Ken Follett would be the first to tell you that The Pillars of the Earth, a novel set during the construction of a Gothic cathedral, is not a book he was expected to write. The 2002 edition begins with a new preface by the author, in which Follett explains that he began reading about cathedrals so that he could better describe the London scenery in his novels. He found the laborious, expensive process of building churches fascinating, but it wasn’t until he stepped into Peterborough Cathedral that he was, in his words, “enraptured.” Follett began a novel set during the building of a cathedral, but he wasn’t sophisticated enough to write a long book interweaving history, religion, human relationships, church architecture, politics, and science. He put the project aside and wrote a thriller called Eye of the Needle about a German spy in wartime England; it was his first bestseller, and he soon earned a reputation for fast-paced thrillers with strong characters and lots of action.
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Only a few things detracted from my thorough enjoyment of The Pillars of the Earth. Follett built suspense by alternating peace and prosperity with raids and violence, but that plot device eventually became repetitive. The conversations and behavior sometimes felt too modern for the twelfth century, especially the sexual and political decision-making of the main female characters. If you have a weak stomach, some of the scenes of sexual violence can be quite graphic. However, these elements do help make the characters feel familiar to modern readers. It’s no wonder that Oprah picked this exciting, fast-paced, richly detailed, intricately plotted bestseller for her book club. Tune in to her show on January 30 for an interview with author Ken Follett.
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