Pillars of the earth
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Pillars of the earth
A captivating story of love, intrigue and determination set against the backdrop of the construction of a Gothic cathedral
A historical novel fresco, its colourful plot centred around the construction of a Gothic cathedral in 12th-century England.
In 12th-century England, a time of civil war, devastating famine and religious strife, a magnificent cathedral rises in Kingsbridge. Against the backdrop of the momentous events following the death of King Henry I, as Queen Maud and King Stephen fight for the English crown for two decades, the fates of a variety of characters intertwine – Philip, the Prior of Kingsbridge, a pious and ingenious monk who strives to build the greatest Gothic cathedral; Tom the builder, who becomes the prior's architect; the beautiful and mysterious Lady Aliena, haunted her whole life by a hidden disgrace; the fearless Ellen, who lives in the forest and, after the unjust execution of her lover, curses all who have sworn falsely; the cunning and treacherous Earl William, who commits bloodshed and violence; and Jack the stonemason, for whom building is his greatest passion in life. Against the backdrop of the momentous events following the death of King Henry I, which unleashed a three-decade-long struggle for the English crown between Queen Maud and King Stephen, the fates of several characters, clergymen, artisans and nobles, poor and rich, local and foreign, are intertwined.
To find themselves and their place in life, some of them must travel a long way, whether across half of Europe, in the footsteps of their ancestors, or across their own consciences...
Ken Follett
(*1949, Cardiff, Wales) studied philosophy at University College London and then worked as a reporter (South Wales Echo, Evening News). He soon turned to writing and became a popular and respected author of crime and spy stories (Eye of the Needle, Jackdaws, Hornet Flight, Whiteout, A Place Called Freedom and others). However, he gained worldwide popularity with his extensive historical novels set in the medieval town of Kingsbridge: The Pillars of the Earth (1989), which managed to top The New York Times bestseller list again eighteen years after its first publication; World Without End (2007), which became the world's bestselling title in 2008; and A Column of Fire (2017). The first two books were adapted into a television series. The author's successful trilogy charting the turbulent history of the last century, simply titled The Century Trilogy (Fall of Giants, Winter of the World, Edge of Eternity), was also a success.
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