Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #366002 in Books
• Published on: 1999-10-08
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 1104 pages

Oprah Winfrey
'It's such a great read...I got to 800 pages, and I slowed myself down because I didn't want it to end.'

Synopsis
A timeless story of passion and idealism, "Pillars of the Earth" tells of a group of men and women whose destinies are fatefully linked with the building of a cathedral.

Customer Reviews

Over long and a bit of a let down
I was disappointed by this book. I totally agree with H. Morris's review. Everything is predictable, the story is very much like a soap opera (with the goodies and the baddies) and it drags on and on. Not gripping like I imagined it would be. I had to stop half way through as I felt I was wasting my time.

a prior story, a builder's vision, a manificient cathedral
The best book I have ever read so far. All human should read this book. KF is a remarkable writer of a story - all great characters and all good plots eventually making it believing.

Main characters are the Prior of Kingsbridge who re-create Kingsbridge with the help of its builder Tom and his son Jack. Aliena (Jack's wife) a strong individual fought every way to help brother Richard that was lost to an evil William. Other characters were Waleran, the Bishop, Alfred, Tom eldest son, Ellen, Tom's 2nd wife, and Jonathan, Tom's youngest son.

This book written in a way thats shows all angle of life with ambition and purpose rule by King and manage by prior and bishops. There are areas of loyalty, revenge, courage, resistance, hate, perseverance, and brutality.

1000 pages nothing less tells alot and is worth it. 5 Star best work from KF I am going for the sequel.

Overlong Unchallenging Medeival Soap Opera
At over 1000 pages this is a long book. There's no doubt the plot is gripping and the characters larger than life but the same can be said about Eastenders. When the book hits top form it is very good- particularly if you are interested in the social history of the period. Some of the set-pieces and plot twists are also good value but the book is let down by characters. They are too broadly painted. Everyone is either a goody or a Pantomime villain and the predictability of their actions does start to grate. Also the whole book seems to be a never ending succession of dramas, problems or stitch-ups facing the good guys each with their triumph duly coming a few pages later. Like a dodgy actor faking an accent in a film, the tone and authenticity of the characters also seems to waver. Some of the dialogue is completely unconvincing and at times you have to remind yourself you're in 12th not 21st century England. I'm no book snob but the prose was far to simple and if it wasn't for the gratuitous sex then it would be suitable for any Harry potter Fan. Basically if you're on holiday and are the type of person who would like to read 3 Dan Brown's in a row than you'll love this. If you Like your books to challenge you and you have a reading age of over 14 then there must be other books out there that do the same thing but better. ps. I still haven't got a clue what a nave or chancel is...