Preview
  • The Pillars of the Earth

  • By: Ken Follett
  • Narrated by: John Lee
  • Length: 40 hrs and 56 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (35,252 ratings)

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The Pillars of the Earth

By: Ken Follett
Narrated by: John Lee
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Publisher's summary

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 12th century England, this is Ken Follett's historical masterpiece.

©1989 Ken Follett (P)2007 Penguin Audio, a member of Penguin Group (USA), Inc.
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Critic reviews

"Follett is a master." (The Washington Post)

"A historical novel of gripping readability, authentic atmosphere and detail and memorable characterization." (Publishers Weekly)

Featured Article: The Best Historical Fiction Audiobooks


Often based on real people, events, and scenarios, historical fiction gives us the opportunity to learn about worlds and times we will never experience while introducing fascinating characters and stories set in their midst. Sometimes, the genre can even give us a peek into hidden storylines that routinely go unmentioned in traditional history books, showing us that those of ages past are perhaps not so different from ourselves.

What listeners say about The Pillars of the Earth

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    26,682
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    5,955
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  • 3 Stars
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  • 2 Stars
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  • 1 Stars
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  • Overall
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    5 out of 5 stars

Incredible book, Don't miss this one

What's to say, but incredible, Story, Plot, Characters, intense My wife was upset when I'd stop it for the day ( long haul trucker)
Ken Follett has a 6 Star winner on his hands. The absolute best book I've ever listened to to date

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Wonderful story

I thoroughly enjoy Ken Follett's ability to entertain while teaching a bit about history. That ability brings his characters to life and we love then all the more.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Book abt church respectfully written by an atheist

Narration was on point, perfect voice for the story. Classicly written, the detail was so descriptive I could envision the story like a film playing in my head.

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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

Very long, but it holds on to you.




Very well done. Very long, but it holds on to you. I would recommend, but I think you should consider the fact that it is a long one.




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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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I already loved the story

I already love the story , but this narrator is fantastic, and I would listen to anything that he reads.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Ken Follett is remarkable!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to everyone, especially those who enjoy reading about history in a way that makes it come alive. The author is one of my favorites and the narrator did a splendid job with this immense tome. While there are several story lines, they are flawlessly interwoven.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Pillars of the Earth?

I can't say there were just memorable moments - the entire book is memorable - however, the scenes of home life, which included descriptions of the interiors of places where people lived, were amazingly clear; the scene of the church roof collapsing was another part that was so well written I felt as though I was there.

Have you listened to any of John Lee’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes - he has always performed beautifully.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Because life was exceptionally hard during the 12th century, Ken Follett made me care about his characters, so when they were starving or when someone died after childbirth, or when people had to sleep on the floor, as a matter of course, I was miserable right along with them. A mark of a gifted author is to create a place and characters that become real. That happened in this book - and it happened often!

Any additional comments?

Do you head and heart a favor - get this book and treasure it. I have the book, the story on CD (before Audible existed) and now it's in my Audible library.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Encompassing

My first audiobook. I only allow myself to listen while exercising. This book is so good -- I'm exercising more than I had planned! I can't explain how good Pillars is... You just have to get this audiobook and find out for yourself. You will not be disappointed.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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My first Aubiobook

and I loved it! I'm hooked. I really enjoy listening to the different voices of John Lee. The characters come alive and I feel as if I know them personally.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great historical fiction

I loved this book because it brought so much of this time period to life. Ken Follett creats a world where history becomes real, and the struggles of daily life in this period contribute so much to the story.

“AUDIBLE 20 REVIEW SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY”

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A Pillar For Every Library

A wonderlful journey. Don't miss out on this amazing work. This is a beautiful story woven with a myriad of intricate, rich, intense characters.

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