Reviews and accolades

"An extraordinary epic buttressed by suspense ... a mystifying puzzle involving the execution of an innocent man... the erection of a magnificent cathedral... romance, rivalry and spectacle... a monumental masterpiece... a towering triumph from a major talent!" – ALA Booklist
"A seesaw of tension ... impeccable pacing ... action, intrigue, violence and passion ... a novel that entertains, instructs and satisfies on a grand scale!" – Publishers Weekly
“Follett is a master.” – Washington Post.
“A towering tale … a ripping read … there’s murder, arson, treachery, torture, love, and lust” – New York Daily News.
“Very good … fine detail… fast-paced, engaging – an enjoyable historical thriller, well told”. – Chicago Tribune.

Die Säulen der Erde (the German edition of The Pillars of the Earth) has been voted the third-most popular book in Germany by more than 250 000 readers who voted for the ZDF TV channel's 'best books' poll in 2006, after J R R Tolkein's The Lord of the Rings and the Bible. The audiobook edition has won a German Platinum Disk award for sales of more than 200,000 copies.

The Pillars of the Earth is one of the top 100 books chosen by British readers in the BBC's 2003 'The Big Read' – the UK’s biggest-ever celebration of reading. Readers nominated their best-loved books, and their choices were announced on 17 May 2003 on BBC2.

The Pillars of the Earth is one of the '101 Books to Read Before You Die' chosen by patrons of Exclusive Books – it is 27th on the list.