#1 New York Times Bestseller Oprah's Book Club Selection The “extraordinary . . . monumental masterpiece” (Booklist) that changed the course of Ken Follett’s already phenomenal career—and begins where its prequel, The Evening and the Morning, ended. “Follett risks all and comes out a clear winner,” extolled Publishers Weekly on the release of The Pillars of the Earth. A departure for the bestselling thriller writer, the historical epic stunned readers and critics alike with its ambitious scope and gripping humanity. Today, it stands as a testament to Follett’s unassailable command of the written word and to his universal appeal. The Pillars of the Earth tells the story of Philip, prior of Kingsbridge, a devout and resourceful monk driven to build the greatest Gothic cathedral the world has known . . . of Tom, the mason who becomes his architect—a man divided in his soul . . . of the beautiful, elusive Lady Aliena, haunted by a secret shame . . . and of a struggle between good and evil that will turn church against state and brother against brother. A spellbinding epic tale of ambition, anarchy, and absolute power set against the sprawling medieval canvas of twelfth-century England, this is Ken Follett’s historical masterpiece.

An Architectural History of Peterborough clarifies the obscure and tangled building history of one of England's most interesting medieval monuments. Lisa Reilly demonstrates how Peterborough offers extensive information concerning both specific buildings such as Canterbury and broader issuesof the period such as the process of cultural assimiliation, patterns of construction and building design as a response to liturgical needs. This study represents an expansion of the traditional use of formal and archaeological analysis to include a discussion of the building's social and politicalcontext. The entire fabric is discussed, from its Anglo-Saxon remains,the Anglo-Norman construction of the nave, choir and transepts, the early Gothic period which produced its well-known west front through to the final construction of its fan-vaulted retrochoir at the very end of the Middle Ages.Peterborough Cathedral is the best-preserved example of Anglo-Norman architecture, and provides an ideal case study for the period.

Can you know for certain the purpose of your life? Author and speaker Ken Yasinski says yes Inspiring, life changing and easy-to-read, this book will help you understand God's reason for your life, by pointing to the fullness of the Catholic faith. Since 1999 speaker Ken Yasinski has been proclaiming with clarity and passion a life-changing message to Catholics around the world. Now for the first time he has taken this message to print. This book puts Catholicism in practical everyday language and answers some of life's most important questions: Why did God create me? How can I find meaning in suffering? Is the Catholic Church relevant?

This new publication, illustrated with specially commissioned photography, draws on archaeology, archives and imagery to illuminate the fascinating history of Exeter Cathedral. Nine hundred years ago, foundations were dug for a great church in Exeter which would develop into the beautiful cathedral that still marks the heart of the city. It is distinctive among English cathedrals for its twin transept towers, and unbroken vault stretching from the entrance to the high altar, and the sheer profusion of carving of plants and animals throughout. Exeter is a heavenly garden in stone, and this new book, illustrated with specially commissioned photography, draws on archaeology, archives and imagery to explain what its builders in a surprisingly cosmopolitan city were trying to tell us about their understanding of the world, and the realm they envisioned beyond us.