Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
 

Laura PourMeADrink

(42,770 posts)
Mon Dec 30, 2019, 11:15 AM Dec 2019

Any Ken Follett fans?

Have read them all and wait for a new one. It takes him a long time because he puts out well researched masterpieces in my mind.

So I periodically look. He's got a new one. But have to wait til September 15 2020 for release

Prequel to Pillars of Earth

Description
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Ken Follett, a thrilling and addictive new novel--a prequel to The Pillars of the Earth--set in England at the dawn of a new era: The Middle Ages
It is 997 CE, the end of the Dark Ages. England is facing attacks from the Welsh in the west and the Vikings in the east. Those in power bend justice according to their will, regardless of ordinary people and often in conflict with the king. Without a clear rule of law, chaos reigns.

In these turbulent times, three characters find their lives intertwined: A young boatbuilder's life is turned upside down when the only home he's ever known is raided by Vikings, forcing him and his family to move and start their lives anew in a small hamlet where he does not fit in. . . . A Norman noblewoman marries for love, following her husband across the sea to a new land. But the customs of her husband's homeland are shockingly different, and as she begins to realize that everyone around her is engaged in a constant, brutal battle for power, it becomes clear that a single misstep could be catastrophic. . . . A monk dreams of transforming his humble abbey into a center of learning that will be admired throughout Europe. And each in turn comes into dangerous conflict with a clever and ruthless bishop who will do anything to increase his wealth and power.

Thirty years ago, Ken Follett published his most popular novel, The Pillars of the Earth. Now, Follett's masterful new prequel The Evening and the Morning takes us on an epic journey into a historical past rich with ambition and rivalry, death and birth, love and hate, that will end where The Pillars of the Earth begins.

Specifications
Number of Pages: 928
Genre: Fiction + Literature Genres
Sub-Genre: Historical
Series Title: Kingsbridge
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Viking
Book theme: General
Author: Ken Follett
Language: English
Street Date: September 15, 2020
https://www.target.com/p/the-evening-and-the-morning-kingsbridge-by-ken-follett-hardcover/-/A-79418199

20 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Any Ken Follett fans? (Original Post) Laura PourMeADrink Dec 2019 OP
I loved Pillars of the Earth and with the burning of Notre Dame, have thought a lot about it... hlthe2b Dec 2019 #1
Went to mass in a very old church at Xmas and Laura PourMeADrink Dec 2019 #4
Thank you for posting this. I am a fan. n/t rzemanfl Dec 2019 #2
I've read the Kingsbridge Series and the Century Trilogy. teamster633 Dec 2019 #3
Which one was set in the 60s with Kennedy and the Laura PourMeADrink Dec 2019 #6
That was the Century Trilogy... teamster633 Dec 2019 #8
thanks for looking that up. Sorry, was being way too lazy. Laura PourMeADrink Dec 2019 #13
Looking forward to his new book. Polly Hennessey Dec 2019 #5
Thank you! femmocrat Dec 2019 #7
Love him. Thanks. OregonBlue Dec 2019 #9
I liked eye of the needle Cicada Dec 2019 #10
One of my all time favorite books ever ! forget the movie :) Laura PourMeADrink Dec 2019 #12
Laura, I am a fan. saidsimplesimon Dec 2019 #11
Big Follet fan here. Have read several wnylib Jan 2020 #14
Yes! Herman Wouk! Just looked up...he died Laura PourMeADrink Jan 2020 #15
Which book was the one where it starts with a woman jumping on a table and... AmyStrange Aug 2020 #16
:). Doesn't sound familiar, but like the idea. If you Laura PourMeADrink Aug 2020 #17
Yeah, sorry about that, but... AmyStrange Aug 2020 #18
I just picked up the prequel book, wnylib Sep 2020 #19
Cool. Read yesterday it was #1 on NYT best seller list. nt Laura PourMeADrink Sep 2020 #20

hlthe2b

(102,105 posts)
1. I loved Pillars of the Earth and with the burning of Notre Dame, have thought a lot about it...
Mon Dec 30, 2019, 11:17 AM
Dec 2019

This prequel sounds like a must-read...

 

Laura PourMeADrink

(42,770 posts)
4. Went to mass in a very old church at Xmas and
Mon Dec 30, 2019, 11:36 AM
Dec 2019

It is utterly amazing how absolutely beautiful the architecture was. So much quality craftsmanship with solid materials.

Religion aside, it is sad that we can't afford? Can't take the time? To create such beauty anymore.

teamster633

(2,029 posts)
3. I've read the Kingsbridge Series and the Century Trilogy.
Mon Dec 30, 2019, 11:32 AM
Dec 2019

Will look forward to the new release. I got hooked after watching the 2010 mini-series adaptation of Pillars with Ian McShane.

 

Laura PourMeADrink

(42,770 posts)
6. Which one was set in the 60s with Kennedy and the
Mon Dec 30, 2019, 11:41 AM
Dec 2019

Civil rights movement. Century trilogy? One of the best to me. Great refresher on that period.

He's got a website about writing that's cool. He said his method is to find events in history and then work backwards by developing characters and focusing on how that type of person would react toward the event.

teamster633

(2,029 posts)
8. That was the Century Trilogy...
Mon Dec 30, 2019, 01:02 PM
Dec 2019

...the period you mention was covered in Edge of Eternity.

1. Fall of Giants ---2010
2. Winter of the World ---2012
3. Edge of Eternity ---2014

wnylib

(21,312 posts)
14. Big Follet fan here. Have read several
Sun Jan 5, 2020, 09:52 PM
Jan 2020

of his works. Century Trilogy books are my favorites. Awesome grasp of history and human nature, with the talent to weave it all into credible gripping fiction

Loved the Kingsbridge series and look forward to the prequel.

Follet is among the writers who make me think,"What an amazing mind" when I finish a series like the Century Trilogy. Another writer who inspires that reaction in me is Herman Wouk (Winds of War, War and Remembrance).

Other Follet books I've read; Eye of the Needle; Man from St. Petersburg; The Third Twin; Hammer of Eden; Jackdaws; Hornet Flight; and Whiteout.

 

Laura PourMeADrink

(42,770 posts)
15. Yes! Herman Wouk! Just looked up...he died
Mon Jan 6, 2020, 12:00 AM
Jan 2020

this year - 2019 that is. Loved Winds of War! Thanks for reminding me!

Herman Wouk (/woʊk/ WOHK; May 27, 1915 – May 17, 2019) was an American author best known for historical fiction such as The Caine Mutiny (1951) which won the Pulitzer Prize.

 

AmyStrange

(7,989 posts)
16. Which book was the one where it starts with a woman jumping on a table and...
Thu Aug 13, 2020, 03:48 PM
Aug 2020

-

cursing some kind of committee or official gathering?

Sorry for asking, but I've lost most of my Ken Follet books when I went homeless a couple times.

His historical fiction is amazing, although, I never really got into his spy novels.
=======

 

Laura PourMeADrink

(42,770 posts)
17. :). Doesn't sound familiar, but like the idea. If you
Fri Aug 14, 2020, 09:19 AM
Aug 2020

Lived between 1961 and 1989, Edge of Eternity was great to me. Set in US & Berlin, it was a good history refresher. Berlin Wall, Freedom Fighters, Kennedy's.

No spies, eh? Gotta exclude Eye of Needle ?


 

AmyStrange

(7,989 posts)
18. Yeah, sorry about that, but...
Fri Aug 14, 2020, 12:35 PM
Aug 2020

-

I might read Eye of the Needle someday. Hell, I read all of War and Peace (and the Divina Comédia by Dante), and the Needle's got to be an easier read than those two.

Anyway, thank you for bringing this topic up, and your reply.
=========

wnylib

(21,312 posts)
19. I just picked up the prequel book,
Thu Sep 24, 2020, 03:33 PM
Sep 2020

The Evening and the Morning, from my local library yesterday. Can hardly wait to get into it, but I must wait a couple days because I also picked up a more obscure book that they had tracked down for me from another library. Must read that one first because it has a more limited loan time on it, but it is a small book that reads easily and quickly.

I know from experience with Follett that his book will take some time to get through, even though I will be reading it everywhere, at every chance, without wanting to put it down.

Latest Discussions»Culture Forums»Fiction»Any Ken Follett fans?