A 'World' of change
The Pillars of the Earth was my introduction to Ken Follett, and having finished the sequel, I feel that much more well-acquainted with his style. Historical fiction doesn't often catch my attention, although I've been reading more of it ever since I began writing down these reviews. Likewise, the Medieval Ages as a subject is not my favorite - I'm more at home with class struggles of 19th- and 20th-century England.
In 1327 England, four children encounter a knight on the run from the royal guard. They help him escape and bury an important letter containing a royal secret. As the years pass, the bonds between them remain strong. Merthin, a talented builder, falls in love with Caris, an intelligent and independent young woman; his brother Ralph yearns to bring his family the honor they've lost; and timid peasant girl Gwenda plots to earn her beloved's devotion. They all live in or around the bustling town of Kingsbridge, which boasts a famous cathedral. One will become a soldier, one a professional, one a sly laborer, and one will pledge a life of religion. As they scheme to have their own ways, they must contend with petty rivalries, holier-than-thou monks, and people who would rather look to the past than move forward. They will be tested by a war, a plague, distrustful authority, and their own desires as they attempt to live their lives on their own terms.
Some authors write stories because they are interested in people or culture; some write because they have an extraordinary ear for language, a love of words; others write because they want to express heady or unique opinions in a passionate way. Follett writes to tell a story, and he does it with the skill and patience that epics such as World Without End require. Surpassing 1,000 pages, this ambitious tale of love and determination is worth the long read, and the strong personalities of the characters are more than enough to hook the audience.
The pretense here is that most of these characters are descended from the memorable characters of the prequel. Merthin, for example, is the innovator whose ideas are at first ignored because of his inexperience and his unique mindset. Caris is the strong female character whose quest for independence hinders some of her own interests. Their love story is without question the backbone of the novel, and these are the characters most likely to garner "favorite" status among readers. Ralph, the brutish and frustrated squire, is the most antagonistic of the four but no less fascinating for it. The subplot of the lovesick Gwenda is perhaps the weakest of the four, as she lives the dreary life of a peasant (her story is most exciting at the beginning, when her father sells her into prostitution against her will). Showing up for villain duty is Godwyn, a prissy monk who covets control of the priory and will do anything to get it; helping him is Philemon, brother of Gwenda and a less likely antagonist. Other denizens of Kingsbridge come out and create memorable impressions on the reader, such as the faithful Madge and sly Mother Cecilia, the latter of whom makes an unlikely prophecy for Caris.
Themes of religion, independence, revenge, lust, and using the ends to justify the means help greatly in tying all of the subplots together. Even our kind-hearted protagonists do things that we may not agree with, such as drugging a loved one or recklessly cheating on a relationship. If you love reading about despicable and lovable characters trying to double-cross one another, this novel is a treasure trove. It's also fascinating to compare the different motivations that abound: some want recognition, a promise of a good life, freedom to express themselves, and to help others. And although largely Follett paints his world's mortality in black and white, there are plenty of pockets of gray to entertain the reader long after the book is finished. In choosing such broad themes and examining them from different angles, he makes the book accessible and exciting.
As modern epics go, Follett's work stands out because of its attention to historic detail and graceful plotting. Reading one of these books is akin to taking a long journey on a dark road at night, and his mastery of storytelling ensures that readers will be thrilled at every twist and turn. Rating: 4.5 royal secrets of out 5.
Some authors write stories because they are interested in people or culture; some write because they have an extraordinary ear for language, a love of words; others write because they want to express heady or unique opinions in a passionate way. Follett writes to tell a story, and he does it with the skill and patience that epics such as World Without End require. Surpassing 1,000 pages, this ambitious tale of love and determination is worth the long read, and the strong personalities of the characters are more than enough to hook the audience.
The pretense here is that most of these characters are descended from the memorable characters of the prequel. Merthin, for example, is the innovator whose ideas are at first ignored because of his inexperience and his unique mindset. Caris is the strong female character whose quest for independence hinders some of her own interests. Their love story is without question the backbone of the novel, and these are the characters most likely to garner "favorite" status among readers. Ralph, the brutish and frustrated squire, is the most antagonistic of the four but no less fascinating for it. The subplot of the lovesick Gwenda is perhaps the weakest of the four, as she lives the dreary life of a peasant (her story is most exciting at the beginning, when her father sells her into prostitution against her will). Showing up for villain duty is Godwyn, a prissy monk who covets control of the priory and will do anything to get it; helping him is Philemon, brother of Gwenda and a less likely antagonist. Other denizens of Kingsbridge come out and create memorable impressions on the reader, such as the faithful Madge and sly Mother Cecilia, the latter of whom makes an unlikely prophecy for Caris.
Themes of religion, independence, revenge, lust, and using the ends to justify the means help greatly in tying all of the subplots together. Even our kind-hearted protagonists do things that we may not agree with, such as drugging a loved one or recklessly cheating on a relationship. If you love reading about despicable and lovable characters trying to double-cross one another, this novel is a treasure trove. It's also fascinating to compare the different motivations that abound: some want recognition, a promise of a good life, freedom to express themselves, and to help others. And although largely Follett paints his world's mortality in black and white, there are plenty of pockets of gray to entertain the reader long after the book is finished. In choosing such broad themes and examining them from different angles, he makes the book accessible and exciting.
As modern epics go, Follett's work stands out because of its attention to historic detail and graceful plotting. Reading one of these books is akin to taking a long journey on a dark road at night, and his mastery of storytelling ensures that readers will be thrilled at every twist and turn. Rating: 4.5 royal secrets of out 5.
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