There's probably not a great deal I can say about this book that hasn't already been said, but here is my two pennies worth. I really enjoyed the story of Kingsbridge and the building of the cathedral. I found it fascinating how the narrative progressed over a number of decades without ever feeling slow or drawn out. I thought the characters were well drawn and more nuanced than the out and out good vs bad characters from the prequel, although this is still very much a story of good vs bad at its core. I will say that there were a lot of passages that felt a bit 'male gaze'-y to me, which didn't always sit that well and there was quite a bit of animal cruelty for no apparent reason. With that being said, I had a good time with this one and will definitely pick up the next in the series.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A fascinating account of the creation of a fictional cathedral in mediaeval England. Follett manages to combine extensive historical research with compelling characters and page-turning plots, keeping the reader engaged throughout this long novel. A classic work of historical fiction.

This book sits at the somewhat niche intersections of some of my interests. The civil war between Empress Matilda (Maud) and Stephen. The building of cathedrals. Religious politics. Lives of ordinary people in Medieval England. I honestly don't know why I waited this long to pick it up.

This is an epic covering 40-odd years about a community that forms around a cathedral building project. It was not fast building cathedrals, which allows the book to track people over decades. There are so many obstacles to building it, made worse by England descending into the anarchy.

This period of history is fascinating - the first major English civil war (in my opinion - everyone differs where they draw the line.) It's 20 years of fighting and lawlessness as cousins battle to control England. I loved how some of those major events were woven into this story about a fiction town and cathedral (Battle of Lincoln!!!) Fortunes rise and fall as power changes hand, and the lawlessness lets beastly men seize power. I loved hot it was brought together.

There are five narrators. The prior trying to save the monastery and bring glory to god with the project. The master builder trying to provide for his family. The brute of a noble who wants power and thrives on violence who sees it as a threat. The disposed noblewoman who finds a way to make a new life. The fatherless boy who learns to love building. Not all are rich and powerful people, not the usual candidates for books but they are such a rich tapestry of medieval life. There's injustice and villains you want to hate, and a conspiracy running through the heart of it.

The one thing I would say against this book is it is long. Almost 1100 pages long. It is heavy to hold (worse so as I suffered an unrelated injury to my wrist while reading.) It is dispiriting at times to realise you've read 500 pages and not quite reached the middle. It is a book you have to go into knowing it's going to take a while. Part of me wonders if splitting it into two books (or three!) would have made it less daunting to read.

I will likely pick up the other books in the series at some point, probably in order of which historical period interests me most.

Fantastic book, part of an amazing set of books. The adventure never slows and is really gripping. This author knows how to weave a tale and captivate the reader.

Absolutely brilliant historical novel set in the 12th Century, when good rulers were in short supply and there was little justice for ordinary people. I loved the different characters and learnt a lot about history and architecture. The characters even came into my dreams occasionally. Can't wait to read the next in the series.

I am late to the world of Ken Follett and it's wonderful to have so many books ahead of me! What a rivetting read, I practically inhaled it.

Here is an author that just amazes me. All his books I have read by
Ken Follett has just blown me away. He is a master storyteller and he's latest one The Pillars of the Earth was no different. It was Brilliant from start to finish. This was a book that will take you back in time. It was a beautiful read and a book I will re-read in the future on a cold and wet day snuggled under a blanket.

Loved this book, but decided to read it through the lens of a 1980s woman, rather than one of the 21st century - that did the trick and saved any questioning of the way Follett writes with the voice of a woman. Just had to drop that in at the start of my review, as I think more could have been done for this reissue, to make the series more appropriate to today’s attitudes towards women.

But…. This is a wonderful book telling a really gripping story of the building of a cathedral in the 12th century, and all the attendant politics, conflicts and violence around successfully completing such a huge project, in a time of great turmoil and suspicion between church and state. Although some of the behaviours, particularly of the nobility were a little exaggerated, it really didn’t matter, as the reader was absorbed in the world of Kingsbridge, its priory, its ruling lords and bishops, and the masons and craftspeople who were so committed to building a structure of beauty, light and praise. Any qualms the reader may have about the way Follett writes in the voice of women can be easily forgiven and of course, in the time he is writing about, women were mere chattels of their husbands anyway.

Can’t wait to read the next book in the series!

Gripping first part to the Kingsbridge trilogy from Ken Follett.

Great characters, page turning story, even at the end of 1,ooo+ pages you'll be immediately looking for part 2.

Set in 12th century England, following the lives of a stonemason and the church prior which lead to the construction of a cathedral.

Highly recommended, you'll be hooked!

Outstanding!! I loved The Pillars of the Earth. The history, intrigue and general life stories. The characters are well written and the story weaves them all together brilliantly. I'm off to read the sequel now.

I have been promising myself for some time to read this book and have finally done it. What a pleasure! It is not a short read, in fact it’s probably the longest book I’ve ever read but it sure is compelling! Set in Kingsbridge in the County of Wiltshire in the mid 12th Century and covering a period of about 40 years of huge historical interest following the sinking of The White Ship off France in 1120 when the Kings son and heir drowned. Be aware, Medieval England was a man’s world rife with misogyny and there are some pretty graphic scenes that make for uncomfortable reading.

Briefly, it is a time of Civil War and into the maelstrom we follow the “fortunes” of Mason Tom Builder, a family man with son Jack and daughter Martha, who dreams of building a cathedral, Prior Philip who is a monk with a mission, William the bitter new Earl and Aliena, who turned down William’s proposal of marriage.

The whole story centres around the building of a cathedral, yes I thought that, not too exciting, but I was wrong! It is a story of ambition, greed and lust for power between State and Church with the ordinary people treated like fodder who have to deal with pestilence, famine and continuous threat to their lives, but is also a love story. A great epic, in the true sense of the word, read.

Loved this book.
I love church architecture (though I'm not into religion) so when I realised this was set around the building of a great medieval cathedral I grabbed it quickly, and it did not disappoint. It's not just about the cathedral, of course, it's about the people who designed and built it. Expect intrigue, treachery, ambition and love, all set against a very believable backdrop.

Ken Follett's world-building is superlative. His extensive research is apparent on every page. Unfortunately, his writing of women is laughably awful at best.

"As she walked around, she could feel her breasts move… It was as if there were a snooper peeking at her all the time, trying to look through her clothes and see her naked. And the snooper was herself. She was invading her own privacy."

I've carried a pair of breasts, daily, for several decades and never once have I felt them move in this manner. Not unless I'm running for a bus - but I don't think that's the intended image here. It's creepy, Ken!

The re-issue of the series was an opportunity to re-edit, and address any issues which make the books less readable for a present-day audience. A golden opportunity missed. I imagine nobody wants to direct any criticism to Mr Follett directly, but he could have cast a current eye on his own writing. As Calvin Harris said, the book may well have been acceptable in the 80s but it's not now. I realise this will be a very unpopular opinion.

The male gaze which penetrates much of the narrative ruined the reading experience for me. In addition, the sexual violence throughout the book felt excessively graphic. For this reason, I found the TV adaptation a far more enjoyable means of consumption, and I returned the audiobook without finishing it.

I would love to have read the rest of the series, but I'm not sure I can stomach it now. I want to learn about history, how people lived, even how cathedrals were built without the benefit of heavy machinery, but I don't want to have to turn a blind eye to a load of teenage masturbation material in the process. Sorry, Ken. Somebody had to say it.

This week I reread The Pillars Of The Earth for the seventh time. When it was first published it took me five years to persuade myself I was going to like it. What a fool I was!
Don't ever think that a long novel about building a Cathedral can't be engaging, and engrossing, and exciting, and poignant, and thrilling, and absolutely bloody brilliant.
Ken Follett brings medieval history to life. It's a talent shared by few historical novelists. Hilary Mantel had the gift and so does C.J. Sansom. But Ken Follett brings other talents to the page, including his ability to write fast-paced, edge-of-the-seat thrillers. It's all there in this and his other Kingsbridge novels.
This is a book no-one who calls themselves a reader should miss.

I first read this epic story many years ago and was my first ever historical fiction read. Going back to re read it was even better second time around. A huge book that may look overwhelming at first glance but as you get engrossed in the story it doesn't feel long enough! This book will always be in my top 3 reads ever and I'm looking forward to exploring the rest of the series.

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you so much to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book.

One of the the books I will recommend to anyone, forever. When I think of sweeping epics, this is one of the books I thinks of. It looks daunting in size, but you won’t even notice the time pass.

Pillars of the Earth is expertly written, with interwoven stories and perspectives which work together wonderfully. With a scope this large and so many players some authors lose the reader, or don’t quite pull it off. Not the case here.

This is a book everyone should read.

This was an epic novel and I can’t believe I’ve never read it!!
A tale of religion, love, betrayal, good versus evil, Ken Follett mixes historical facts with fiction and I couldn’t put it down.
I can’t wait to read the second book in the Kingsbridge series and would like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Rereading Ken Follett's first book in the Kingsbridge series, The Pillars of the Earth, is like revisiting your favourite holiday place. You know what you can expect and it doesn't disappoint. It's an alarmingly long read but sucks you in from the beginning, and the next thing you remember is that you are half-way through. If you like historical fiction, you shouldn't miss this.

The new Pan Macmillan edition is absolutely beautiful.