From Our Editors
A common Englishman dreams of building a cathedral, but knows that
the feudal class system in which he lives will hamper his efforts.
Determined to construct his glorious house of God, the builder
decides to boldly pursue his wish in spite of the fierce opposition
he faces in Ken Follett's best-seller
The Pillars of the Earth.
From the Publisher
A departure for the bestselling thriller writer, this historical epic-a twelfth-century tale of the building of a mighty Gothic cathedral-stunned readers and critics alike with its ambitious scope and gripping humanity
Employee Review Tania from Chapters # 719, Mississauga, ON
This Follett work is a fascinating read, despite its thousand-odd pages of text. Almost one hundred years of rich English medieval history is covered, with an elaborate cast of diverse characters. It offers romance, betrayal, sex, battles and drama. The story is complete with historical detail, describing the development of Gothic architecture. Follett has a direct but effective style. One immediately recalls both the style and subject matter of Edward Rutherfurd. I highly recommend this book to anyone -- particularly history lovers.
About the Author
Well known as a writer of international best sellers, Ken Follett was born in Wales and began his career as a newspaper reporter in Wales and in London. His first bestselling novel, The Eye of the Needle, won the Edgar Award and was adapted as a film starring Kate Nelligan and Donald Sutherland. He followed this success with four more bestselling thrillers - Triple, The Key to Rebecca, The Man from St Petersburg, and Lay Down with Lions. His novel, Pillars of the Earth, departed from the thriller genre and was on the New York Times bestseller list for 18 weeks. It also reached the number one position on lists in Canada, Great Britain, and Italy, and was on Germany's bestseller list for six years. He followed Pillars of the Earth with Night over Water, A Dangerous Fortune, and A Place Called Freedom, before returning to the writing of thrillers with The Third Twin, a scorching suspense novel. Miniseries rights to this book were sold to CBS for $1,400,000. The series, starring Kelly McGillis and Larry Hagman, was broadcast in November of 1997. In November of 1998, Follett published The Hammer of Eden, another suspense story. Ken Follett is married to Barbara Follett, who is the Member of Parliament for Stevenage in Hertfordshire. He is a lover of Shakespeare and an amateur musician who plays bass guitar in a band called Damn Right I Got the Blues. He is also chair of the National Year of Reading 1998-99, a British government initiative to raise literacy levels, president of the Dyslexia Institute, and a council member of the National Literacy Trust.
Mass Market Paperbound
992 Pages, 4.25 x 7 x 1.5 IN
April 28, 1999
New American Library
English
0451166892
9780451166890