The Complete Idiot's Guide to Study Skills

KenFollettisknownworldwideasthemasterofsplit-secondsuspense,buthismostbelovedandbestsellingbooktellsthemagnificenttaleofatwelfth-centurymonkdriventodotheseeminglyimpossible:buildthegreatestGothiccathedraltheworldhaseverknown.EverythingreadersexpectfromFollettishere:intrigue,fast-pacedaction,andpassionateromance.ButwhatmakesThePillarsoftheEarthextraordinaryisthetime—thetwelfthcentury;theplace—feudalEngland;andthesubject—thebuildingofagloriouscathedral.Folletthasre-createdthecrude,flamboyantEnglandoftheMiddleAgesineverydetail.Thevastforests,thewalledtowns,thecastles,andthemonasteriesbecomeafamiliarlandscape.Againstthisrichlyimaginedandintricatelyinterwovenbackdrop,filledwiththeravagesofwarandtherhythmsofdailylife,themasterstorytellerdrawsthereaderirresistiblyintotheintertwinedlivesofhischaracters—intotheirdreams,theirlabors,andtheirloves:Tom,themasterbuilder;Aliena,theravishinglybeautifulnoblewoman;Philip,thepriorofKingsbridge;Jack,theartistinstone;andEllen,thewomanoftheforestwhocastsaterrifyingcurse.Fromhumblestonemasontoimperiousmonarch,eachcharacterisbroughtvividlytolife.Thebuildingofthecathedral,withthealmosteerieartistryoftheunschooledstonemasons,isthecenterofthedrama.Aroundthesiteoftheconstruction,Follettweavesastoryofbetrayal,revenge,andlove,whichbeginswiththepublichangingofaninnocentmanandendswiththehumiliationofaking.Atonceasensuousandendearinglovestoryandanepicthatshineswiththefiercespiritofapassionateage,ThePillarsoftheEarthiswithoutadoubtKenFollett'smasterpiece.KenFollett,internationally-acclaimedmasterofsplit-secondsuspense,authorofsix#1bestsellers,reachesbeyondtheexpectedtoachievehismostbrilliantandremarkablenovel.Theepicstoryofthebuildingofacathedralin12thcenturyEnglandandthelivesofthepeopleentwinedwithitandeachotherisasensuous,enduringnarrative,andagrippingtaleoffaith,ambition,bloodshedandbetrayal.