World Without End

Currently I am reading a really excellent book. It's called "World Without End" by Ken Follet. It is the sequel to his 1989 novel "Pillars of the Earth." The story follows the lives of a group of peasants and merchants living in the town of Kingsbridge in the 14th century. The story revolves around the constant struggled between the Kingsbridge priory and the ordinary folks who are trying to make a living in a harsh time period. The Hundred Years War is raging and the bubonic plague is wrecking havoc on Europe. The church officials are corrupt and the lords and kings are selfish oppressors. It is not a time I would want to live in. However, it is an excellent novel and at over 1000 pages, it still feels too short. The only complaint I have against it is that at certain points it is far too sexually graphic for my taste. Sometimes it just seems Follet could have been a little more subtle and left more to the imagination. Otherwise, I would suggest it to anyone who loves a good historical novel.