The Evening and the Morning
Book - 2020
"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."--
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Publisher:
[New York] : Viking, 2020
ISBN:
9780525954989
Characteristics:
913 p. : map ; 25 cm
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Add a CommentI am returning this book after reading only to Chapter 11, which is unusual for me. That is, I try and read a book all the way through even if I may not be enjoying it. However, I am really disappointed in the writing "dialogue", as I like to call it. It just seems so shallow and not very engaging, using more modern words that don't ring true, in my opinion, to the era. I may consider picking it up again, but having read a number of Follet's novels decades ago, I was left wondering if they were all written this way.
Excellent read, Follett takes you away. Even if have not read the trilogy, read this.
Wonderful book, just like the first three in the Kingsbridge series. Only one minor dig: wish the books had been published closer together so that I could better remember details of each book. Unfortunately, I don't like these books enough to reread any of them. My bad.
Pillars of the earth has always been my favorite book. This book is so good I didn't want to quit reading and I didn't want it to end. Thanks Mr. Follet for all the wonderful books you have written. Hurry up and give us another good one.
Follet's long-awaited prequel to the "Pillars of the Earth" series is well-conceived, rich in mundane details, and action-packed. Some of the moral questions raised by his characters seem either too distinct (unrepentant evil at the heart of a character) or alternatively, too nuanced by 21st-century relativism, but they don't interfere with the sheer enjoyment of the read.
This book caught my eye being set in the Middle Ages (which I know little about) in England (where my ancestors are from). I learned some interesting things about life in that time and place that I’m assuming are historically accurate. Haven’t read any other Ken Follett books but this book stands on its own even though it’s a prequel to another book he authored. My biggest criticism is that it felt somewhat predictable at times. Even still the story was an easy, enjoyable read which helps to get through this 913 page book more quickly than I expected.
Over 900 pages of descriptive and passionate writing on the ancient world during a time when humans still slept on beds of straw. A prerequisite to the Knightsbridge Trilogy, it's flowing with romantic, charismatic and fact-based storytelling. Follett has outdone himself with this one.
Enjoyed this as much as pillars of the earth, these time periods intrigue me, good characters
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!
963 pages and my only regret is that weren't more. I couldn't put it down but that's just me. I see from other comments that some people were disappointed but I admire someone who can write a story this interesting.