The Evening and the MorningThe Evening and the Morning
Score Modern
What it's about
In 997 CE, at the end of the Dark Ages, England faces raids from the Welsh and the Vikings, and those in power bend justice to their will. Three lives become intertwined: a young boatbuilder whose home is raided by Vikings, a Norman noblewoman who marries for love and follows her husband to England, and a monk with a dream of making his abbey a center of learning.
Why it's worth reading
It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. It's the prequel to The Pillars of the Earth, telling how the town of Kingsbridge began.
You'll love it if you liked
The Pillars of the Earth
World Without End
Wolf HallGood to know
It stands on its own, though it's richer if you know Pillars. It's over 900 pages and includes graphic violence.
By the numbers
- Readers78 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller59 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #57 of the 116 historical novels we rank
- #81 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #329 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #652 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Epic, Moving
More by Ken Follett
The Pillars of the EarthWorld Without End
Fall of Giants
Eye of the NeedleIf you like this, read next
Doomsday Book
One Hundred Years of Solitude
The Book Thief
The Help
Pachinko
Shuggie BainExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Evening and the Morning worth reading?
Yes. It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. It ranks #652 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 76.5 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Evening and the Morning about?
In 997 CE, at the end of the Dark Ages, England faces raids from the Welsh and the Vikings, and those in power bend justice to their will. Three lives become intertwined: a young boatbuilder whose home is raided by Vikings, a Norman noblewoman who marries for love and follows her husband to England, and a monk with a dream of making his abbey a center of learning.
How long does it take to read The Evening and the Morning?
About 23 hours (913 pages), or about 7 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Evening and the Morning?
If you liked it, try The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett, World Without End by Ken Follett or Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel.