The Pillars of the Earth, Ken Follett
The Pillars of the Earth, Ken Follett
678 Rating(s)
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The Pillars of the Earth

Author: Ken Follett

Narrator: John Lee

Unabridged: 40 hr 56 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Published: 10/09/2007


Synopsis

If you liked the Century Trilogy, you’ll love the “extraordinary . . . monumental masterpiece.”—Booklist, that changed the course of Ken Follett’s already phenomenal career. 

“Follett risks all and comes out a clear winner,” extolled Publishers Weekly on the release of The Pillars of the Earth. A departure for the bestselling thriller writer, the historical epic stunned readers and critics alike with its ambitious scope and gripping humanity. Today, it stands as a testament to Follett’s unassailable command of the written word and to his universal appeal. 
 
The Pillars of the Earth tells the story of Philip, prior of Kingsbridge, a devout and resourceful monk driven to build the greatest Gothic cathedral the world has known . . . of Tom, the mason who becomes his architect—a man divided in his soul . . . of the beautiful, elusive Lady Aliena, haunted by a secret shame . . . and of a struggle between good and evil that will turn church against state, and brother against brother.
 
A spellbinding epic tale of ambition, anarchy, and absolute power set against the sprawling medieval canvas of twelfth-century England, this is Ken Follett’s historical masterpiece.

About Ken Follett

Ken Follett, a Welsh novelist has written important bodies of work, such as: Eye of the Needle, The Key to Rebecca, Pillars of the Earth, World Without End, Whiteout, The Century Trilogy. His genre includes thrillers and historical fiction. As a youth he was never allowed to watch television or movies, so out of boredom, he developed a keen interest in reading.

Follett had various jobs on his pathway to being a novelist. He was a general assignment reporter for the Evening News in London. He found that work to be very unchallenging, so he took a position as managing director of Everest Books and began writing fiction as an evening hobby. With the publication of Eye of the Needle in 1978 he became not only internationally known, but also wealthy. Follett’s next project is a third book in his Kingsbridge series. The first two were The Pillars of the Earth and World Without End, and is to be released in 2017.


Reviews

AudiobooksNow review by Michelle on 2007-11-14 14:05:50

I read tons of books and this is the best Ive ever read! I didnt think Id like it, so it sat on my shelf for months, unread. When I had read everything else, I had no choice but to read it. I couldnt put it down!

AudiobooksNow review by Jodi on 2010-02-18 16:13:46

This book was recommended to me, so I painfully forced myself to continue to read it. The characters were developed well, but the story was so horrible that I was glad when it was finally over.

AudiobooksNow review by Anne on 2011-06-15 16:55:09

I loved this book so much I could barely wait for my commute to work to hear more! I am not at all interested in historical detail, but this book is written in such a way that the rich historical background is just as intriguing as the rest of the story and every bit as fascinating!

AudiobooksNow review by Alexander on 2011-09-11 22:37:11

If you are listening to the audiobook version of The Pillars of the Earth, make sure you do NOT listen to the MP3 version narrated by George Ralph. I wasnt able to listen to the whole book the first time I rented it and had sent it back. Then, when I rerented it, I rented the one with George Ralph as the narrator and he reads it sans any type of performance. I hate to rip into Ralphs narration in general, but Richard E. Grant does a much better job with this one. Ralph sounds like he is just reading the words in the book in front of a microphone, no feeling, it reminds me of a monotone military briefing.

Goodreads review by Matthew on March 08, 2018

7.2 MILLION STARS! Did I just read one of the most amazing books I have ever read? Yes, yes I did! I cannot say enough about this book, the story, the writing, the characters, etc. etc. etc. Everything is perfect! If someone had said to me, “Here is a 1000 page book about the building of a cathedral 1......more

Goodreads review by Petrik on July 21, 2024

The Pillars of the Earth has been hailed as one of the most triumphant novels of all time for decades now, and it deserves every acclaim it earned. “When things are simple, fewer mistakes are made. The most expensive part of a building is the mistakes.” If you have been following my reading journ......more

Goodreads review by Sean Barrs on July 22, 2016

This book was so completely fantastic that I almost forgot the outside world existed when I was reading it. I’ve never be so emotionally invested in a story, as I was with this. It’s a rare book that does this to me. I think it’s because it follows the characters through such a large proportion of t......more

Goodreads review by Chelsea on April 09, 2019

This was incredible. After reading this for weeks, I'll need a bit to sort out my thoughts on this one. Review to come. Also, how great is the feeling when you're the first person to check out a brand new replacement copy via the library?......more

Goodreads review by Steven on July 25, 2020

Una de mis mejores lecturas del año. Excelente libro con una narración y un contexto histórico que nos atrapa desde el primer momento. Antes de leer Los Pilares de la Tierra, tenía la percepción de que por ser un libro tan extenso la trama se desarrollaría lentamente, por lo que decidí leerlo solo......more


Quotes

Praise for The Pillars of the Earth

"Enormous and brilliant . . . a great epic tale . . . crammed 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 yourself. This is truly a novel to get lost in." —Cosmopolitan 

"Wonderful . . . will hold you, fascinate you, surround you." —Chicago Sun-Times

"Follett is a master." —The Washington Post

"A towering tale . . . a ripping read. . . . There's murder, arson, treachery, torture, love, and lust." —The New York Daily News

"Ken Follett takes a giant step." —San Francisco Chronicle

"With this book, Follett risks all and comes out a clear winner . . . a historical novel of gripping readability, authentic atmosphere, and memorable characterization. Beginning with a mystery that casts its shadow, the narrative is a seesaw of tension, suspense, impeccable pacing . . . action, intrigue, violence, passion, greed, bravery, dedication, revenge, and love. A love that entertains, instructs, and satisfies on a grand scale." —Publishers Weekly

"An extraordinary epic buttressed by suspense . . . a mystifying puzzle involving the execution of an innocent man . . . the erection of a magnificent cathedral . . . romance, rivalry, and spectacle. A monumental masterpiece . . . a towering triumph from a major talent." —Booklist