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World Without End

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World Without End

Written by: Ken Follett
Narrated by: John Lee
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In 1989 Ken Follett astonished the literary world with The Pillars of the Earth, a sweeping epic novel set in twelfth-century England centered on the building of a cathedral and many of the hundreds of lives it affected. Critics were overwhelmed—“it will hold you, fascinate you, surround you” (Chicago Tribune)—and readers everywhere hoped for a sequel.

World Without End takes place in the same town of Kingsbridge, two centuries after the townspeople finished building the exquisite Gothic cathedral that was at the heart of The Pillars of the Earth. The cathedral and the priory are again at the center of a web of love and hate, greed and pride, ambition and revenge, but this sequel stands on its own. This time the men and women of an extraordinary cast of characters find themselves at a crossroad of new ideas— about medicine, commerce, architecture, and justice. In a world where proponents of the old ways fiercely battle those with progressive minds, the intrigue and tension quickly reach a boiling point against the devastating backdrop of the greatest natural disaster ever to strike the human race—the Black Death.

Three years in the writing, and nearly eighteen years since its predecessor, World Without End breathes new life into the epic historical novel and once again shows that Ken Follett is a masterful author writing at the top of his craft. Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Suspense Thriller & Suspense Middle Ages
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What the critics say

“[A] well-researched, beautifully detailed portrait of the late Middle Ages . . . Follett’s no-frills prose does its job, getting smoothly through more than a thousand pages of outlaws, war, death, sex, and politics to end with an edifice that is as well constructed and solid as Merthin’s bridge.” —The Washington Post

“Follett tells a story that runs the gamut of life in the Middle Ages, and he does so in such a way that we are not only captivated but also educated. What else could you ask for?” —The Denver Post

“So if historical fiction is your meat, here’s a rare treat. A feast of conflicts and struggles among religious authority, royal governance, the powerful unions (or guilds) of the day, and the peasantry . . . With World Without End, Follett proves his Pillars may be a rarity, but it wasn’t a fluke.” —New York Post

“A work that stands as something of a triumph of industry and professionalism.”—The Guardian (UK)

“The four well-drawn central characters will captivate readers as they prove to be heroic, depraved, resourceful, or mean. Fans of Follett’s previous medieval epic will be well rewarded.” —The Union (CA)

“Populated with an immense cast of truly remarkable characters . . . this is not a book to be devoured in one sitting, tempting though that might be, but one to savor for its drama, depth, and richness.” —Library Journal

“Readers will be captivated.” —Publishers Weekly

Continue the series
A Column of Fire cover art
A Column of Fire Written by: Ken Follett
The Armor of Light cover art
The Armor of Light Written by: Ken Follett
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By far my favourite thing about this author is his ability to bring characters to life in a very grounded and realistic way. They have faults and every character changes and develops in sometimes unpredictable ways. He had me absolutely stressed out and ready to fight multiple characters at times but I trusted him to wrap up all details and have at least a semi happy ending. All the stress was worth it as it made the ending sweeter as everyone had overcome so much. Thank you Ken Follett for the lovely story.

Amazing Character Development

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Totally enjoyable, an undeniable “page turner”. I’ve already purchased “The Armor of Light”. So as soon as I finish “A Column of Fire” ( for the second time) l will read …. “The Armor of Light”. Can’t wait! Then I will have read all 3 books two times …. “The Armor of Light” for the first time. …. I’m sure that I will enjoy it! Ken Follett has been in my life since the 1970’s!

Looking forward to “A Column of Fire”

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I loved everything about the story and the reading. The development of the characters was great, the storyline carried throughout, and the adherence to historical elements fantastic!
Thank you for a great listen !

Loved throughout !!!

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200 years later then the first tome that is very intersting. I found the family tree on Google to help me recognize those descendant and remember everybody and it help me. I realy love this book. John Lee is so talented, he is perfect.

Fabulous story

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Loved it. Loved it. Great story. Great history. Highly recommend. Follett is a master!

Amazing

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