About this book
The Pillars of the Earth is an historical novel by Welsh author Ken Follett that centers on the building of a Gothic cathedral in the fictional town of Kingsbridge, England in the mid-twelfth century. Set against the backdrop of The Anarchy after the sinking of a ship containing King Henry I’s only legitimate heir, the story interweaves themes of intrigue, conspiracy, politics and religion as master builder Tom Builder and the visionary Prior Philip build a cathedral over 50 years. An Oprah Book Club selection in 2007, it was made into an eight-part miniseries in 2010.
Published in 1989, Pillars of the Earth was a major departure from Follett’s usual spy and thriller genre, but was enormously successful and continues to be so. In 2007 he published a long-awaited sequel World Without End, and later A Column of Fire in 2017 as the third book in the Kingsbridge Series.
From the publisher
#1 New York Times Bestseller Oprah's Book Club Selection The "extraordinary . . . monumental masterpiece" (Booklist) that changed the course of Ken Follett's already phenomenal career--and begins where its prequel, The Evening and the Morning, ended.
"Follett risks all and comes out a clear winner," extolled Publishers Weekly on the release of The Pillars of the Earth. A departure for the bestselling thriller writer, the historical epic stunned readers and critics alike with its ambitious scope and gripping humanity. Today, it stands as a testament to Follett's unassailable command of the written word and to his universal appeal. 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.
First Edition Identification
The true first edition of Pillars of the Earth is the UK edition, published by Macmillan in black cloth with gilt spine lettering, in a pictorial jacket featuring lightening striking a distant cathedral. As is customary for Macmillan UK, the first edition reads “First published 1989” on the copyright page. The first US edition was published subsequently in tan boards and a jacket featuring a gargoyle. It has a number line on the copyright page that starts with one and is noted “First Edition”. First UK editions might currently fetch $300-500, depending on whether it’s signed (Follett’s signature is not uncommon) and US editions $150-250.
Details
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Title
The Pillars of the Earth
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Author
Ken Follett; Read by Richard E. Grant
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Binding
Compact Disc
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Edition
Abridged
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Volumes
8
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Language
ENG
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Publisher
Penguin Audiobooks
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Date
2017-05
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Abridged
Yes
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ISBN
9780525495833 / 0525495835
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Weight
0.51 lbs (0.23 kg)
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Dimensions
5.85 x 5.07 x 1.08 in (14.86 x 12.88 x 2.74 cm)
About the author
Ken Follett is one of the world's best-loved authors, selling more than 160 million copies of his thirty books. Follett's first bestseller was Eye of the Needle, a spy story set in the Second World War. In 1989 The Pillars of the Earth was published, and has since become the author's most successful novel. It reached number one on bestseller lists around the world and was an Oprah's Book Club pick. Its sequels, World Without End and A Column of Fire, proved equally popular, and the Kingsbridge series has sold 38 million copies worldwide. Follett lives in Hertfordshire, England, with his wife Barbara. Between them they have five children, six grandchildren, and three Labradors.
