Customer Reviews

Pillars of the Almighty: A Celebration of Cathedrals

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Ken Follet's work, "Pillars of the Earth" is an epic tale which I have read through at least a dozen times. Through each read characters came to life in a new way, emphasizing Follet's portrayal of the cyclical path we all follow and the paths that have never been trodden.

From my first read through "Pillars of the Almighty" I was immediately aware of new dimensions of Follet's epic that I had never thought to contemplate. The beauty captured by Fitzgerald's camera will give any fan of Follet a new perspective on a tale they know well. For those who have not yet read "Pillars of the Earth", this book is the introduction and guide into Tom and Jack's world of 12th century England that any fan of history, architecture or art is sure to treasure.

If you enjoy the architecture and art of churches, you will love this book. This anthology is the perfect coffee table book for everyone. The images are stunning and captivating.

I have read Pillars of the Earth three or four times, and it remains my all time favorite novel. The way this book intersperses the text of Pillars of the Earth with beautiful photographs of cathedrals is amazing. If you like Pillars of the Earth a lot, this cocktail table photo book will absolutely captivate you.

If you wish you could read more about the construction of cathedrals, try Bryn Athyn Cathedral, the story of the construction of a beautiful cathedral in suburban Philadelphia, using the methods and techniques of the 13th century. You can also visit this cathedral, said to be one of the finest examples of stained glass in the world, as it is open every day.

There are alot of pictures of Cathedrals but I would have liked a description next to the picture. There are descriptions at the end of the book which I didn't find until I had finished.

Some where it was mentioned that it would be good to read this before reading Pillars of the Earth. That probably is true. However I read Pillars of the Earth first so this was a repeat for me, therefore I was only mildly interested in this book.

Very well written but there are so many details from the perspective of the main character, master mason want to be- Tom that is makes the story less exciting to a non-mason & non architect such as myself. The photos & images are from twelth-century England and are well worth viewing even if the story is more difficult to get through than Pillars of the Almighty was. It is like reading a documentary more than a novel in my opinion.