PILLARS OF THE EARTH: Kingsbridge 1135

Set against the sprawling medieval canvas of 12th century England, this classic historical masterpiece is the second in the Kingsbridge series. 1135 and civil war, famine and religious strife abound. With his family on the verge of starvation, mason Tom Builder dreams of the day that he can use his talents to create and build a cathedral like no other. Philip, prior of Kingsbridge, is resourceful, but with money scarce he knows that for his town to survive it must find a way to thrive, and so he makes the decision to build within it the greatest Gothic cathedral the world has ever known. As Tom and Philip meet so begins an epic tale of ambition, anarchy and absolute power in a world beset by strife and enemies that would thwart their plans. High ideals and savage cruelty, they stop at nothing to achieve their ambitions in a struggle between good and evil that will turn church against state, and brother against brother. Follett brilliantly evokes the period. A massive 1087 page paperback.