The Pillars of the Earth

By Ken Follett

Book #1 in the Kingsbridge series

A cathedral's construction ignites a battle between church and state, testing loyalties and ambitions.

4.3/5 Goodreads · 853,228 ratings

973 pages· 403,825 words· Est. 37.5 hour read

$24.95Save 7%

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Bookroo's summary

In twelfth-century England, Prior Philip dreams of building a magnificent cathedral, but faces a fierce struggle between church and state. As Tom the mason and Lady Aliena join his quest, secrets and ambitions threaten to tear them apart. Will their shared vision withstand the forces of anarchy and power? Discover a world where faith and ambition collide in a gripping tale of loyalty and betrayal.

From the publisher

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, extolledPublishers Weeklyon the release ofThe 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 Earthtells 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.”

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