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The Pillars of the Earth | 
 enlarge | Author: Ken Follett
Publisher: NAL Trade
Category: Book
List Price: $20.00
Buy New: $8.00
You Save: $12.00 (60%)
New (29) Used (22) Collectible (3) from $7.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  1144 reviews
Sales Rank: 68
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 976
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.9
Dimensions (in): 8.8 x 5.9 x 1.9
ISBN: 0451207149
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.914
UPC: 051855019006
EAN: 9780451207142
ASIN: 0451207149
Publication Date: February 4, 2002
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Condition: NEW BOOK!! DELUXE OPRAH EDITION! SHIPS TODAY!!! 100+ AVAILABLE NOW!!!
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Book Description
Ken Follett had long been a staple of the bestseller lists for his novels of intrigue and espionage. Then came The Pillars of the Earth, a grand novel of epic storytelling that readers and critics quickly hailed as his crowning achievement. Now, The Pillars of the Earth is available for the first time to a new audience of readers, in this attractive new trade paperback edition.
In 12th-century England, the building of a mighty Gothic cathedral signals the dawn of a new age. This majestic creation will bond clergy and kings, knights and peasants together in a story of toil, faith, ambition and rivalry. A sweeping tale of the turbulent middle ages, The Pillars of the Earth is a masterpiece from one of the world's most popular authors.
"A novel of majesty and power...Will hold you, fascinate you, surround you." --Chicago Sun-Times
"A towering tale...There's murder, arson, treachery, torture, love, and lust...A good time can be had by all." --New York Daily News
"Touches all human emotions...truly a novel to get lost in." --Cosmopolitan
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1139 more reviews...
 Will become one of the "classics" May 16, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Expertly woven, well-crafted tales of several protagonists and antagonists during the Middle Ages in a fictional village (Kingsbridge) in England. There's never really a single focus on any one character, that is what I say there are several protagonists and antagonists. You truly hate the antagonists and even dislike the protagonists at times, even though they are likeable characters. (Not much different from how you can dislike people you love in real life for various quirky reasons.)
In high school I took AP Art History where we learned about flying buttresses and other architectural details of the cathedrals at that time, and it was nice having that educational background as I read along while Tom Builder, and then his stepson Jack built the magnificient Cathedral of Kingsbridge.
It took me several months to read the book. Some nights I read for hours straight, then there were weeks when I didn't pick up the book. I even read other books in the midst of this.
I almost wanted to give it 4 stars (or 4.5 stars) because other people had built the book up SO MUCH that I was anticipating some kind of life changing revelation (one friend said it changed his life)...and since it didn't change my life, well - I was disappointed.
But if you're not expecting it to change your life, it certainly deserves all 5 stars.
Another great Follet Book! May 14, 2008
I own all of Ken Follet's book and for the most part adore all of them. I have read and re-read them over and love the long stories and many interweaving characters of his plots. I like his WWII novels better because that is what I studied in college, but this book is great as well. Some authors I have read before have 2 or 3 main characters-- Follet nevers does that. With him, you get story among story among story, but he does it in a way that is not confusing and makes the story rich and colorful. I do have one pet peeve with Follet. His women heroine never makes a first good choice-- she always marries or is in a relationship with someone at the beginning or sometime during the novel that is a cad, a bad person, or simply not for her. Sometimes he goes out of his way to make normally very intelligent women characters not have any sense when picking their mate. These women are smart and successful with every other aspect of their life, but when it comes to picking someone to marry, they will sacrifice what they know is right for something they know will make them miserable. I would just like one of his main female characters to make a good choice about love the first time around, just once. I know novels need conflict, but because I own all of his books, I see the same thing in EVERY novel, and that's what bothers me. Besides this little thing (that happens in all of his books) I love his books and he is one of my favorite authors.
 Very good... May 13, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I really liked this book. I enjoyed the characters. My problem is the language. Why do we always have to put the f_____ in? Never was it really needed.
 Language? May 12, 2008
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
Not good.
I normally don't like to dog on other people's work... I mean, what have I done to give me such authority? Maybe it is because I started this book on the tail end of East of Eden. Perhaps it is just because it looks and smells like an epic. I'm not sure, but I do know this, this book reads like a high school sophomore wrote it. There are some times where I literally roll my eyes or shake my head as I read.
Basically, I think it is a good premise. Even the plot isn't awful. The biggest complaint I have is with the language and storytelling. Most of the characters are two-dimensional or predictable. They don't shine. The treatment of sexuality is that of a 15 year old... it's overdone, awkward and slightly frenzied.
I don't like to give up on books, which is why I am more than halfway done with this one. However, I couldn't guarantee that I will carry on until the end.
Pillars of the Earth May 11, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Fantastic! Packed with believable and human characters. A truly entertaining and revealing look into the dark ages when human rights were subject to the whims of Lords, Earls, and unscrupulous and ambitious clergy. I felt like I was there, and couldn't put it down.
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