The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet

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England, ~ 1130  CE

Ken Follet’s Pillars of the Earth is what you could call a sprawling epic, coming in close to a thousand pages and covering four decades. The book tells the story of the construction of a grand cathedral in Kingsbridge - a fictional town in feudal England. There is love, lust, violence, class division, religious oppression, death, destruction, disaster and murder. 

With no shortage of religious conflict, political intrigue or civil war during the 12th century - the novel explores the lives and actions of ordinary people caught up in larger events. The narrative spans multiple decades, following a range of characters—builders, clergy, and nobility—whose ambitions and struggles intersect in the effort to build the cathedral. It’s also the story of purpose, bordering on obsession, and how a man’s agency plays out against the odds. 

This book is not literary fiction, so if you’re going to expect period-appropriate language you will be disappointed. Ken Follet puts in a lot of effort in getting the reader involved in architectural concepts - not always successfully, but this adds a bit of ‘seriousness’ to the text. There is also a fair share of violence, including sexual violence in the book.

Tom the builder is one of the main characters - he’s a skilled mason and agency drives the construction forward. Ken Follet has cast Tom in the role of an everyman striving to create something monumental. Philip is the idealistic prior of Kingsbridge and an ally of Tom, who is also determined to see the cathedral built. The author created Phillip in the image of political stalwarts like Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi, representing incorruptible authority and integrity. Aliena - the daughter of a fallen earl is another prime mover with strong motivations, charged with avenging her family after her father is betrayed and rebuilding her life. 

William Hamleigh is the chief antagonist - virtually all bad and consequently - a unidimensional villain. He’s the typical power-hungry, evil nobleman who must have control over everyone and everything in his domain, and he carries with him chaos and destruction wherever he goes. Prior Phillips nemesis is the cunning bishop - Waleran Bigod, who’s opposing the construction of the cathedral as a means of holding on to political power.

These are just a few of the large and diverse character count of the book. Character development is a major part of what draws the reader into the book. The overarching plot is simple, but as the story progresses the interplay between characters, their interests and motivations are revealed. Their connections and actions have consequences that reverberate later in the book, and the author doesn’t shy away from punishing the protagonists or rewarding the antagonists.

The story begins with Tom Builder’s dream of constructing a grand cathedral. After personal tragedy strikes, he finds employment at Kingsbridge Priory, where Prior Philip is determined to build a cathedral to revitalize the town. As Tom works on the construction, various characters' lives intertwine: Aliena, once a noblewoman, is reduced to poverty after her father’s betrayal, and she vows to regain her family’s land. Meanwhile, the ruthless William Hamleigh seeks to control Kingsbridge and its resources, creating numerous obstacles for Tom, Philip, and Aliena. Jack, a skilled and imaginative young builder, emerges as another key figure in the construction of the cathedral and eventually becomes Tom’s successor. The novel spans decades, chronicling the challenges—political, financial, and personal—faced by those working on the cathedral, as well as the broader historical events affecting England.

The novel is set during "The Anarchy" (1135–1153), a period of civil war between supporters of Empress Matilda and King Stephen, after the death of King Henry I. Follett also references the rebuilding of cathedrals after the destruction of religious structures, a common occurrence during medieval conflicts. The novel highlights the challenges faced by people during a time of political instability and shows how larger historical forces—like war and the power struggles of the nobility and the Church—directly impact ordinary people. Through these events, Follett conveys the idea that historical change is both destructive and constructive, and that human resilience and ambition can thrive even in the most turbulent times.

Architecture, construction and masonry are important means by which Ken Follet narrates the book. Not only does the story revolve around the construction of the cathedral, but the main characters are either invested in the craft or fiercely opposed to the building of the cathedral. Building a cathedral may be a monumental task today, but 800 years ago it was a physically gargantuan task, which - as the book describes - took four decades. The cathedral symbolizes not only faith and artistic achievement but also the enduring legacy of human endeavor. The cathedral becomes a focal point for the characters' hopes, dreams, and ambitions, representing the way individuals contribute to something greater than themselves.

However, it's not just the cathedral that creates the physical atmosphere in the book - in fact as the plot of the book makes clear - there is no cathedral yet. The mediaeval atmosphere is brought to life with Ken Follet’s detailed description of the towns, forts, castles, monasteries and forest.

Power is one of the major themes of the book - how class divisions and religious influence permeated the lives of others. The struggle between the nobility, clergy and commoners is a central theme. The powerful do everything in their power to maintain control over resources and maximise personal gain, and commoners face virtually insurmountable odds while attempting to create a better life.  

Endurance is also an important topic explored in Pillars. The construction of the cathedral itself is a metaphor for human resilience. Characters like Tom and Aliena face immense hardships in the personal and professional endeavours, and the author highlights their perseverance in the face of adversity. 

The novel explores how faith motivates different characters in diverse ways. For Prior Philip, faith is the driving force behind his desire to build the cathedral. For others, like Jack, faith takes on a more personal and creative dimension, as seen in his architectural innovations.

Other books that deal with similar topics are - Arturo Perez Reverte’s book - The Seville Communion is about a centuries old, decrepit church in Spain that mystically defends itself against all attempts made to raze it down by developers. The structure and the people that have strong feelings and obsessions for it are an important plot device. Sarum by Edward Rutherfurd is another historical saga that spans centuries, much like Follett’s work, with a focus on the development of a place (in this case, Salisbury).