Book: World Without End

Author: Ken Follett

Review:  The sequel to Pillars of the Earth.  Both are excellent, although epic novels.  This book picks up about 200 years later in Kingsbridge with the descendents of the Pillars of the Earth families.  There are several parallels in the stories.  There is another collapse in the old cathedral, and later a tragic collapse of the town bridge.  The tallented and intelligent Merthin is not allowed to complete his rebuilding of the structures, and on the day he is to marry the also intelligent Caris Wooler she is accused of witchcraft and must join the nunnery to get away.  The main theme of this book is also that peoples ignorance and greed is what holds back a society.  There are many side stories, such as: Merthin's brother Ralph is the bloodthirsty warrior, Philemon is the immoral thief turned monk, Anthony is the prior who wanted to do good but was afraid of change, Gwenda is the peasant girl who fools Wulfric into marrying her.  There is some gray to all these side characters, they often mean well, but their poor actions and decisions cause everyone grief in the end.  The book is even left open ended for another sequel.