Pillars Of The Earth

daepp · 01-03-2008, 02:25 PM

Just finished it. One of the best historical novels I've ever read. Anyone know anything about how accurate/well researched it was?

From the publisher: "In a time of civil war, famine and religious strife, there rises a magnificent Cathedral in Kingsbridge. Against this backdrop, lives entwine: Tom, the master builder, Aliena, the noblewoman, Philip, the prior of Kingsbridge, Jack, the artist in stone and Ellen, the woman from the forest who casts a curse. At once, this is a sensuous and enduring love story and an epic that shines with the fierce spirit of a passionate age."

Am now starting World Without End.

Flatbutt1 · 01-03-2008, 02:30 PM

An excellent read. I was told that it fairly accurately captured the secrecy of the Masons and the reason for it.

Dan in Pasadena · Dan in Pasadena's Garage

Yup, both those titles are excellent. I happen to really like historical fiction.

My personal favorites are a few in the James Clavell collection. Primarily Taipan (my most favorite novel) and Shogun. All of Clavell's work is Asian related and I love his stuff. I recommend them for the future.

Moses · 01-03-2008, 03:03 PM

Hard to beat Gate's of Fire. Maybe the best historical novel I ever read. I loved Pillars of the Earth, but Pressman's Gate's of Fire is spellbinding.

jrdavid68 · 01-03-2008, 03:26 PM

Just finished Pillars a few weeks ago. I haven't been that captivated by a book in awhile.

tcar · 01-03-2008, 04:14 PM

+1 on James Clavell. "King Rat" wasn't my favorite, but the others were great.

Think he passed 5 or so years ago.

I don't read books described as a "sensuous and enduring love story". JMHO

Rot 911 · 01-03-2008, 04:31 PM

Damn I am just finishing up the last few pages of Pillars. Should be done tonight. Hard book to put down. I just started on it after Christmas.

cantdrv55 · 01-03-2008, 04:50 PM

I just finished Pillars on unabridged audiobook. Magnificent novel. Can't wait to start World Without End. Ken Follett is one of my favorite authors.

imcarthur · imcarthur's Garage

Did you check the copywrite on Pillars? 1989. I just read it a month ago & my wife is reading it now. I guess the publisher re-released it because of the sequel. I think it's based roughly on Winchester.

Another historical series that is really good is Colleen McCollough's Caesar series, although the Roman names can be a tad confusing.

I consume books when I'm on the road.

Ian

Mothy · Mothy's Garage

If you like Follett's historical style novels you may like his other ones such as A Dangerous Fortune (about banking in UK during the Victorian era) and A Place Called Freedom (about English Colonies in North America at the time of the Revolution) - I love Follets work.

Also good for historic series is Edward Rutherford. I read his book Sarum (about Salisbury and Stonehenge region) not long after I read Pillars of the Earth. He has also done ones on the New Forrest, London and Ireland.

I think Pillars of the Earth is still the best book I have ever read - so far.

Tim

K9Torro · 06:36 PM

A great great book, highly recommended.

I would also recommend the Saxon series by Bernard Cornwell, I have read the first three books and they are great. Book One is " The Last Kingdom " really a great read.

Todd