Jason
11-10-2008, 05:31 AM
I have just finished re-reading Ken Follet's brilliant - and very long - book titled Pillars of the Earth. Don't know whether any of you like medieval (is that spelled correctly?) English history, but if you are into that, do yourselves a favour and read it. It tells the story of a man called Tom Builder, a stonemason, and his family, all their misfortunes, many caused by the evil William Hanleigh...
Tom wanted to build a cathedral and eventually he ends up in a small town, Kingsbridge (which is an imaginary place) and begins on this beautiful edifice. However, much else occurs during the reign of King Stephen, King Henry, et al (real characters).
What I did find interesting in the book are the progressive drawings/plans of this church or cathedral which is eventually completed by Tom's stepson, Jack - it is difficult to imagine that architects in the 11th-12th centuries could come up with such magnificent edifices where each building block or stone is carefully dressed - much like the ancient Egyptians and their pyramids.
The story is rather slow-moving, but enjoyable, all the same.
Tom wanted to build a cathedral and eventually he ends up in a small town, Kingsbridge (which is an imaginary place) and begins on this beautiful edifice. However, much else occurs during the reign of King Stephen, King Henry, et al (real characters).
What I did find interesting in the book are the progressive drawings/plans of this church or cathedral which is eventually completed by Tom's stepson, Jack - it is difficult to imagine that architects in the 11th-12th centuries could come up with such magnificent edifices where each building block or stone is carefully dressed - much like the ancient Egyptians and their pyramids.
The story is rather slow-moving, but enjoyable, all the same.