by Andrea D. Hutchinson

Created on: May 10, 2010   Last Updated: May 20, 2010

“The Pillars of the Earth”, the epic novel and number one International Bestseller written by Ken Follett. Written in 1989, this historically accurate novel returned to the fore by Oprah's Book Club in 2007. “Pillars of the Earth”, having enjoyed a second round of captivated readers, is now the much anticipated miniseries of the summer of 2010 on one of the most watched cable venues,

Starz.

“On the night of 25 November 1120 the White Ship set out for England and foundered off Barfleur with all hands save one...The vessel was the latest thing in marine transport, fitted with all the devices known to the shipbuilder of the time...The notoriety of this wreck is due to the very large number of distinguished persons on board; besides the king's son and heir, there were two royal bastards, several earls and barons, and most of the royal household...its historical significance is that it left Henry without an obvious heir...its ultimate result was the disputed succession and the period of anarchy which followed Henry's death.”

A.L. Poole, from Domesday Book to Magna Carta

Thus begins “The Pillars of the Earth”. Follett has created a tapestry of well researched history, interwoven with the fictional lives of a vast community of vibrant characters. Weaving expertly, fiction within the nonfiction, of anarchy, romance, common life and intrigue of 12th century England. On the historically correct backdrop, Follett's depiction is a richly defined. Setting the story in the seemingly quiet confines of a humble monastery know as Kingsbridge Priory, and the surrounding village of the same name. Follett successfully provides the reader with the true protagonist.

The Prologue begins the tale with a hanging and a curse, not explained until the last five pages of the novel. However, possibly forgotten by the reader, the explanation is a rare treat, not often offered by lesser authors.

The wrongful hanging of an innocent man is the is the first known meeting of two of the main and richly filled out characters of story, Waleran Bigod and Ellen, the two will come to tie together a community of well defined characters who will engage in a life long journey together over a fifty year period. Ellen, who we find is an outlaw now, dwelling in the forest with her mysterious young son, Jack, to an unemployed master builder, Tom and his family, who meet on the forest road in the start of this novel's journey. The modest and self conscious

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