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  • The Pillars of the Earth

  • Kingsbridge, Book 1
  • By: Ken Follett
  • Narrated by: John Lee
  • Length: 40 hrs and 56 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (1,425 ratings)

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The Pillars of the Earth

By: Ken Follett
Narrated by: John Lee
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Editorial reviews

Award-winning novelist Ken Follett is at his most magnificent in Pillars of the Earth, Book 1 of the trilogy series by the same name, narrated by professional voice artist John Lee. This incredible book has been voted in the top 100 of Britain’s Best Loved Books in the BBC The Big Read. The scope of detail in this audiobook is unparalleled. Its intricate plot is weaved with history, religion, politics, love and dishonour. It is an all-encompassing saga, delicately capturing the very core of existence in 12th-century England. Available now from Audible.

Publisher's Summary

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.

©1989 Ken Follett (P)2007 Penguin Randomhouse LLC

Critic Reviews

"Enormous and brilliant...this mammoth tale seems to touch all human emotion - love and hate, loyalty and treachery, hope and despair. This is truly a novel to get lost in." (Cosmopolitan)

"A historical saga of such breadth and density.... Follett succeeds brilliantly in combining hugeness and detail to create a novel imbued with the rawness, violence and blind faith of the era." (Sunday Express)

What listeners say about The Pillars of the Earth

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

Missing an important chapter!!

Please note that this recording is missing an important chapter!
Chapter 10, part 5 is half of what it should be. This is an important chapter in the book and not listening to it will lead to confusion.
Hopefully Audible fixes this issue asap.

Otherwise, this is a great story and have enjoyed listening to it.

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25 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

my favourite book!

I have loved this book since I was a child. I was hesitant to try the audio book as i was afraid that the narrator wouldn't do it justice. I'm so glad i tried it out. John Lee gave this story justice with his amazing narration. his voice is beautiful to listen to and his character voices where spot on.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Not for me.

Gave up at around the halfway mark. Could not cope with the perpetual violence, cruelty and horror. A depressing indictment of the vileness of humanity. No happy times in this book. Not recommended at all.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic story - great performance

You will not be disappointed with this book. It is a long book yet the end comes to soon. The pillars transports the listener to a world full of struggle and triumphs.

This was my first Ken Follett book, and have since listened to six other titles. This is the one book to start with. Enjoy!

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

My favorite book!

An amazing book
An epic story spanning the entire lifetime of the characters filled with action, tragedy and love affairs. Beautifully written, i really felt that i got to know the true essence of the characters. This book will take you for a ride!

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Chapter 10 part 5

Great story but there is an important part of the chapter 10 part 5 missing? I'm wondering why this hasn't been changed? It ruins the story.

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5 people found this helpful

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

Mixed feelings

Excellent story and characters but spoiled by unnecessarily detailed graphic violence. Missed the mark of being one of the greats.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great story

As good as the first time I read it and loved the narrator! Will listen to the next in the series.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

One of my favourite books of all time

Loved this book. Read it first back in the early 90s and couldn’t put it down. Just Listened to it again on audio. Still one of my favorite books of all time. Ken Follet is the master story teller. He integrates well reasearched history into the settings of the fictitious characters. He also includes some true people in history into the weave of the story. His description of 12 th century architecture is made interesting and well described. His exposure of the greed, power and corruption by both Religion and Royalty in the Middle Ages is mind boggling. This book covers all aspects of human nature and is riveting from beginning to end. Cant recommend this book enough. Couldnt get enough and was sorry when it ended. Thank you Ken Follet. You are my favorite writer.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • PJ
  • 11-11-2017

Gripping read from start to finish!

This was a magnificent read, I was distraught when it finished as I was so invested in all the characters....thank you Ken Follett! Thank you also John for a fantastic narration

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