A Review By Frances Smith 

I picked this book up with some trepidation.  It is a big book and the cover illustration (taken from the TV adaptation) was not encouraging.  Once started, though, I put the book down with great reluctance and managed to squeeze in little bits of reading whenever I had a spare few minutes.

 This is a historical novel and also romantic fiction and an adventure story.  The building of a medieval cathedral provides the backdrop.  We also learn of the politics affecting the English Church during this period of almost continuous civil war.  Most of the major characters are well-rounded, although I had problems with Arthur who seemed to change personality during the narrative, and also with William Hamleigh, who seemed to have no redeeming features whatever.  And Jack was  perhaps a bit too good to be true.  Apart from these niggles, the story romps along, starting in 1123 and ending with the completion of building in 1174.  Real characters such as King Stephen and Queen Matilda are surrounded by Follett’s creations and I had to go to other sources to check who else was real and who imaginary – good test for a historical novel!

About halfway through the book a major character is killed off, and I was worried that I might not enjoy the book so much without him, but I was soon back into the swing of things.

An enjoyable book for lovers of light historical novels, but perhaps not something for the serious historian…