World Without EndWorld Without End
Score Modern
What it's about
Two centuries after The Pillars of the Earth, the town of Kingsbridge and its great cathedral are again at the center of a web of love and hate, ambition and revenge. In the 14th century, a cast of characters including a builder, a healer and a young woman fighting for her independence face new ideas about medicine, trade and justice, and then the Black Death.
Why it's worth reading
It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and spent half a year on the lists. It's a sweeping, absorbing historical saga that many readers love even more than its predecessor.
You'll love it if you liked
The Pillars of the Earth
Wolf Hall
OutlanderGood to know
It stands on its own, though readers of The Pillars of the Earth will enjoy the connections. It's over 1,000 pages and includes graphic violence.
By the numbers
- Readers92 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller70 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
- #28 of the 116 historical novels we rank
- #136 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #266 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Epic, Moving
More by Ken Follett
The Pillars of the Earth
Fall of Giants
The Evening and the Morning
Eye of the NeedleIf you like this, read next
The Underground Railroad
The Water Dancer
Between Two Fires
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
The Luminaries
Gods of Jade and ShadowExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is World Without End worth reading?
Yes. It reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and spent half a year on the lists. It ranks #266 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 82.2 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is World Without End about?
Two centuries after The Pillars of the Earth, the town of Kingsbridge and its great cathedral are again at the center of a web of love and hate, ambition and revenge. In the 14th century, a cast of characters including a builder, a healer and a young woman fighting for her independence face new ideas about medicine, trade and justice, and then the Black Death.
How long does it take to read World Without End?
About 26 hours (1030 pages), or about 7 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after World Without End?
If you liked it, try The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett, Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel or Outlander by Diana Gabaldon.