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  • The Pillars of the Earth

  • The Kingsbridge Novels (abridged), Book 1
  • By: Ken Follett
  • Narrated by: Richard E. Grant
  • Length: 10 hrs and 3 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (20 ratings)

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The Pillars of the Earth

By: Ken Follett
Narrated by: Richard E. Grant
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Publisher's Summary

Abridged edition, narrated by Richard E Grant (Withnail and I)

An epic, spellbinding tale of ambition, anarchy, and absolute power set against the sprawling medieval canvas of twelfth-century England, The Pillars of the Earth is Ken Follett's historical masterpiece.

A Mason with a Dream

It is 1135 and civil war, famine and religious strife abound. With his family on the verge of starvation, mason Tom Builder dreams of the day that he can use his talents to create and build a cathedral like no other.

A Monk with a Burning Mission

Philip is the church prior of Kingsbridge. A resourceful man, he knows that if his town is to survive at all, it must find a way to truly thrive. He decides, then, to build Kingsbridge the greatest Gothic cathedral the world has ever known.

A World of High Ideals and Savage Cruelty

As the prior recruits his mason, so begins a journey of ambition, anarchy and the struggle for absolute power. Facing enemies that would thwart them, they will stop at nothing to fulfil their grand plans of Kingsbridge. Soon build tensions between good and evil, turning church against state, and brother against brother...

The Pillars of the Earth is the first in The Kingsbridge Novels series, followed by World Without End and A Column of Fire.

© Ken Follett; (P) Macmillan Publishers Ltd

Critic Reviews

"Richard E. Grant's virtuoso vocal characterisation is a shortcut to establishing the colourful variety of the enormous cast. If you become addicted, you can follow it up with the just-released sequel, the even longer World Without End, also read by Grant." Christina Hardyment (The Times Books)

What listeners say about The Pillars of the Earth

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  • Kay
  • 02-10-2019

Brilliant Story Telling by Richard

I’ve been trying to read this book for 5 years but could never find the time. I have loved having the story read to me, especially by Richard E Grant. Richard brought the story to life and compelled me to listen every evening until the end...

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

great but abridged unfortunately!

i have read this book before and loved it. i didn't realise I must have purchased the abridged version. I enjoyed the narrator but it was too short! Disappointed to lose all that amazing detail and richness.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Slow going with big gaps

An ok book. Big gaps in the abridged version. Not enough to follow the series. Will be reluctant to follow author.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Richard E. Grant makes it.

Wouldn't have gone the distance without Richard telling the story. Bit of a slog really.

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