This is a book which does not need an introduction, as it was a best seller for so many years after it was published in 1989. Type the title in the query box of your favourite web browser and you will find loads of authoritative information about the book’s genesis, author, research, style, description of life in England during the Middle Ages and the construction of cathedrals – the “Pillars of the Earth”. All of the reviews are very complimentary, and rightly so as the book is truly a masterpiece.
So how come that I have read it only now? Well, at the time of publication I was obviously not paying enough attention! I was busy completing an assignment in France with the now defunct SLB Technologies CAD/CAM division and was in the midst of packing and moving with my wife and two young children to a new challenge in Dubai, being tasked to start promoting and selling seismic interpretation systems under the Geco Geophysical banner in the Middle East region. An all-engrossing endeavour!
Two weeks ago my brother, an avid reader, mentioned the Pillars of the Earth during one of our long telephone conversations fostered by the COVID-19 pandemic induced confinement. I remembered Ken Follett as a master writer of thrillers, having read Eye of the Needle in the late 70s and loved it. But not as a writer of historical pieces. So, being now a retiree with a bit of time on my hands, I bought the book … and have not been able to let it go since.
What do I like most about the book? It unfurls in front of our eyes, in very vivid and credible fashion, the canvas of life in England during the 12th century, a tormented time full of battles, murder, passion, power struggles … and cathedral building of course. Ken Follett’s writing is precise and fast-paced, and his story telling ability is so good that we are kept fully entertained while being educated in great detail. Quite a feat!
Another point. During these days of pandemic affecting all of us to an extent, I feel that reading about the daily ordeals of 12th century men, women and children either rich or poor but always exposed to political strife, famines, diseases, spoliation and other vagaries of life helps in keeping a positive outlook on our personal situation. For most of us Schlumberger retirees, life under confinement is not so bad after all…
Enjoy the reading!
