Comment

Jan 12, 2021
I could not wait for the print book so I downloaded the eBook and read this on my phone until my eyes bugged out! WHEW! “Pillars of the Earth” is one of my favorite books and, in my opinion, this prequel was easily as good. From reading the other comments I see that some readers will disagree with me. A few readers judge Ken Follett to not be in top form with this one. To my mind, kudos to Follett for keeping a list of fascinating characters moving through a tense, exciting storyline for a massive 832 pages. Did you know that Ken Follett was a reporter for London’s Evening News prior to becoming a full-time writer? He will spend years doing research, working on an outline, and writing a first draft that he sends to editors, family members, and fact-check historians. He has also admitted to compiling his notes and starting the whole process again from scratch. This dedication to his craft is what makes him one of my favorite authors. As with his other books, be aware that The Evening and the Morning has its fair share of adult language and sexually explicit descriptions. Medieval England was a harsh time in history, especially for slaves, women of child-bearing age, and citizens of any age who happen to fall sick with disease. This story gives us a glimpse of the technological advances that are coming soon, including new building techniques, improved agricultural methods, and the expanded use of water mills. I give this title 5 out of 5 stars and only wish it could have been longer!