The Pillars of the Earth vs The Winds of War: Which Should You Read?

Both live on shelves: Historical Fiction, Fiction

Cover of The Pillars of the Earth

The Pillars of the Earth Ken Follett · 1989 ★★★★☆ 4.4 1040 pages · ≈ 19 h 16 m · Challenging Find on Amazon

vs

Cover of The Winds of War

The Winds of War Herman Wouk · 1971 ★★★★☆ 4.5 890 pages · ≈ 16 h 29 m · Challenging Find on Amazon

The verdict

Ratings are close: 4.4 vs 4.5 — either is a safe pick by score.
The Winds of War is the quicker read — about 16 hours vs 19 for The Pillars of the Earth.

Side by side