Product Description
A spellbinding epic tale of ambition, anarchy, and absolute power set against the sprawling medieval canvas of twelfth-century England, this is Ken Follett's historical masterpiece. Abridged edition read by John Lee

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.5 based on 1460 reviews)

AMAZING!! by Brendan Zachar

5 Stars
November 06, 2009
Could not put this wonderful piece of literature down!! Follet did a wonderful job of creating a story that never lets-up and continually throws the reader a curve-ball. Packed full of emotions and wonderful character development I would highly recommend this book!

Enjoyed - by Rocky Reynebeau (Golden, Colorado USA)

5 Stars
November 02, 2009
I am not a big novel kind-of-guy. I picked this book up principally to add color to a subject that I was reading about at the time - the history of the middle ages and the history of the Catholic church. I have to say that I enjoyed the book immensely because it seemed consitant with how it was in the 15th century. Ken Follett tells a nice story with a lot of historical accuracy... He multi layered the fictional characters within the framework of historical facts. While I don't see this book at a pure historical novel it has that feel to it. This was my first Follett novel. And, while I am not a historian, the storyline bumped up nicely with how people lived their lives in a world of an all powerful church and self serving political structures. Nice book and enjoyed it very much.

LOVE IT by brittany ellis

5 Stars
November 02, 2009
I read this book a few months ago and also the sequel. It is hands down one of THE BEST BOOKS i have ever read! It takes in you from page one and stays with you way after you finish the book. the characters are rich and come to life, makes you feel like you are right there with them. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to take a trip back in time and get lost.

Intriguing History by A. Luciano (Lowell, MA United States)

3 Stars
October 30, 2009
In the 1100s in England, a family is struggling. Tom is a master builder, obsessed with the creation of cathedrals. He travels from town to town, mostly shunning dull and stable work in order to gain the opportunity to build a cathedral. His son, Albert, is 14, his daughter, Martha, is 7, and his wife is pregnant. Meanwhile, William of Hamleigh, son of an earl, has just been spurned by his fiance, Aliena. He is furious and vengeful. Meanwhile, Prior Philip, a monk at a small monastery in the woods, is moving up in the world. His competence, compassion, and level-headedness gain him the respect of his brethren, who think he is ready to take a position of greater leadership. And overarching everything is the political situation in England. After the death of King Henry, the country is left with no clear heir, making it possible for several relatives to make a move for the throne. Their fighting, exchange of power, and loyalties end up affecting the lives of all of the other characters in the story. I enjoyed the historical part of this story. I really liked reading about how the unsettled situation in the royal family trickled down and affected the lives of everyone else. I really liked reading about the day to day lives of commoners in this time, learning what people did with their days and how they survived. I didn't really enjoy the characters, though. William and Alfred were caricatures of evil villainry. In Alfred's case, there was never really any reason why he was so mean from childhood to adulthood. Most aspects of Aliena's personality and tale seemed unrealistic, from her refusal to marry William to her rise to wealth, to her pilgrimmage later in the book. Prior Philip was the only character for whom I wished success and happiness; I felt that all of the others deserved whatever they got. It was hard to stay engaged in a story in which I didn't particularly like the characters.

Loved it by J. Mills (Fitchburg, MA United States)

5 Stars
October 28, 2009
Great historical novel. Well written and long enough to keep you busy for more than a day or two like most other novels. Money well spent. You'll love it. Read his other novel , world without end, as well. Both refreshingly good reads.

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