A Column of Fire by Ken Follett
A Column of Fire by Ken Follett Book Summary
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
“Absorbing . . . impossible to resist.” —The Washington Post
As Europe erupts, can one young spy protect his queen? #1 New York Times bestselling author Ken Follett takes us deep into the treacherous world of powerful monarchs, intrigue, murder, and treason with his magnificent new epic, A Column of Fire. A thrilling read that makes the perfect gift for the holidays.
In 1558, the ancient stones of Kingsbridge Cathedral look down on a city torn apart by religious conflict. As power in England shifts precariously between Catholics and Protestants, royalty and commoners clash, testing friendship, loyalty, and love.
Ned Willard wants nothing more than to marry Margery Fitzgerald. But when the lovers find themselves on opposing sides of the religious conflict dividing the country, Ned goes to work for Princess Elizabeth. When she becomes queen, all Europe turns against England. The shrewd, determined young monarch sets up the country’s first secret service to give her early warning of assassination plots, rebellions, and invasion plans. Over a turbulent half century, the love between Ned and Margery seems doomed as extremism sparks violence from Edinburgh to Geneva. Elizabeth clings to her throne and her principles, protected by a small, dedicated group of resourceful spies and courageous secret agents.
The real enemies, then as now, are not the rival religions. The true battle pitches those who believe in tolerance and compromise against the tyrants who would impose their ideas on everyone else—no matter what the cost.
Set during one of the most turbulent and revolutionary times in history, A Column of Fire is one of Follett’s most exciting and ambitious works yet. It will delight longtime fans of the Kingsbridge series and is the perfect introduction for readers new to Ken Follett.
A Column of Fire Book Details
Book Name | A Column of Fire |
Genre | Historical Fiction |
Author | Ken Follett |
Published | 12 September 2017, Tuesday |
Price | $12.99 |
E-Book Size | 5.03 MB |
A Column of Fire by Ken Follett Book Reviews
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Love this story in context of real historical events. Connected me to a part of history I’ve learned about in school but didn’t understand. This story puts the schism into context and I better understand the violent past of Christian civil wars.
Perhaps the worst book EVER. When characters are described as “cute” and “sexy” in a novel set in Tudor England, that’s a cue that you’re wading into something bad. If you want a good historical read on Tudor England try CJ Sansom.
Never a dull moment!. Fantastic writing; exciting page turner! Thanks!
Another masterpiece. Follett is my favorite author and the Kingsbridge series is my favorite. I had been watching a very popular series on Netflix when this book came to my attention. I couldn’t put this one down and didn’t watch Netflix once along the way. Another captivating and fascinating story.
A Column of Fire. Follett doesn't disappoint. A wonderful saga with historical context - amazing characters - well worth your time! Highly recommended. Enjoy!
My least favorite of the series. ...but still loved it!
Spectacular. Pillars of the Earth is perhaps my favorite book all time and a Column of Fire is a worthy successor. I could not put this down and read it in five days. The historical period is fascinating and Follett is a master at weaving fictional characters into the narrative. A must read!
Hopeless romantics rejoice. If you are a Fan of the series and author, you will not be disappointed. I particularly liked the battle of the Spanish Armada and how the main characters were followed.
Follett’s worth reading. Follett always come thru with just a good good read.
Great book. Impossible to put down.. Follett mixed fact with fiction in a fabulous blend. He fashioned a book that is both informative and exciting ..
A Fabulous and Entertaining Walk Thru History. Once again Ken Follett has written a compelling, intriguing, entertaining and informative historical novel, on a par if not better than, his best to date. Don’t miss the opportunity to read this tale of religion, politics, love and life in the time of Queen Elizabeth I.
Love Love Love. A wonderful continuation of the epic tales from Kingsbridge. So much fun to read and I love that the characters in this novel go farther afield to mainland Europe. I’m ready for the next installment!
Terrible!. "Pillars of the Earth" is my favorite book, "World Without End" is within my top 5. This book is AWFUL from the 1st page to the last. Not at all engaging, a severe disappointment!
Interesting history but was bashing Catholicism. He is obviously anti- catholic. The history is interesting, but it was one sided
A riveting read through English History. A marvelously written series of the battle to break the power of the Church/State alliance in Europe and England. The Catholic history in the first two episodes was critically honest, with compelling characters and amazing architectural and religious details of everyday life in Medieval England. The third is a sweeping epic of the Protestant Reformation and the political intrigue behind the scenes. A true treat for any reader, but especially for me with my Masters in Historical Theology.
Not his best. This book rambles and lacks cohesion. The characters are boring.
A column of fire. Great historical book.
Column of Fire. As always,I was swept away to another time and place. Many emotions erupt and dreams were dreamt. I am sad that it is over. Kingsbridge will forever be in my thoughts. Tom the builder, the priory, Ned, Barney, Sylvie, Swithin, etc... Thank you for writing three of my favorites. The Hornet is another gem. My heart is full and my imagination is running. Amen
Longtime Follett fan. Good as ever. Great story, wonderful characters, well thought out plot.
Must read!. Outstanding book! I love his writing and I find his books hard to put down. This is a must read for lovers or historical fiction.
The master excels again. This is yet another superb experience from the master of history and narrative that weaves the characters into the true events of the time. It is captivating, informative and enlightening. To a reviewer who apparently knows nothing of history but couches his world in a political echo chamber, it may have been a disappointment. To an educated mind that engages a wide variety of literature it was a disappointment only that the end was inevitably reached. The entire series has been a gift from the one of the true giants of his art and his craft. Thank you, Mr. Follett, you enrich our lives.
Great story. Typical Follett’ he is in a league alone
An Historical Triumph. No one can hook you into a story like Follette. No one can introduce you to so many characters and make them clearly recognizable through hundreds and hundreds of pages. So much of this book is based on true history. The way Mr. Follette weaves together fact and fiction is fascinating and incredibly entertaining.
A Column of Fire. An astounding work which leaves this reader with a yearning to quickly begin the next book.
Same old stuff. Anyone who read Edge of Eternity, the disastrous finale to the Fall of Giants trilogy, knows Follet’s extreme liberal act by now; anything conservative is evil and a threat. Column of Fire is no different, though it doesn’t take more than the opening chapter to realize this. In this one it’s the Catholic Church that’s the evil villain and anyone who is in it is a stupe. I’m done with this guy, he’s completely gone off the edge.
Classic Follett!!! Great read!. Loved the history intertwined with fiction.
A Column of Fire. I loved this book. It is the third of the Kingsbridge books and includes the fascinating 1500s in England and France. The characters are delicious and you cannot wait to see what they will do next. The momentous events of that century seen through these characters’ eyes will thrill and excite you. 5 Stars!!!
Column of Fire. I loved the beautifully conceived fictional characters orbiting the well research historical figures. Really well done.
Loved it!. A Column of Fire is a wonderful continuation of the series. I always hate coming to the end of these books.
Wonderfully Captivating. Ken Follett is such a wonderful story teller mixing the real history of the times with intriguing fictional characters who tell the story. Once you pick up this book and begin to read, be prepared to put other things aside.
A Column of Fire. It’s hard to truly rate this book. The first two books of this series were the two best books that I have ever read. They are the books that made me an avid reader to this day. If I rate A Column of Fire as a stand-alone book its a solid 4 Stars but, seeing that its the third book in a masterfully writing series I can’t help but to compare it to the others and it falls short of my expectations. It was missing the vivid awful details that made you not just hate the villains but utterly loathe them to the depths of your soul.
The Best Writer on the World. I have read every book written by Ken, and every book is excellent.
PSLRob. Terrific book, I couldn’t put it down and didn’t want it to end. Ken Follett is a master storyteller. His characters will stay with me forever!
Fascinating—Good book. Not quite as well done as Pillars of the earth, but still entertaining and provides an interesting historical perspective on the way people lived in the 1500/1600’s. The story itself is fascinating.
Ken Follett does not disappoint.. I hope we do not have to wait 10 years for the next book into new worlds.
Excellent. n excellent end to this very interesting trilogy. I will look for add to more books by this author.
So good. Follett does it again! This was such a great read. While Long, it was worth the journey. I was sad when i finished it.....wanting more! Can’t wait for the next one.
Better than the second book but…. Rather a mashup of several odd plots that feel forced together and either under developed or over developed and don’t quite come together at the end. To call this the third book of the trilogy is a misnomer. Kingsbridge gets lost in trying to insert characters into a historical timeline. I’m actually sad the way this trilogy turned out because the first book was so good, then the unfortunate second which was essentially a rewrite of the first just with different names and dates. With this one Follett doesn’t make that mistake again but overshoots the mark by limiting the inclusion of Kingsbridge, yet still including yet another rape scene. What is it with him and rape???
I enjoyed all four books.... An amazing series.. I appreciated all the characters entertained with history . I hope to go to Knightsbridge in London one day.
Column of Fire. Couldn't be more impressed with this story. Better than a movie for sure. I enjoyed the conflicts and the opposition as well as the moves and counter moves each character made. The writing and descriptions make me feel like I'm there, present in the mind of each character and physical location of the story. The heroes and villains are believable and relatable. The author has a gift and I appreciate the way he shares that gift with each of us.
Absolutely un-putdownable. “There’s something you must try to understand Roger. There are no saints in politics. But imperfect people can still change the world for the better” This amazing book, a shade over 900 pages, had me captivated from the first page. It is the story of Ned Willard, a boy from Kingsbridge, and his life that brought him into the realms of rich and powerful people; divided his family religiously and in the end made him a well respected member of Queen Elizabeth’s privy council, with plenty of changes to help change the known Roman Catholic world into a divided and divisive known world. The love of Ned’s life, Margery Fitzgerald, given to wealthy man in hopes of raising the status of the family, rather than being allowed to marry for love, becomes embroiled in trying to save the known world from the scourge of Protestantism. She is forced to remain secretive over her and her family’s roles in more than one attempt at reclamation of Roman Catholic rule. The two weave their ways through the Tudor history set down only as Ken Follett can. With echos of Jack the Builder, the World keeps spinning as his and Caris’ descendants find love in the midst of hate and attempt peace in a time of war. I have been a Tudorphile for the better part of my 60 years, writing major papers on Elizabeth I and her tolerant religious and political stands. To me, this is a marvelous look at the time and a glorious way to end the Kingsbridge series...if it truly is the end
An underdeveloped spy novel. I’m a huge fan of the other earlier books in this series. However, this third installment drifts far from the moorings which made the earlier novels so great. This reads as an international spy craft novel, not as a natural evolution of Kingbridge and its inhabitants. As a result, this novel was a disservice to spy novels and the denizens of Kingbridge. This novel incorporates several historical figures into a fictional plot. But it’s written from a birdseye view of France and England that it’s characters don’t resonate with the depth and quality that we’ve seen with the early novels.
Love this series and this book. Great so far. Ken Follett is the master
Another brilliant book.... Love this author, his storytelling brilliance, and his research of history.
Outstanding Read. Ken Follett never disappoints. Another masterpiece.
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Exceptional Read. After reading Pillars of the Earth I did not think I would ever read such a compelling story again until Mr Follett came out with the sequel, World Without End. Again, such a great read that I could not imagine it being eclipsed, yet Mr Follett managed another sequel, 200 years further into the future of Kingsbridge that is just as admirable for bringing the reader right into the midst of civil unrest and intrigue of a stormy time in history. I highly recommend reading the ENTIRE Kingsbridge series, not once or twice, but repeatedly as the story is massive and great. ☺️
Can't get enough. Another epic adventure that transports the reader through time. And who says that time travel is fictional!
Wonderful Historical Fiction. A Column of Fire has to be my favorite of Ken Follett’s books due to its setting during the Elizabethan Era (1558-1603) and even early 17th Century. A wonderfully woven story, unlike the previous books, the story doesn’t just focus on Kingsbridge and its people, but also the wider world during this turbulent time in history. As the story progresses the reader also gets to learn about the division between Catholics and Protestants. Overall, Great book!
Excellent story. A beautiful story ! Well told ! Could not put it down!
Brilliant. To learn European history through a wonderfully woven narrative, Follett's Kingsbridge almost seems real. Rich vibrant characters and perfect story craft make this and the other two volumes a pleasure to read. The injection of romance, spy craft, and political intrigue are the icing on the cake! Such a reading pleasure!!
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Kenneth Martin Follett, (born 5 June 1949) is a Welsh author of thrillers and historical novels who has sold more than 160 million copies of his works.Many of his books have achieved high ranking on bestseller lists. For example, in the US, many reached the number-one position on the New York Times Best Seller list, including Triple (1979), The Key to Rebecca (1980), Lie Down with Lions (1985), A Dangerous Fortune (1993), World Without End (2007), Fall of Giants (2010), Winter of the World (2012), and Edge of Eternity (2014). Early life and education Follett was born on 5 June 1949 in Cardiff, Wales. He was the first child of Martin Follett, a tax inspector, and Lavinia (Veenie) Follett, who went on to have two more children, Hannah and James. Barred from watching films and television by his Plymouth Brethren parents, he developed an early interest in reading but remained an indifferent student until he entered his teens. His family moved to London when he was ten years old, and ....
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