I've had this book on my shelf for a couple of years and finally decided to read it after seeing the TV mini-series. I enjoyed the mini-series but the book was so much better! The TV series changed a lot of the story, in some cases quite drastically. Anyway, the book is superb storytelling! It is a sequel of sorts to Pillars of the Earth which I read about 20 years ago and have always considered to be one of the best historical novels ever. Well, I don't remember a lot of the details of Pillars, but World Without End is truly great story-telling. The book is over 1200 pages but Follett's prose makes this an easy book to read. He keeps you engrossed in the story. It takes place 200 years after Pillars in the town of Kingsbridge during the 14th century. The characters are all vividly portrayed including Caris, the healer turned nun; Merthin the builder; Gwenda, the peasant girl; Ralph, the ruthless brother of Merthin turned knight; and the monks Godwyn and Philemon. The events of the novel take place during the hundred years war between France and England during the reign of Edward III. It is also during the time of the black plague and its decimation of the population of England and Europe. This all leads to the downfall of feudalism and the start of modern methods of medicine and disease treatment and prevention. All in all, a very high recommendation for World Without End!
