World Without End (1300 AC)
    - and, a Column of Fire (to be read by me)

    Each set of characters and stories are linked through Kingsbridge Cathedral, but each one preset you with problems and challenges of each time.

    Discovering the beginning of the black death and how people faced it, reminded me a lot of our actual pandemic. And it was weird to read many of our prevention measurements, to be described in this book.

    In a few words: it is amazing to read how common people invest their time and life in creating something so beautiful and long-lasting as a Cathedral, a bridge and a whole town.
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  • Lsh
    5.0 out of 5 stars passionnant
    Reviewed in France on 31 December 2023
    Verified Purchase
    L’auteur parvient à nous plonger à l’époque du moyen-âge, de la guerre de cent ans et de la peste bucolique. Le rythme est soutenu et le lecteur éprouve de nombreuses émotions au cours des péripéties qui se succèdent. C’est la deuxième fois que je lis ce roman et c’est toujours avec le même plaisir. Je le recommande.
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  • kondapalli susanth
    5.0 out of 5 stars Always and always the author brews the characters to the ripe... This isn't as flashy as the kingsbridge 1 but still it's a must read... I hope someone could make a good video series about it .... The lore is superb and as well the author's timeline ... Good novel if you want to read about England ...
    Reviewed in India on 11 December 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Always and always the author brews the characters to the ripe... This isn't as flashy as the kingsbridge 1 but still it's a must read... I hope someone could make a good video series about it .... The lore is superb and as well the author's timeline ... Good novel if you want to read about England ...
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  • Daniele Amidei
    5.0 out of 5 stars Libro intrigante
    Reviewed in Italy on 11 October 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Il libro è molto intrigante, con rappresentazioni calzanti dell'animo umano nelle sue debolezze, nelle sue nefandezze e, di contro, nelle sue più alte espressioni. Il racconto ti prende molto e non vedi l'ora di leggere la pagina successiva per sapere cosa succederà. Pertanto è un libro sicuramente da leggere. Difetti? Potremmo dire che i vari accadimenti nel dipanarsi degli episodi sono tutti possibili, ma, come sempre nei romanzi di Ken Follet, la probabilità che nella realtà possano accadere tutti assieme è pari a quella di azzeccare un sei al superenalotto. Ma d'altra parte è un romanzo per cui è molto più importante tenere sulle spine il lettore che scrivere una storia più realistica, ma noiosa.
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  • Steve F
    5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable reading
    Reviewed in Australia on 31 October 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Love this series. Great characters and the way he incorporates history into the work is marvellous
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