The Pillars of the Earth

Ken Follett’s sweeping historical novel follows the construction of a cathedral in the fictional town of Kingsbridge during the twelfth century. Spanning decades of political upheaval, the narrative weaves together the lives of monks, masons, and nobles against the backdrop of the Anarchy, the civil war between King Stephen and Empress Matilda. As the story unfolds, the physical evolution of the building from Romanesque to Gothic architecture mirrors the shifting power dynamics of the era, culminating in the murder of Thomas Becket.

Description adapted from Open Library ↗.