The Pillars of the EarthThe Pillars of the Earth
Score Classic
What it's about
In twelfth-century England, during a brutal civil war over the throne, Tom Builder, a mason, dreams of building a cathedral. He finds his chance in Kingsbridge, a struggling priory town led by the shrewd, devout Prior Philip. Over four decades, the novel follows the people whose lives are tied to the cathedral: Tom's family, the outlaw Ellen and her son Jack, the dispossessed noblewoman Aliena, and a set of ruthless enemies determined to stop them.
Why it's worth reading
It's one of the best-selling novels of all time, picked for both the BBC's Big Read and the PBS Great American Read. It's a huge, addictive historical epic.
You'll love it if you liked
Good to know
It's nearly 1,000 pages. It includes graphic violence and sexual violence. It's the first of the Kingsbridge series.
By the numbers
- Readers94 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller87 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
- #15 of the 116 historical novels we rank
- #33 of the 762 classics we rank
- #118 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping, Epic, Moving
More by Ken Follett
World Without End
Fall of Giants
The Evening and the Morning
Eye of the NeedleIf you like this, read next
The Godfather
One Hundred Years of Solitude
The Name of the Rose
The Robots of Dawn
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Quick answers
Is The Pillars of the Earth worth reading?
Yes. It's one of the best-selling novels of all time, picked for both the BBC's Big Read and the PBS Great American Read. It ranks #118 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 86.1 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Pillars of the Earth about?
In twelfth-century England, during a brutal civil war over the throne, Tom Builder, a mason, dreams of building a cathedral. He finds his chance in Kingsbridge, a struggling priory town led by the shrewd, devout Prior Philip. Over four decades, the novel follows the people whose lives are tied to the cathedral: Tom's family, the outlaw Ellen and her son Jack, the dispossessed noblewoman Aliena, and a set of ruthless enemies determined to stop them.
How long does it take to read The Pillars of the Earth?
About 25 hours (1008 pages), or about 7 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Pillars of the Earth?
If you liked it, try Shōgun by James Clavell, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon or Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel.