Welcome to the beta version of Shelfari’s new Book Detail pages!
These pages are editable by the community, so please contribute! Click here to learn more about this feature. We’d love to hear your feedback.
Description
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. Abridged edition read by John Lee
Summary
Tom Builder is a poor but honourable stonemason who lost his job as a builder because the cruel, sadistic lord William Hamleigh was turned down by young Lady Aliena when he proposed marriage, as Tom Builder was building their new home. Starving and destitute, Tom's wife Agnes dies in the... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)
Cast of Characters/Important People
- Tom Builder: A penniless but talented stonemason and architect.
- Ellen: Tom's second wife and mother to Jack.
- Jack Jackson (Builder): Tom's stepson and a talented architect and stonemason in his own right.
- Prior Philip: A benevolent monk intent on improving the cathedral and priory of Kingsbridge.
- William Hamleigh: Main antagonist. Sadistic local gentry.
- Aliena: William's love interest, eventually Jack's beloved.
- Richard of Kingsbridge: Brother of Aliena.
- Alfred Builder: Tom's biological son; stepbrother to Jack.
- Martha: Tom's daughter and Alfred's sister; stepsister to Jack.
- Agnes: Tom's first wife; mother to Martha and Alfred.
- Waleran Bigod: Prior Philip's polar opposite in the area.
- Percy Hamleigh: Father to William
First Sentence
In a broad valley, at the foot of a sloping hillside, beside a clear bubbling stream, Tom was building a house.
Table of Contents
Authors & Contributors
Popular Tags
See all 50 tagsBooks with Additional Background Information
List the books that contain additional information about this book.
If you have any suggestions for how we can improve this page or if there are sections that you would like us to add, please let us know.
