Synopsis
A TIME OF CONFLICT
It is 997 CE, the end of the Dark Ages, and England faces attacks from the Welsh in the west and the Vikings in the east. Life is hard, and those with power wield it harshly, bending justice according to their will – often in conflict with the king. With his grip on the country fragile and with no clear rule of law, chaos and bloodshed reign.
THREE LIVES INTERTWINED
Into this uncertain world three people come to the fore: a young boatbuilder, who dreams of a better future when a devastating Viking raid shatters the life that he and the woman he loves hoped for; a Norman noblewoman, who follows her beloved husband across the sea to a new land only to find her life there shockingly different; and a capable monk at Shiring Abbey, who dreams of transforming his humble abbey into a centre of learning admired throughout Europe.
THE DAWN OF A NEW AGE
Now, with England at the dawn of the Middle Ages, these three people will each come into dangerous conflict with a ruthless bishop, who will do anything to increase his wealth and power, in an epic tale of ambition and rivalry, death and birth, and love and hate.
REVIEW
I can’t tell you of how excited I was to hear that Ken Follett had written another book in his amazing Kingsbridge series and over the moon to recieve an advanced copy to review. The Evening and The Morning is the prequel to The Pillars of the Earth and is the story of how the small hamlet of Dreng’s Ferry became the town of Kingsbridge, the setting for the origional three books. Set during the Dark Ages, when England was victim to Viking Raids in the south, and at war with Wales, this book tells the story of three very different characters whose lives become entwined by circumstance and fate, in their fight against those in power who use it for self gain. At over eight hundred pages this an epic and and engaging read,that is well worth reading.
I can’t believe that it is thirty years since Ken Follett wrote The Pillars of the Earth one of the best historical fiction books that I have ever read, so The Evening and The Morning had a lot to live up to. I thought this book excelled all expectations for me and reminded me why I love this series so much. It is a big read at over eight hundred pages, but Ken Follett’s effortless writing style makes it an enjoyable and easy read that just draws you in and doesn’t let go. The Dark Ages is a period of history that I know very little about but Ken Follett really brought it alive for me in a very accessable and intriguing way. I was fascinated at how the countrty was run, the politics, religion, and the social history of the daily lives of the people. I was amazed at how they built churches, bridges etc with only basic tools and most tradesmen were illiterate, as were some leaders unbelievably. After finishing this book I feel I have a renewed passion for the history of this period, and a better understanding of the challenges of everyday life and how people adapted themselves to circumstance.
The plot of the book is told through the three main characters, from differnent walks of life giving a rounded view of the period. Edgar is an eighteen year old boat builder whose family business was destroyed during a Viking raid. Edgar and his family find themselves having to turn their hands to farming to survive but it is Edgar’s carpentry skills that see him set on his own path, one that sees him take on challenges he never expected. Brother Aldred, a young monk who continually fights against the corruption of the church, which lands him in a lot of trouble. But Brother Aldred is not someone to give up easily and when he finds himself in charge of the monastery at the small hamlet of Deng’s Ferry, a punishment from the Bishop,he decides to turn the monastery around, and bring more people to the church, laying the foundations for the Kingsbridge monastery that is at the centre of The Pillars of the Earth. The final character, and my favourite was Lady Ragna of Cherbourg who comes to England to marry Wilwulf, the ealdorman of Shiring. It is a huge shock for her coming to England, with the rain and different living conditions. She marries for love but soon finds her expectations destroyed and a the centre of a power battle between three brothers. She may be hampered by social conventions, but her strength, intelligence and determination make her a powerful and difficult adversary as she fights for her family. Three very different characters find themselves joining forces to fight against the corruption and nepotism of those in charge.
The plot of The Evening and The Morning is multi layered and complex with an amazing supportive cast of characters, not all likeable but all memorable. So much happens in the space of the ten year time line that there is never a dull moment. There is political machinations, corruption in the church and from those in power locally, murder, romance, and war.
The Evening and The Morning is one of the best historical novels I have read in a long time and is a worthy prequel to The Pillars of the Earth. The effortless prose and the wonderfully drawn characters grabbed me from page one and pulled me into the world of Edgar, Brother Aldred and Lady Ragna. It takes skill to write a detailed historical novel without bogging the reader down, but Ken Follett manages this with perfection, making all eight hundred pages a joy to read. If you love historical fiction then this is a must read; simply spectacular.
I’d like to thank Pan Macmillan for my advanced copy of this book in return for my honest review.
