The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Pillars of the Earth
Book Review: Pillars of the earth
Summary: 5 Stars
Not my usual genre (normally science fantasy), but as soon as i picked this book up I could'nt put it down over 1000 pages of an absorbing and unique tale, with enthralling characters, set in the 12th century. Yes reading about the building of a Cathedral can be interesting! Kingsbridge Cathredral is the dream of philip the prior of Kingsbridge and the ambition of Tom builder (master builder)supported by Ellen his wife, who originally sets a curse on the building. The hardships of life in 12th century are superbley portrayed by the authour. Some you love to hate such as William of Hamliegh, whom by mainly foul means acquires the earldom. The Flagrant abuse of power both religious and political is a normal part of life of that period. Multiple gruesome murders can be dismissed by a bishops absolution!It takes alot to keep my attention, and I continued to look forward to picking up this book after work. All over the festive season, when most of us are distracted by the festivities I was transfixed by this enormous epic. the only critisicm is the too graphic portrayal of the rape of Aliena and the whore, I can never find these episodes entertaining. I'm revolted when i hear of these events when they appear on the news, so why would anybody want to read about them in a novel is beyond me!Apart from that this book is simply excellent, buy it now!
Book Review: If you don't enjoy this book, there's something wrong!
Summary: 5 Stars
When you first hear about this book, you think - monks and masons - how on earth can someone write over 1000 pages about this. Once you pick the book up, it adopts magnetic properties - you just cannot put it down! This novel has everything from love to hate and every thing in between. Centering around the building of a 12th Century cathedral, the book leads through several generations of people who live in and around the monastery. The passion and drama of that age is captured with evocative narrative and the characters are rich and colourful - you really feel for some of these people. YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK AND THEN GET EVERYONE YOU KNOW TO READ IT TOO!Book Review: A RIVETING STORY OF LIFE IN TWELFTH CENTURY ENGLAND...
Summary: 5 Stars
This masterful saga of life in twelfth century England is epic storytelling at its best. The author weaves a rich and colorful tapestry of people, places, and events surrounding the building of a magnificent cathedral in the medieval town of Kingsbridge. Early twelfth century England was a country in a state of flux. King Henry I had died without a male heir. His daughter Maude was to be queen. The English barons, for the most part, however, refused to swear fealty to her. Maude's first cousin, Stephen of Blois, then usurped her rights and proclaimed himself king. This was to plunge England into a civil war that was to last for many, many years, turning England into a virtually lawless and tumultuous land, until Maude's son became King Henry II of England.
For most people, however, life would go on with every day concerns being paramount. The book tells the story of a number of these lives. One story is that of Tom, a master builder, whose life long dream was to build a cathedral. The lives of Tom and his family would intersect that of a humble and intelligent monk named Phillip who would become the prior at Kingsbridge Priory. The fates would intervene and provide Tom with an opportunity to pursue his dream.
Their lives would intersect with a number of other individuals, some good, some evil, who would have a great impact on their lives and their goals. Tom would lose his first wife, Agnes, by whom he already had two children, brutish Alfred and sweet Martha, due to complications sustained during the birth of another son. This son was to provide a connection between Tom and Phillip of which Phillip would long be unaware.
Tom would ultimately marry Ellen, a strong willed independent woman of the forest, perceived by many to be a witch. Her son Jack, a sensitive, highly intelligent lad, whose father was deceased, would grow to manhood. His dream would begin where Tom's had left off. In Jack's background, however, was a mystery surrounding his deceased father, a French jongleur. That mystery in some way involved Sir Percy Hamleigh, Waleran Bigod, and Prior James, the old prior of Kingsbridge before Phillip.
When Earl Bartholomew of Shiring makes the treasonous mistake of siding with Maude in the conflict with Stephen, he ends up on the losing side. Sir Percy Hamleigh and his son William, siding with Stephen, attack the Earl's castle, and take Earl Bartholomew captive. Imprisoned for treason, he loses his earldom to the Hamleighs. His young son and heir, Richard, and his daughter, the beautiful Lady Aliena, are left to fend for themselves, but not until William Hamleigh has slaked his thirst for revenge upon them. You see, William had been engaged at one time to marry the Lady Aliena, only to be spurned by her to his vast public humiliation. This was the moment for which he had been waiting. Aliena and Richard would ultimately migrate to Kingsbridge to begin a new life.
Meanwhile, the church itself was having its own political intrigues. Phillip was tricked by Waleran Bigod, an ambitious arch-deacon, into supporting him for the post of bishop. Phillip would later best Waleran and incur his enmity for a lifetime. Remigius, a spy for Waleran Bigod, was a monk at Kingsbridge Priory who saw his dream of becoming prior at Kingsbridge dissipate with the advent of Phillip. He would spend a lifetime undermining Phillip and plotting against him. Moreover, the fate of Kingsbridge and the building of its cathedral would always seem to hinge upon the political vagaries of the time. Its fortunes would ebb and flow with the political winds.
Ever present throughout the destinies of all these characters is the age old battle between good and evil. Complicating it further were those who sought to do good but did evil, believing that the end justified the means. Spanning over fifty turbulent years, this is a spellbinding story of love, hate, faith, betrayal, revenge, and triumph. Against a backdrop of civil war, the sharply drawn characters grasp the imagination of the reader. Twelfth century England is laid out in painstaking detail, providing an unforgettable backdrop for the lives lived within the pages of this memorable work of historical fiction.
This book is simply riveting. Bravo!
Book Review: The best ever
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the best book I have ever read, and I have read a lot.I love middle age stories and specially that one, it's excellent how you get into this family, into the whole world of Jack.
Everyone who likes reading should read this, I guarantee you will not be able to stop!
Book Review: Pillars of the earth
Summary: 5 Stars
I am not going to bore you with a huge synopsis of this incredible book, suffice to say , if you never read another book in your lifetime...READ THIS ONE!!!