World without End [Paperback]

 

 

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"World Without End" is a sequel, and comparisons are natural. Like many of the other reviewers I too had read the first volume years ago, and though I remember enjoying it very much I think that even if one does not read that book they will still experience a great read. WWE is loaded with interesting characters and literally hundreds of stories winding through the main plot. The characters come off as real and lively as well as purely evil, funny or pathetic - in other words a book chock full of something for every reader who truly enjoys settling down with a thick volume that takes effort to complete.

Follett creates and paints a believable world for his cast of characters. As usual the quality of the writing keep the story flowing and scene after scene setting up great events. Follett's characters are as usual drawn with daring, humor and more than a touch of mystery. The setting is dynamic and part of what I enjoyed the most, seeing how his creations moved through the society of the times and how they reacted, rebelled, fought and, yes, fornicated. Family life, and the society of the guilds and how they worked within the ages, and of course the conflicts that developed within that context.

Plotting is very strong, Follett should be congratulated for juggling so many characters and moving them through the scenes and situations he has created to bring out conflicts, love, hate and violence that was very much familiar to the time period. If, like me, you have enjoyed many of Follett's books, no matter what genre as much as I have then I believe you will like this one too, and very much.

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World Without End was the third Ken Follett historical fiction book I've read, and was by far my favourite (even more than Pillars). However, I struggled at first with getting past Follett's characters - I find he writes with a bit of a tin ear - the characters and character development are essentially the same in each of the books I've read (maybe this is just my bad luck with him). You have the strong, independent young woman struggling to find peace with her male dominated time; the two brothers - one brutish, cruel and power hungry, the other gentle, ambitious, but kind-hearted and intelligent; the struggling lovers; the corrupt feudal system; well, you get the idea. HOWEVER, if you can get past the lack of original characters, the story was brilliant and woven together really well. It was much more of a roller coaster than Pillars, which I found lagged quite a bit. Follett has a real knack for placing the reader exactly in the period of time he's writing about - the description of politics, religion, status of women, everyday life, medical practices, etc was incredible - it always is, but he really pulled it off in this one. And of course, the information about building, technology, etc was simply fascinating and woven into the story beautifully - almost as a side note to whatever was happening in the scene. If you're hesitant about this one because you read Pillars and only found it to be okay, as I did, World Without End may bring you around.

"World Without End" continues the story of Kingsbridge, a medieval town noted for the awe-inspiring Gothic cathedral designed and built some 200 hundred years earlier in the 12th century by Jack Builder.

Gwenda, a female medieval version of the Artful Dodger, is one of five starving children in a very poor family. Despite the horrific punishment that sees the hands chopped off a convicted thief, she's being raised by her father to be a cut-purse and a pickpocket. Ralph is a tall, strong boy whose hopeful family see him as destined for greater things. They imagine him as the young squire of a noble knight or (dare they wish for such an impossibility?) perhaps even elevated to the rank of knighthood and nobility itself. But Ralph is an aggressive bully and although he certainly seems to have the strength and the warlike skills to achieve such an ambition, he is sadly lacking in the ability to soak up any academic learning at all. Descended from Jack Builder, Merthin seems to be the polar opposite of his stepbrother, Ralph. Merthin is a kinder, gentler, more intelligent person whose innate pragmatic genius drives him to wonder how things work and how things are built. Caris, also a descendent of Jack Builder, shares in Jack's and Merthin's intelligence but she is determined to use that academic brilliance to study medicine, an activity strictly forbidden to mere women in the 14th century.

In 1327, these four children slip away from the confines of Kingsbridge and play in the forest, a dangerous activity forbidden to them by their parents. But who among us hasn't ignored a prohibition like that at one time or another? When, to their horror, they witness a killing that they cannot understand, their lives become inextricably entwined together and it is not until many, many years later that any of them will understand the dark motives behind the brutal event in the forest that unfolded before them that day.

Of course, "World Without End" is a sequel to Ken Follett's runaway bestseller, "Pillars of the Earth" and, as you might expect, Kingsbridge Cathedral, the priory and Merthin's skills as an engineer, a mason, a designer and an architect, all play a central role in the continuing story. Caris' cousin, Godwyn, also a descendant of Tom Builder, becomes a monk at a very early age and sets his career sights very high indeed. With an abundant supply of self-confidence and arrogance, he is absolutely convinced that it is in Kingsbridge's and his own best interests that he become no less than the Prior of the cathedral. Of course, this is still the 14th century and, clearly, Godwyn, the priory and the authority of the Catholic Church will have no small part to play in the history of Kingsbridge as the story of the four children's lives begins to play out against the rich medieval backdrop that Follett provides.

Feudalism, medieval law, the iron hand of the Catholic Church, the innate male chauvinism of the day, the nobility, ongoing war against France and, of course, the Black Death that savaged Europe in the second half of the fourteenth century, all play a major role in Follett's epic tale, "World Without End". Given the setting of the story in terms of time and place, this shouldn't come as a surprise. What may come as a surprise is that, although readers of "Pillars of the Earth" who waited so long for this sequel were desperately afraid that Follett couldn't possibly repeat such a literary triumph, their worries were quite groundless. Follett has provided his fans with an epic tale that veritably leaps off the pages - bloody war and battles; greed, ambition and power; lust, love and loyalty; suspense and intrigue; and, of course, a realistic, astonishingly well developed historical setting that will transport delighted readers to the heart of medieval England.

"World Without End" is a doorstopper weighing in at a hefty 1000+ pages. But, without a doubt, it's the fastest 1000 pages that you're ever going to read and you'll still be sorry to see it end. What a story!

Paul Weiss

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4.0 out of 5 stars More Bookish Thoughts...
I was super-excited to read "World Without End" but I also had my reservations. "Pillars of the Earth" ranks as my favourite book of all time but Follett wrote it eighteen years... Read more

Published 12 months ago by Reader Writer Runner

4.0 out of 5 stars 4 Stars
It's a pretty good book.. if you really enjoyed Pillars of the Earth, chances are you'll like this... It wasn't as extraordinary in my opinion. Read more

Published 12 months ago by Nikki2011

4.0 out of 5 stars A visceral read!
A raw departure for Ken Follet. Hard to put down even though this Medieval tale is visceral: a harsh protrayal of the human spirit that rises above adversity in an unbelievable... Read more

Published 15 months ago by MJK

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Masterpiece by a Master
Although always concerned about how a sequel will be, I found I could not find any fault with WWE. Ken Follett has done it again... Read more

Published 17 months ago by Brian Phaneuf

1.0 out of 5 stars What a waste of time
They say "time is precious", so don't waste it in reading this book. I had never quit reading a book in my life until I reached page 450 of World Without End. Read more

Published 17 months ago by MONICA RIOS

5.0 out of 5 stars Follett
This is a long, excellent read. Very different from his usually novels (Eye of the Needle, etc),and very engrossing. Read more

Published 20 months ago by John Langston

5.0 out of 5 stars world without end
fantastic read! I recommend reading the pillars of the earth 1st, as this is sort of the sequel. this is a book I can't put down and have told all my friends about. Read more

Published 20 months ago by muirfield

4.0 out of 5 stars World Without End - Book Review
World Without End: 6 CDs

I am not sure as to what you want me to review - the condition of the book when received or how interesting was the book. Read more

Published 23 months ago by Sharon Whittle

5.0 out of 5 stars World Without End
I just completed a marathon of listening. Pillars of the Earth followed by World Without End. Both read by John Lee, and what an incredible experience it was to have these... Read more

Published on May 5 2010 by T. May

4.0 out of 5 stars AN ENDLESS MEDIEVAL SAGA
Do not expect to find high literature here. But expect to be very entertained. Ken Follet's sequel to the tighter and more cared for The Pillars of the Earth is an endless... Read more

Published on Mar 16 2010 by NeuroSplicer

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