Published by Viking Genres: Historical Fiction
Format: ARC, eBook
It’s 997 CE, the end of the Dark Ages in England and one man is attempting to make his Abby a center of learning while others are fighting/manipulating/using corruption for Control. Who you marry is hardly ever a choice but an arrangement, there are power plays, wars, corruption and greed. There is also a sense of family, love, hope, survival and friendship.
This book is the prequel to The Pillars of the Earth (which happens to be in my top 10 favorite books of all time). Needless to say, I quickly moved this book up. As Pillars of the Earth, this is a HUGE undertaking as this is a BIG book. Follett is a very descriptive writer and quickly transports readers back to the Dark Ages and gives us a glimpse into people’s lives. He writes about the rich, the poor, the ambitious, the cruel ones, the crafty ones, and the harshness of life during that time for all social classes. The book did start out slowly for me as he needed to tell the story. This book is not just one story it is the story of many – it’s the story of a boat maker who becomes a builder, a noble woman who marries for love and realizes she may have made a mistake, it’s the story of a slave, a religious man, an ale house keeper, a thief, etc. you get the picture. There are many players in this book, but I quickly became familiar with them. All these people come into play and soon do play a part in each other’s lives.
The world is a hard place back then and there are some unpleasant scenes – brutal fighting in war, rape, beatings, slaves, etc. Follett doesn’t shy away from showing the harshness of these character’s lives but he also does not go into graphic detail either.
Although this is a prequel, I do not think it is necessary to read the other books in the series to be able to enjoy this one. Plus, although a prequel, this does not end where Pillars of the Earth begins. But just as Edgar, the boat builder/building maker does, this book builds a foundation upon which Pillars of the Earth was created.
As with his other books, I found this to be well written and plotted. If you find it slow in the beginning, I encourage people to stay with it. This is not a book that can or should be read fast. It takes its time introducing characters, their agendas, their allegiances and the lives. But once the story is underway, I found this to be smooth sailing. Fans of the other books in the series will not be disappointed.
I received a copy of this book from Penguin Publishing Group and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own