It’s easy to become so immersed in books like the pillars of the earth that you begin to believe in the alternative narratives they weave from well-known historical events and stories we thought we knew so well. In Ken Follett’s critically acclaimed novel, we are catapulted back to medieval Britain somewhere between the sinking of the White Ship and the murder of Thomas Beckett.
The country is on the brink of civil war, but in the midst of it all, a spectacular cathedral is being built in the fictional town of Kingsbridge. we become engrossed in the lives of many, many characters tied to his creation during the intervening years in what becomes an epic tale of struggle, love, deception, and revenge.
You are reading: Books like the pillars of the earth
the pillars of the earth is the first novel in follett’s kingsbridge series, the books that follow are equally compelling and take place during other notable events in history and involve the descendants of some of the characters of the pillars. The list of books compiled below takes you on a round-the-world trip through history and is guaranteed to keep you busy until Follett’s next Kingsbridge novel is published later this year.
8 books like the pillars of the earth
agincourt, by bernard cornwell
the famous battle of agincourt is the basis of the outstanding book of the same name by bernard cornwell and, as in all books like the pillars of the earth, it is a truly gripping read.
Nicholas Hook is an English archer of exceptional skill, but his headstrong behavior has turned him into an outlaw, forcing him to seek refuge among the English mercenaries protecting the town of Soissons from French invasion.
once he learns of his pivotal role in the siege of soissons, he is called back to england and enlisted in the company of archers in the army of henry v. Henry V’s army is magnificent, but sickness and wounds from a disastrous defeat at Harfleur see him exhausted, yet they persevere through thick and thin against what everyone assumes is a death march… /p>
Cornwell expertly expels the myths surrounding the events and has a unique way of catapulting the reader right into the thick of the battle with alternate perspectives of French and English soldiers. he has an incredibly compelling understanding of the battlefield and this is what makes agincourt such a masterpiece of historical fiction.
the architect of paris, by charles belfoure
if you like the architectural knowledge displayed throughout the pages of pillars of the earth, you will surely also enjoy those aspects of charles belfoure’s architect of paris as they beautifully permeate his extraordinary novel.
The protagonist, Lucien Bernard, is a skilled architect living in Nazi-occupied Paris, blissfully ignorant and oblivious to the current conflict between the Nazis and the Jews. However, that soon changes when he approaches Lucien about devising hiding places for the Jews within the buildings he designs, a decision that unknowingly makes him part of the Nazi resistance.
Lucien’s clever hideouts work well for a while, but it’s not long before one of them fails and is discovered by the depraved Gestapo leader, Colonel Schlegal. It is now impossible for Lucien to remain ignorant of the extreme cruelty Jews face, as he has to find a hiding place a little closer to home to fix his design flaw.
Belfoure’s rich prose and Lucien’s compelling reluctant hero make The Architect of Paris a remarkable novel that will captivate you until the very last page.
the alienist, by caleb carr
caleb carr’s novel the alienist became a phenomenon after its publication in 1994, spending six months on the new york times bestseller list and has since become a A popular Netflix series starring Dakota Fanning and Luke Evans.
Carr plunges us into New York’s golden age of 1886, amidst its opulent opera houses, gin factories, mobsters, corruption, and soon a twisted wave of murder. When the body of a horribly mutilated child is discovered, psychologist (or “alienist” as they were then called), Dr. Laszlo Kreizler needs help to piece together the killer’s profile as they continue to target the town’s teens.
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enlists the help of his friend john schuyler moore, a police reporter, and together they embark on a holmes and watson-style mission combined with freudian insight to catch the killer once and for all.
A mile-a-minute novel intended to captivate readers of novels like the Pillars of the Earth, The Alienist has all the makings of a modern classic and is also the first novel of a series surrounding dr. laszlo and advances in psychology and criminology.
cathedral of the sea, by ildefonso falcones
cathedral of the sea is another book that has become the basis for a popular netflix series of the same name and explores many of the same elements that books like the pillars of the earth are known for. have made famous. ; love, war, revenge, history and architecture among others.
the historical novel by ildefonso falcones transports us to 14th century barcelona at a time when the city is torn between celebrating the construction of the cathedral of santa maria del mar and evading the deadly inquisition. When the protagonist, Arnau Estanyol, arrives in Barcelona, he quickly joins the stonemasons’ guild and helps build the long-awaited cathedral.
As time passes, Arnau falls in love with a woman he shouldn’t and, in an attempt to keep their relationship a secret, finds himself on the wrong side of the inquisition. As the betrayal and betrayal against him is revealed, Arnau fears he will die before he can see the cathedral he has dedicated his life to creating.
cathedral of the sea takes you on a perilous journey through the sand and grime of medieval Spain – a truly absorbing epic!
a bridge to heaven, by margaret ball
A Bridge to Heaven is a fascinating story about a 13th-century architect who dreamed of bricks and mortar and recounts the creation of some of Europe’s most timeless monuments.
When Stephen of Dunwich and his mother Maude are exiled from their home on suspicion of witchcraft and wizardry, they seek refuge with brother Daniel, cruel and ruthless, among the black monks of Ely.
It is here that Stephen learns the basics of architecture, construction, and masonry despite Daniel’s harsh teaching methods. But when the convent fills with soldiers, Stephen sees an opportunity to escape and jumps at it.
This bid for freedom allows him to work as a builder for many different people in many different places, from Jerusalem and Cairo to France and Hungary helping erect cathedrals and other prestigious buildings.
A Bridge to Heaven by Margaret Ball is a perfect blend of story and drama and is so richly textured that anyone who enjoys books similar to Pillars of the Earth will find this novel equally compelling. .
pompeii, by robert harris
Most people know what happened to the inhabitants of the doomed city of pompeii, however robert harris offers a different perspective as he places us inside the city walls amidst the fear and hysteria in his exciting novel pompeii .
We follow Marcus Attilius Primus, an engineer who is called to Pompeii to take charge of the Aqua Augusta, the main aqueduct that provides fresh water to millions of people.
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With his predecessor mysteriously missing, Atilio has to figure out how the sulfur got into the water supply and why the springs are drying up and the aqueduct starting to fail. An investigation that will lead him on an expedition to Mount Vesuvius to discover the source of the problem and the threat of much more.
Harris is able to rival Follett’s art with words and rich historical detail, so those who love books like the pillars of the earth will also love getting lost in pompeii.
the historian, by elizabeth kostova
elizabeth kostova’s creepy novel the historian is the next novel on this list of books as the pillars of the earth takes us into the story behind the legend of dracula and how it relates to the modernity. world day and is represented in literature.
When the narrator discovers an ancient book and a pile of old letters, little does she know that she will be taken on a quest across Europe to uncover a labyrinth of intricate secrets about her heritage, as well as the story of Vlad the Impaler. , the tyrannical villain behind bram stoker’s dracula.
The letters, addressed to “my dear unfortunate successor,” reveal how generations of historians before her (including her father) had risked their reputations, sanity, and ultimately their lives in the quest to prove what what they thought it was. true, the reign of vlad the impaler was far from over.
Although not a horror novel, the historian crosses many genres, including gothic, epistolary, adventure, detective, and historical thriller, told in alternate timelines. Kostova’s unique vision for her first novel is incredibly captivating.
the name of the rose, by umberto eco
umberto ecco transports us to the italy of 1327 with his intriguing and incredibly suggestive novel like the pillars of the earth.
the name of the rose questions the concept of truth and storytelling as we follow brother william of baskerville and his apprentice adso de melk in what is initially an investigation into heresy in a Benedictine chapel.
Their investigation quickly turns into a murder mystery when a series of unexplained deaths begin to occur among the congregation. Brother William has to turn to the teachings of scholars like Aristotle and Aquinas in a futile attempt to decipher the truth behind the strange goings-on at the abbey and help him decipher symbolic codes and clues as well.
like follett, ecco’s the name of the rose delves into the throes of medieval history, but also contains layers of philosophy, theology and metaphysics that make the reader decipher meanings such as brother william.
Books like the pillars of the earth are often long reads, but it’s impossible not to become addicted to them because the worlds and people they describe are so magnificently and intricately portrayed.
With historical events that provide an explosion of inspiration, they offer the reader an alternative perspective through their fiction, demonstrating that there is always more than one story to tell and more than one way to tell it.
Looking for more books like Pillars of the Earth? Do you have any recommendations that are not on the list? tell us in the comments!
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