E-book
The pillars of the earth [electronic resource] / Ken Follett.
Record details
- ISBN: 9781101438190 (electronic bk. : Adobe Digital Editions)
- ISBN: 1101438193 (electronic bk. : Adobe Digital Editions)
- ISBN: 9781101442197 (electronic bk. : Adobe Digital Editions)
- ISBN: 1101442190 (electronic bk. : Adobe Digital Editions)
- Physical Description: 1 online resource (983, [16] p.) : col. ill.
- Publisher: New York : Signet, [2010], c1989.
Content descriptions
| General Note: | Description based on print version record. |
Search for related items by subject
| Subject: | Cathedrals > Design and construction > Fiction. Church architecture > Fiction. Great Britain > History > Stephen, 1135-1154 > Fiction. |
| Genre: | Historical fiction. Electronic books. |
Other Formats and Editions
Electronic resources
- AudioFile Reviews : AudioFile Reviews 2008 February/March
Richard Grant does a perfectly fine job with this somewhat choppy abridgment of Ken Follett's massive novel. Surprisingly for thriller writer Follett, this is a historical epic about the drama surrounding the construction of a twelfth-century English cathedral. Follett gives full play to his mastery of suspense; the results are a bit over the top but involving nonetheless. Grant's somewhat nasal inflection at first sounds too narrow for Follett's broad-brush writing. But within a couple of chapters, he warms to the plot and gives full voice to the panoply of saintly and evil characters, including a devout, disturbed monk and a troubled noblewoman. A.C.S. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine - AudioFile Reviews : AudioFile Reviews 2008 June/July
Arguably the best work of an author known for spy thrillers, this is historical fiction at its finest. The hope and despair of several people are tightly woven with the enormous task of cathedral construction in medieval England. Narrator John Lee adds vigor to Follett's descriptions of otherwise mundane matters: the graceful arch of a gothic spire, the innovation of using a mill wheel's power to felt wool. Follett's poignant characters blossom with Lee's reading. Lee reveals level-headed Prior Phillip's rare moments of pride as the church construction flourishes, and his anguish in the face of stolen funding. Phillip's nemesis, an ambitious nobleman, is cunning, and his lack of self-confidence is clear in Lee's capable reading. After 41 hours of listening, readers will yearn for more. N.M.C. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine - Publishers Weekly Reviews : PW Reviews 2008 February #4
Tom Builder's dream is to build a cathedral, but in the meantime, he must scrounge about to find a lord that will hire him. His search pulls him and his family into the politics of 12th-century England, as different lords vie to gain control of the throne in the wake of the recently deceased king. Prior Phillip, a man raised in the monastery since childhood, also finds himself drafted into the brewing storm as he must protect the interests of a declining church. Richard E. Grant seduces readers early on with a soft and deliberate voice that is like a loud whisper. However, his full range quickly reveals itself as he delves into characters with animated voices that exert their true essence. Even throughout the narrative, Grant musters a lively voice that imbues energy into the story. The only shortcoming is that the abridgment of Follett's 1989 novel proves to be too choppy. Though the story appears complete, there still remain abrupt moments throughout the tale. Penguin Audio's unabridged version is read by John Lee and runs 41 hours. (Dec.)
[Page 75]. Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information. - Publishers Weekly Reviews : PW Reviews 1990 June #4
Set in 12th-century England, the narrative concerns the building of a cathedral in the fictional town of Kingsbridge. The ambitions of three men merge, conflict and collide through 40 years of social and political upheaval as internal church politics affect the progress of the cathedral and the fortunes of the protagonists. ``Follett has written a novel that entertains, instructs and satisfies on a grand scale,'' judged PW. (Aug.) Copyright 1990 Cahners Business Information.
