Coming in at a whopping 973 pages, this is an EPIC novel.
Set in twelfth-century England, beginning in 1120 and ending in 1170, it is the story of the building of a massive gothic cathedral, which in those times is a massive undertaking! Filled with love, betrayal, murder, anarchy and war, knights, monks, kings, and peasants, oaths, revenge promises both fulfilled and broken. Epic.
Follett's rich storytelling makes it possible to believe and "see" the way life would have been in the 12th century, from the wealthy few with their massive castles to the stone masons, wool tradesmen (and women) and other professions of the time, to the monks and their way of life in the monasteries to the squalor and famine of the poor, and the politics and treachery of both state and church.
It is the story of a monk and a master builder who, together, dream of building a massive cathedral, and how their story and friendship encompasses an entire village.
So many wonderful and terrible characters create such a rich story. Phillip, a monk. Tom, a master builder. Ellen a beautiful and mighty single mother who lives in the woods. Jack, her son. Aliena, an Earls daughter who starts out spoiled and wealthy, becomes destitute and desperate, then learns a trade and becomes successful in her own right. William, a wealthy but evil man who after being refused by his fiancé, makes life miserable for everyone that he can. Alfred, Toms insecure bully of a son. Jonathon, a baby found in the woods and raised by monks. Richard, Aliena's brother who is a striking knight and military expert but who relies on his sister for financial support. And so many more.
This epic best-seller was made into an eight hour miniseries.
This is the first of of three books in this series, followed by World Without End, and A Column Of Fire.
This book sat on my shelf for many years, daunting in its massive length and small print, but I'm so glad that I finally dove in. It was wonderful.
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