Paperback, 976 pages
English language
Published Oct. 8, 2002 by New American Library.
The Pillars of the Earth tells 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.
--back cover
... welches die Jahre überdauert und die Grundlage für den "Kingsbridge"-Mythos geschaffen hat. Bei der Erstveröffentlichung (wo ich noch in der weiterführenden Schule war) fiel mir das Buch erstmals in die Hände, gefühlte 20 Jahre später hat Ken Wollte's "Kingsbridge"-Erstwerk nach wie vor nichts von der Faszination und der lebendigen Darstellung der damaligen Zeit verloren. Ein Meisterwerk für die Ewigkeit!
It’s a long time since I struggled to put a book down. More than once I just had to continue reading into the early hours to find out what happened next.
This book was a roller coaster of emotions and events that highlighted the violence, greed, passions, revenge of the main protagonists. It also really portrayed the ebb and flow of power and influence that royalty and religion had against each other, as well as the poor peasants who were caught in the middle.
A really enjoyable read and I can see why this book is one of Ken Follett’s all time best sellers.
