Reviews
"The peasants are revolting. Some, anyway. Others-the good-hearted varlets, churls and nickpurses of Follett's latest-are just fine. "In a departure from his usual taut, economical procedurals ( Whiteout , 2004, etc.), Follett revisits the Middle Ages in what amounts to a sort of sequel to The Pillars of the Earth (1989). The story is leisurely but never slow, turning in the shadow of the great provincial cathedral in the backwater of Kingsbridge, the fraught construction of which was the ostensible subject of the first novel. Now, in the 1330s, the cathedral is a going concern, populated by the same folks who figured in its making: intriguing clerics, sometimes clueless nobles and salt-of-the-earth types. One of the last is a resourceful young girl-and Follett's women are always resourceful, more so than the menfolk-who liberates the overflowing purse of one of those nobles. Her father has already lost a hand for thievery, but that's an insufficient deterrent in a time of hunger, and a time when the lords "were frequently away: at war, in Parliament, fighting lawsuits, or just attending on their earl or king." Thus the need for watchful if greedy bailiffs and tough sheriffs, who make Gwenda's grown-up life challenging. Follett has a nice eye for the sometimes silly clash of the classes and the aspirations of the small to become large, as with one aspiring prior who "had only a vague idea of what he would do with such power, but he felt strongly that he belonged in some elevated position in life." Alas, woe meets some of those who strive, a fact that touches off a neat little mystery at the beginning of the book, one that plays its way out across the years and implicates dozens of characters. "A lively entertainment for fans of The Once and Future King, The Lord of the Rings and other multilayered epics."- Kirkus Reviews , Starred Review "A lively entertainment for fans of The Once and Future King , The Lord of the Rings and other multilayered epics."- Kirkus Reviews , Starred Review "Fans of Follett's previous medieval epic will be well rewarded"- Publishers Weekly, "A ROUSING EPIC of 14th-century England...terrifically compelling." --Diana Gabaldon, The Washington Post "JUICY HISTORICAL FICTION."-- USA Today "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, "A ROUSING EPIC of 14th-century England...terrifically compelling." --Diana Gabaldon, The Washington Post "JUICY HISTORICAL FICTION."-- USA Today "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 , "A ROUSING EPIC of 14th-century England…terrifically compelling." -Diana Gabaldon, The Washington Post "JUICY HISTORICAL FICTION."- USA Today "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, The peasants are revolting. Some, anyway. Others—the good-hearted varlets, churls and nickpurses of Follett’s latest—are just fine. In a departure from his usual taut, economical procedurals (Whiteout, 2004, etc.), Follett revisits the Middle Ages in what amounts to a sort of sequel to The Pillars of the Earth(1989). The story is leisurely but never slow, turning in the shadow of the great provincial cathedral in the backwater of Kingsbridge, the fraught construction of which was the ostensible subject of the first novel. Now, in the 1330s, the cathedral is a going concern, populated by the same folks who figured in its making: intriguing clerics, sometimes clueless nobles and salt-of-the-earth types. One of the last is a resourceful young girl—and Follett’s women are always resourceful, more so than the menfolk—who liberates the overflowing purse of one of those nobles. Her father has already lost a hand for thievery, but that’s an insufficient deterrent in a time of hunger, and a time when the lords were frequently away: at war, in Parliament, fighting lawsuits, or just attending on their earl or king.” Thus the need for watchful if greedy bailiffs and tough sheriffs, who make Gwenda’s grown-up life challenging. Follett has a nice eye for the sometimes silly clash of the classes and the aspirations of the small to become large, as with one aspiring prior who had only a vague idea of what he would do with such power, but he felt strongly that he belonged in some elevated position in life.” Alas, woe meets some of those who strive, a fact that touches off a neat little mystery at the beginning of the book, one that plays its way out across the years and implicates dozens of characters. A lively entertainment for fans of The Once and Future King, The Lord of the Ringsand other multilayered epics.—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review, Praise for World Without End: "[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, "A lively entertainment for fans of The Once and Future King , The Lord of the Rings and other multilayered epics." -- Kirkus Reviews , Starred Review "Fans of Follett's previous medieval epic will be well rewarded"-- Publishers Weekly, “The peasants are revolting. Some, anyway. Others—the good-hearted varlets, churls and nickpurses of Follett’s latest—are just fine. In a departure from his usual taut, economical procedurals ( Whiteout , 2004, etc.), Follett revisits the Middle Ages in what amounts to a sort of sequel to The Pillars of the Earth (1989). The story is leisurely but never slow, turning in the shadow of the great provincial cathedral in the backwater of Kingsbridge, the fraught construction of which was the ostensible subject of the first novel. Now, in the 1330s, the cathedral is a going concern, populated by the same folks who figured in its making: intriguing clerics, sometimes clueless nobles and salt-of-the-earth types. One of the last is a resourceful young girl—and Follett’s women are always resourceful, more so than the menfolk—who liberates the overflowing purse of one of those nobles. Her father has already lost a hand for thievery, but that’s an insufficient deterrent in a time of hunger, and a time when the lords “were frequently away: at war, in Parliament, fighting lawsuits, or just attending on their earl or king.â€� Thus the need for watchful if greedy bailiffs and tough sheriffs, who make Gwenda’s grown-up life challenging. Follett has a nice eye for the sometimes silly clash of the classes and the aspirations of the small to become large, as with one aspiring prior who “had only a vague idea of what he would do with such power, but he felt strongly that he belonged in some elevated position in life.â€� Alas, woe meets some of those who strive, a fact that touches off a neat little mystery at the beginning of the book, one that plays its way out across the years and implicates dozens of characters. A lively entertainment for fans of The Once and Future King, The Lord of the Rings and other multilayered epics. — Kirkus Reviews , Starred Review, Praise for World Without End: "[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, "A ROUSING EPIC of 14th-century England...terrifically compelling." --Diana Gabaldon, The Washington Post "JUICY HISTORICAL FICTION."-- USA Today "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, "The peasants are revolting. Some, anyway. Others-the good-hearted varlets, churls and nickpurses of Follett's latest-are just fine. "In a departure from his usual taut, economical procedurals ( Whiteout , 2004, etc.), Follett revisits the Middle Ages in what amounts to a sort of sequel to The Pillars of the Earth (1989). The story is leisurely but never slow, turning in the shadow of the great provincial cathedral in the backwater of Kingsbridge, the fraught construction of which was the ostensible subject of the first novel. Now, in the 1330s, the cathedral is a going concern, populated by the same folks who figured in its making: intriguing clerics, sometimes clueless nobles and salt-of-the-earth types. One of the last is a resourceful young girl-and Follett's women are always resourceful, more so than the menfolk-who liberates the overflowing purse of one of those nobles. Her father has already lost a hand for thievery, but that's an insufficient deterrent in a time of hunger, and a time when the lords "were frequently away: at war, in Parliament, fighting lawsuits, or just attending on their earl or king." Thus the need for watchful if greedy bailiffs and tough sheriffs, who make Gwenda's grown-up life challenging. Follett has a nice eye for the sometimes silly clash of the classes and the aspirations of the small to become large, as with one aspiring prior who "had only a vague idea of what he would do with such power, but he felt strongly that he belonged in some elevated position in life." Alas, woe meets some of those who strive, a fact that touches off a neat little mystery at the beginning of the book, one that plays its way out across the years and implicates dozens of characters. "A lively entertainment for fans of The Once and Future King, The Lord of the Rings and other multilayered epics."- Kirkus Reviews , Starred Review "A lively entertainment for fans of The Once and Future King , The Lord of the Rings and other multilayered epics."- Kirkus Reviews , Starred Review "Fans of Follett''s previous medieval epic will be well rewarded"- Publishers Weekly, "A lively entertainment for fans of The Once and Future King, The Lord of the Ringsand other multilayered epics." --Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review "Fans of Follett's previous medieval epic will be well rewarded" -- Publishers Weekly
