Oprah Goes Medieval With Pillars of the Earth Pick

Posted on November 14, 2007

Oprah has chosen a very interesting book for her new Book Club Selection: Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett (New American Library). The writer of thrillers writes out of his normal genre to tackle the political and social issues of Medieval Europe. The focus of the book is the building of great cathedral. Here's what Publisher's Weekly said about the title:

Follett's depiction of the precarious balance of power between monarchy and religion in the Middle Ages, and of the effects of social upheavals and the forces of nature (storms, famines) on political events; his ability to convey the fine points of architecture so that the cathedral becomes clearly visualized in the reader's mind; and above all, his portrayals of the enduring human emotions of ambition, greed, bravery, dedication, revenge and love, result in a highly engrossing narrative. Manipulating a complex plot in which the characters interact against a broad canvas of medieval life, Follett has written a novel that entertains, instructs and satisfies on a grand scale.

You can read an excerpt, get a reading guide, send Ken Follett an email and much more at Oprah.com. You can see a list of Oprah's past picks here.

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