Cathedral of the Sea

By: Ildefonso Falcones

Narrated by: Paul Michael

In the tradition of Ken Follett’s The Pillars of the Earth, here is a thrilling historical novel of friendship and revenge, plague and hope, love and war, set in the golden age of 14th-century Barcelona. Arnau Estanyol arrives in Barcelona and joins the powerful guild of stone-workers building the magnificent cathedral of Santa Maria del Mar, while his adoptive brother Joan studies to become a priest. As Arnau prospers, he secretly falls in love with a forbidden woman. When he is betrayed and hauled before the Inquisitor, he finds himself face-to-face with his own brother. Will he lose his life just as his beloved cathedral is finally completed, or will his brother spare him?©2008 Ildefonso Falcones; (P)2008 Penguin

Critic reviews

Praise for the #1 international bestseller Cathedral of the Sea

“The passion and heartache, as well as the grit and grime, of medieval Spain come alive...This epic novel...twists and turns through war, women and the Spanish Inquisition...[A] saga filled with colorful characters...[A] fantastic fourteenth-century fresco.”—USA Today

“[It’s] soap opera on a grand scale, made believable and enthralling by the inclusion of the commonplace brutalities and small compassions of life in medieval Barcelona. Watching Arnau’s rise from literal rags to riches is frequently like watching a series of train wrecks; you’re horrified but can’t look away...[The] plot...is so beautifully structured that the last sixty pages detonate like a string of firecrackers...[The] prose is powerful...Falcones has an eye for the singular, telling detail, and…his characters are...believable...[A] riveting story.”—The Washington Post

“[An] absorbing epic...Falcones’s rich portrait of medieval society is fascinating.”—Publishers Weekly

“[A] sprawling medieval family saga.”—Kirkus Reviews

“With Cathedral of the Sea, Ildefonso Falcones dethrones Eduardo Mendoza and
Arturo Pérez-Reverte...and has become Spain’s new Dan Brown.”—El Mundo

A great book

I enjoyed this listen very much. The narrator does a superb job with all the different charecters voices. I didn't notice any mispronounciations at all. The writer is a good story teller and you become immersed in the tale. I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.

Best since Pillars!

If you liked Pillars of the Earth & World without End.., well then you are in for a treat! multi-layerd and very inspirational... ooooh this book is so good!!

Epic Saga! My most beloved, treasured story ever!

I cherish this book in my heart, because of Arnau, the most honorable, loyal, courageous and well-loved man, ever.

Wonderful story

This was a hard book put down. The storyline was beautiful and the presentation had me and Richard from the first word. A great lesson!

Interesting

I like the different twists on how the writer creates and grows with each character.