A Column of Fire vs The Pillars of the Earth: Which Should You Read?
Both live on shelves: Historical Fiction, History, Fiction
A Column of Fire
As Europe erupts, can one young spy protect his queen? International bestselling author Ken Follett takes us deep into the treacherous world of powerful monarchs, intrigue, murder, and treason with his magnificent new…
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The Pillars of the Earth
The Pillars of the Earth is a historical novel by Welsh author Ken Follett published in 1989 about the building of a cathedral in the fictional town of Kingsbridge, England. Set in the 12th century, the novel covers the…
The verdict
- Ratings are close across the board — any is a safe pick by score.
- The Pillars of the Earth has the widest readership — 855879 ratings behind its score.
How to choose
Scores by source
| A Column of Fire | The Pillars of the Earth | |
|---|---|---|
| Goodreads | — | 4.3 (855879) |
| Hardcover | 5.0 (1) | 4.2 (1034) |
| Apple Books | 4.5 (3121) | 4.5 (3249) |
Reception
| A Column of Fire | The Pillars of the Earth | |
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | 3121 | 855879 |
| Editions | 24 | 111 |
| Film adaptations | 1 | 1 |
| Want to read | — | 598767 |
| Pages | 934 | 1040 |