Historical
The Pillars of the Earth
Bestseller: about 15 million copies (estimate)In twelfth-century England, a master builder dreams of constructing a great cathedral at Kingsbridge, while civil war, scheming churchmen and local lords threaten his plans and the people around him.
Facts last checked 2026-10-16
- First published
- 1989
- Pace
- Medium
- Length
- Long
- Pages
- 1008
- Format
- Book 1 of 4 in Kingsbridge
Read this if you like long, absorbing historical sagas with clear heroes and villains.
Skip this if you want subtle moral shading, or want to avoid scenes of sexual violence.
The feel
Content warnings
Quick answers about The Pillars of the Earth
- What is The Pillars of the Earth about?
- In twelfth-century England, a master builder dreams of constructing a great cathedral at Kingsbridge, while civil war, scheming churchmen and local lords threaten his plans and the people around him.
- Who should read The Pillars of the Earth?
- Read it if you like long, absorbing historical sagas with clear heroes and villains. Skip it if you want subtle moral shading, or want to avoid scenes of sexual violence.
- How long and how fast is The Pillars of the Earth?
- It is a medium-paced, long read of about 1008 pages, first published in 1989.
- Does The Pillars of the Earth have content warnings?
- Content we flag: Violence, Sexual assault, Death, War.
- Can I borrow The Pillars of the Earth for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends The Pillars of the Earth; the borrow button above searches it for you.
- What should I read after The Pillars of the Earth?
- Readers who liked it often move on to A Game of Thrones, Wolf Hall, The Name of the Rose.
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Where to get it
| Store | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Borrow free | ||
| Libby / OverDrive | Free with a library card | Borrow free with Libby from Libby / OverDrive |
| Print, new | ||
| Amazon | Check price | Buy new from Amazon |
| Ebook | ||
| Kobo | Check price | Buy ebook from Kobo |
| Google Play Books | Check price | Buy ebook from Google Play Books |
| Audiobook | ||
| Audible | Check price | Buy audiobook from Audible |
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