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The Pillars of the Earth
- Kingsbridge, Book 1
- Narrated by: John Lee
- Length: 40 hrs and 56 mins
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The Pillars of the Earth
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Editor reviews
Award-winning novelist Ken Follett is at his most magnificent in Pillars of the Earth, Book 1 of the trilogy series by the same name, narrated by professional voice artist John Lee. This incredible book has been voted in the top 100 of Britain’s Best Loved Books in the BBC The Big Read. The scope of detail in this audiobook is unparalleled. Its intricate plot is weaved with history, religion, politics, love and dishonour. It is an all-encompassing saga, delicately capturing the very core of existence in 12th-century England. Available now from Audible.
Summary
An epic, spellbinding tale of ambition, anarchy, and absolute power set against the sprawling medieval canvas of twelfth-century England, The Pillars of the Earth is Ken Follett's historical masterpiece.
A Mason with a Dream
It is 1135 and civil war, famine and religious strife abound. With his family on the verge of starvation, mason Tom Builder dreams of the day that he can use his talents to create and build a cathedral like no other.
A Monk with a Burning Mission
Philip is the church prior of Kingsbridge. A resourceful man, he knows that if his town is to survive at all, it must find a way to truly thrive. He decides, then, to build Kingsbridge the greatest Gothic cathedral the world has ever known.
A World of High Ideals and Savage Cruelty
As the prior recruits his mason, so begins a journey of ambition, anarchy and the struggle for absolute power. Facing enemies that would thwart them, they will stop at nothing to fulfil their grand plans of Kingsbridge. Soon build tensions between good and evil, turning church against state, and brother against brother . . .
The Pillars of the Earth is the first in The Kingsbridge Novels series, followed by World Without End and A Column of Fire.
Critic reviews
"Enormous and brilliant...this mammoth tale seems to touch all human emotion - love and hate, loyalty and treachery, hope and despair. This is truly a novel to get lost in." (Cosmopolitan)
"A historical saga of such breadth and density.... Follett succeeds brilliantly in combining hugeness and detail to create a novel imbued with the rawness, violence and blind faith of the era." (Sunday Express)
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What listeners say about The Pillars of the Earth
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Mr Phil T
- 23-05-15
Another great book by Ken Follet
Brilliant listen if you like history set behind fictional characters this is for you looking forward to listening to the second book
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- James Bancroft
- 26-02-22
What a story! And so well read!!!
A real treat with fabulous narration. I can’t wait to start the next one, Thank you.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Jo Harmer
- 10-08-22
The Pillars of the Earth
What a truly epic tale! New to Ken Follett (I blame Jane Garvey.. if you know, you know!) what a great place to start. I only wish I was as good at writing the review as I was at immersing myself in this brilliant story
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Cook Gillingham
- 31-12-22
Insightful
At first I wasn’t too sure of how this book was going to evolve and it’s journey was at times shocking. I was pleased with the road it traveled.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Amazon Customer
- 02-12-22
Excellent Listen
Great story with known historical figures merged into the story line. I am so pleased that the author decided to continue to write this book. Brought alive with an excellent narrator
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 12-01-23
Excellent.
Loved the whole book. Great narration. So interesting and I’m not really into historical novels at all!
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- Jana B
- 30-12-22
Wonderful book
This is an amazing book, it brings medieval history to life, the lives of nobility and the poor, so good, close your eyes and just picture it as you listen,sorry it has finished.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Amazon Customer
- 23-05-23
Thoroughly enjoyable
Well read with a gripping story!
I loved it.
Looking forward to other books by this author.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Andrew Casey
- 21-10-23
Epic
Amazing story of lives entwined through time centred around the building of Kingsbridge cathedral. I love this story!
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- Anonymous User
- 08-09-23
Epic
I’ll be honest, I thought I’d downloaded a turkey. And then, after 3 hours I was drawn in. The reviews said I would but I didn’t believe them.
40 odd hours have flown by and I’m gutted it’s over. Great characters and a brilliant storyline that twists and winds through their lives with added buttresses.
So now I like cathedrals, I didn’t see that coming.
On to the next book as soon as possible. I’m missing Kingbridge already.
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