The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett Audiobook Review
With a listening time of over 40 hours across 41 chapters, John Lee’s narrative of Ken Follett’s historic novel The Pillars of the Earth is an immersive listening experience that transfers audiences back to 12th-century England. Concentrating on the fictional towns of Kingsbridge and Shiring, Follett crafts a sweeping saga surrounding the building of a cathedral and the neighbourhoods it impacts, anchored by complex, engaging characters. Under Lee’s masterful performance, the audiobook brings this bestselling work clearly to life through Follett’s carefully investigated setting and styles taking a look at both the light and dark of human nature.
The story is moved forward by enthusiastic members of the Builder’s Guild such as Tom, Aliena and Philip, who run the risk of all to see their architectural dreams made manifest in stone regardless of the challenges of war, plague and the constraints of their time. Lee inhabits each character with nuanced accents and vocal tonality, letting their inspirations, aggravations and humanity shine through as historic events sweep around them. Interlacing subplots explore doctrinal rivalries, noble corruption and the durability of daily folk versus a backdrop of ruthless clashes between kingdoms.
Follett makes twelfth-century England palpable through evocative descriptions of whatever from castle courtyards and rural pilgrimages to the threats of childbed. Nothing is glossed over, from gut-wrenching battlefield injuries to events of craftsmanship in new flying buttresses and rose windows. John Lee deals with each scene with care, rendering even graphic material in a respectful manner that enhances psychological financial investment instead of desensitising. His measured delivery engrosses without sensationalising, communicating Follett’s deep research into duration vernacular and cultural environment.
Beyond visceral sensory details, the audiobook excels at conveying the socio-political machinations driving conflicts, and approach behind architectural developments that still stand today. Strife and betrayal are balanced out by acts of compassion advising our shared humankind, as communities unite to secure their lands and construct their cathedral – a symbol of hope for a brighter future. The ensemble tale reminds us how even centuries ago, everyday individuals collaborated against adversity to build legacies that shape societies for ages to come.
With an estimated 18 million copies sold given that it was first released in 1989, The Pillars of the Earth sustains due to Follett and Lee’s ability at bringing the past clearly, and memorably alive. Their definitive version honours this impressive power to carry listeners across ages, finding universal concerns of faith, justice and what genuinely defines civilisation which still resonate today. An exceptional historical listening experience not to be missed.
