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Kingsbridge #4
The Armor of Light
The long-awaited sequel to A Column of Fire, The Armor of Light, heralds a new dawn for Kingsbridge, England, where progress clashes with tradition, class struggles push into every part of society, and war in Europe engulfs the entire continent and beyond.
The Spinning Jenny was invented in 1770, and with that, a new era of manufacturing and industry changed lives everywhere within a generation. A world filled with unrest wrestles for control over this new world A mother’s husband is killed in a work accident due to negligence; a young woman fights to fund her school for impoverished children; a well-intentioned young man unexpectedly inherits a failing business; one man ruthlessly protects his wealth no matter the cost, all the while war cries are heard from France, as Napoleon sets forth a violent master plan to become emperor of the world. As institutions are challenged and toppled in unprecedented fashion, ripples of change ricochet through our characters’ lives as they are left to reckon with the future and a world they must rebuild from the ashes of war.
Over thirty years ago, Ken Follett published his most popular novel, The Pillars of the Earth. Now, with this electrifying addition to the Kingsbridge series we are plunged into the battlefield between compassion and greed, love and hate, progress and tradition. It is through each character that we are given a new perspective to the seismic shifts that shook the world in nineteenth-century Europe.
The Spinning Jenny was invented in 1770, and with that, a new era of manufacturing and industry changed lives everywhere within a generation. A world filled with unrest wrestles for control over this new world A mother’s husband is killed in a work accident due to negligence; a young woman fights to fund her school for impoverished children; a well-intentioned young man unexpectedly inherits a failing business; one man ruthlessly protects his wealth no matter the cost, all the while war cries are heard from France, as Napoleon sets forth a violent master plan to become emperor of the world. As institutions are challenged and toppled in unprecedented fashion, ripples of change ricochet through our characters’ lives as they are left to reckon with the future and a world they must rebuild from the ashes of war.
Over thirty years ago, Ken Follett published his most popular novel, The Pillars of the Earth. Now, with this electrifying addition to the Kingsbridge series we are plunged into the battlefield between compassion and greed, love and hate, progress and tradition. It is through each character that we are given a new perspective to the seismic shifts that shook the world in nineteenth-century Europe.
928 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 26, 2023
About the author
Ken Follett
469 books55.7k followersKen Follett is one of the world’s most successful authors. Over 170 million copies of the 36 books he has written have been sold in over 80 countries and in 33 languages.
Born on June 5th, 1949 in Cardiff, Wales, the son of a tax inspector, Ken was educated at state schools and went on to graduate from University College, London, with an Honours degree in Philosophy – later to be made a Fellow of the College in 1995.
He started his career as a reporter, first with his hometown newspaper the South Wales Echo and then with the London Evening News. Subsequently, he worked for a small London publishing house, Everest Books, eventually becoming Deputy Managing Director.
Ken’s first major success came with the publication of Eye of the Needle in 1978. A World War II thriller set in England, this book earned him the 1979 Edgar Award for Best Novel from the Mystery Writers of America. It remains one of Ken’s most popular books.
In 1989, Ken’s epic novel about the building of a medieval cathedral, The Pillars of the Earth, was published. It reached number one on best-seller lists everywhere and was turned into a major television series produced by Ridley Scott, which aired in 2010. World Without End, the sequel to The Pillars of the Earth, proved equally popular when it was published in 2007.
Ken’s new book, The Evening and the Morning, will be published in September 2020. It is a prequel to The Pillars of the Earth and is set around the year 1,000, when Kingsbridge was an Anglo-Saxon settlement threatened by Viking invaders.
Ken has been active in numerous literacy charities and was president of Dyslexia Action for ten years. He was chair of the National Year of Reading, a joint initiative between government and businesses. He is also active in many Stevenage charities and is President of the Stevenage Community Trust and Patron of Home-Start Hertfordshire.
Ken, who loves music almost as much as he loves books, is an enthusiastic bass guitar player. He lives in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, with his wife Barbara, the former Labour Member of Parliament for Stevenage. Between them they have five children, six grandchildren and two Labradors.
Born on June 5th, 1949 in Cardiff, Wales, the son of a tax inspector, Ken was educated at state schools and went on to graduate from University College, London, with an Honours degree in Philosophy – later to be made a Fellow of the College in 1995.
He started his career as a reporter, first with his hometown newspaper the South Wales Echo and then with the London Evening News. Subsequently, he worked for a small London publishing house, Everest Books, eventually becoming Deputy Managing Director.
Ken’s first major success came with the publication of Eye of the Needle in 1978. A World War II thriller set in England, this book earned him the 1979 Edgar Award for Best Novel from the Mystery Writers of America. It remains one of Ken’s most popular books.
In 1989, Ken’s epic novel about the building of a medieval cathedral, The Pillars of the Earth, was published. It reached number one on best-seller lists everywhere and was turned into a major television series produced by Ridley Scott, which aired in 2010. World Without End, the sequel to The Pillars of the Earth, proved equally popular when it was published in 2007.
Ken’s new book, The Evening and the Morning, will be published in September 2020. It is a prequel to The Pillars of the Earth and is set around the year 1,000, when Kingsbridge was an Anglo-Saxon settlement threatened by Viking invaders.
Ken has been active in numerous literacy charities and was president of Dyslexia Action for ten years. He was chair of the National Year of Reading, a joint initiative between government and businesses. He is also active in many Stevenage charities and is President of the Stevenage Community Trust and Patron of Home-Start Hertfordshire.
Ken, who loves music almost as much as he loves books, is an enthusiastic bass guitar player. He lives in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, with his wife Barbara, the former Labour Member of Parliament for Stevenage. Between them they have five children, six grandchildren and two Labradors.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,846 reviews
October 7, 2023
My favourite Kingsbridge novel since World Without End.
The Armor of Light is more like the first two novels in feel and style than A Column of Fire and The Evening and the Morning, staying mostly within the confines of Kingsbridge and following its citizens through their daily lives.
I love it when Follett uses Kingsbridge as a microcosm of English society and politics at the time. Here, the Industrial Revolution and late-Enlightenment ideas influence the lives of the Kingsbridge people, as well as ideas of revolution and human rights after the French Revolution.
Follett gives us many glimpses of history, though all of it is fed through the fictional city of Kingsbridge. We see the long miserable battle between masters and workers-- the formation of trade unions to demand workers' rights, the masters responding by bringing in cheap foreign labour, self-serving local government assisting the masters to keep the workers down through intimidation and the threat of flogging, or worse.
Follett keeps the pacing up by constant reminders of how shitty it was to be a peasant in late 18th century/early 19th century England. You had so little power, and any attempts to organise with other workers to gain a little of said power were frequently thwarted by men with the contacts and resources to make your life even more miserable.
Alongside this, people fall in love, get married, die, escape loveless marriages with passionate affairs and experience the extremes of poverty. It was the norm for seven-year-olds to be put to work, and equally common for starving child thieves to be sent to the gallows.
One of the most horrific aspects of this book were the press gangs-- an appalling and entirely legal corner of history that I had forgotten about --where men were set upon, kidnapped, and forceably enlisted in the military or navy. Horrific for the men, and often devastating for the families left behind.
The least interesting part of The Armor of Light for me was when the book steps outside of Kingsbridge and takes us to the battlefields of the Napoleonic Wars. I have exactly zero interest in warfare, so thankfully this was only a relatively small portion of the book. I much preferred reading about how the war and Bonapartist feeling influenced the lives of the little people in Kingsbridge.
I find myself wondering what can be next for this series. Victorian-era could be cool. Will Follett take us to the World Wars and beyond? I'm excited to find out.
The Armor of Light is more like the first two novels in feel and style than A Column of Fire and The Evening and the Morning, staying mostly within the confines of Kingsbridge and following its citizens through their daily lives.
I love it when Follett uses Kingsbridge as a microcosm of English society and politics at the time. Here, the Industrial Revolution and late-Enlightenment ideas influence the lives of the Kingsbridge people, as well as ideas of revolution and human rights after the French Revolution.
Follett gives us many glimpses of history, though all of it is fed through the fictional city of Kingsbridge. We see the long miserable battle between masters and workers-- the formation of trade unions to demand workers' rights, the masters responding by bringing in cheap foreign labour, self-serving local government assisting the masters to keep the workers down through intimidation and the threat of flogging, or worse.
Follett keeps the pacing up by constant reminders of how shitty it was to be a peasant in late 18th century/early 19th century England. You had so little power, and any attempts to organise with other workers to gain a little of said power were frequently thwarted by men with the contacts and resources to make your life even more miserable.
Alongside this, people fall in love, get married, die, escape loveless marriages with passionate affairs and experience the extremes of poverty. It was the norm for seven-year-olds to be put to work, and equally common for starving child thieves to be sent to the gallows.
One of the most horrific aspects of this book were the press gangs-- an appalling and entirely legal corner of history that I had forgotten about --where men were set upon, kidnapped, and forceably enlisted in the military or navy. Horrific for the men, and often devastating for the families left behind.
The least interesting part of The Armor of Light for me was when the book steps outside of Kingsbridge and takes us to the battlefields of the Napoleonic Wars. I have exactly zero interest in warfare, so thankfully this was only a relatively small portion of the book. I much preferred reading about how the war and Bonapartist feeling influenced the lives of the little people in Kingsbridge.
I find myself wondering what can be next for this series. Victorian-era could be cool. Will Follett take us to the World Wars and beyond? I'm excited to find out.
October 28, 2023
3 Stars. Having read and enjoyed all earlier books in the Kingsbridge series, I regret I was disappointed with The Armor of Light. I did not care for Follett's previous standalone novel, Never, and this was only slightly better, in my opinion. The Kingsbridge series followed significant historical events through the ages, entertainingly informing the reader about politics, religion, and history engagingly reflected through the main characters' lives.
This book follows the same pattern from 1792 to 1824. Unfortunately, I found its focus on the Industrial Revolution, with descriptions of the inventions of steam-powered machines for manufacturing cloth. There was too much detail about how the new inventions worked, and I struggled to follow. I looked up pictures and information about the spinning jenny, its improvements, and new machinery for weaving and printing patterns on cloth.
Their effects had a far-reaching impact on society, throwing many spinners and weavers out of work at a time of much poverty. Wealthy business owners, the nobility and politicians were determined to keep the working class and the impoverished unemployed quiet through harsh punishments. To improve their lot, trade unions began forming and were quickly declared illegal. Anyone charged with attempting to create a trade union might be imprisoned, tortured, receive the death penalty, or exiled to Australia. No one dared to dissent with the greedy and mean-spirited powers in charge, and when found organizing to change the social structure, they could be punished.
There was no financial help for families of wage earners injured in industries. There was an ongoing war that Napoleon was waging in Europe. The English towns felt the results of a financial burden to supply their armed forces. If drafted, those with money could avoid serving by paying someone less fortunate to take their place. If a man was charged with a crime, he might be punished by being forced into the military. Press gangs seized men off the streets and moved them onto the navy ships. Wives and children left behind were destitute. When a starving child was caught stealing, he could be hanged for the offence. Seven-year-old children of the poor were expected to work.
Public liberties were crushed. The American and French Revolutions were recent, and the King and Parliament feared similar uprisings in England.
We read about the upheaval caused by a new era in manufacturing, the struggle for human rights among the destitute and working classes, the need for improved working conditions, differences between the Anglican and Methodist religions, clashes between the Anglican and Methodist faiths, the ongoing war in Europe led by the powerful Napoleon.
We conclude with a description of the Battle of Waterloo, with the British army awaiting the Prussian reinforcements. The orders of the generals and the detailed strategy and tactics used by the soldiers against the French under Napoleon were confusing if one lacked knowledge of military history.
I doubt I would have continued this lengthy book, except I found the characters intriguing and was invested in learning changes in their lives and their fates. I thought the dialogue sometimes slipped into the modern vernacular. I admire how much historical research Mr. Follett included in the story. I do not believe he can write loving relationships with an aura of romance. Relationships have a tinge of the soap opera, with cringe-worthy, cheesy dialogue between lovers detracting from the story.
This book follows the same pattern from 1792 to 1824. Unfortunately, I found its focus on the Industrial Revolution, with descriptions of the inventions of steam-powered machines for manufacturing cloth. There was too much detail about how the new inventions worked, and I struggled to follow. I looked up pictures and information about the spinning jenny, its improvements, and new machinery for weaving and printing patterns on cloth.
Their effects had a far-reaching impact on society, throwing many spinners and weavers out of work at a time of much poverty. Wealthy business owners, the nobility and politicians were determined to keep the working class and the impoverished unemployed quiet through harsh punishments. To improve their lot, trade unions began forming and were quickly declared illegal. Anyone charged with attempting to create a trade union might be imprisoned, tortured, receive the death penalty, or exiled to Australia. No one dared to dissent with the greedy and mean-spirited powers in charge, and when found organizing to change the social structure, they could be punished.
There was no financial help for families of wage earners injured in industries. There was an ongoing war that Napoleon was waging in Europe. The English towns felt the results of a financial burden to supply their armed forces. If drafted, those with money could avoid serving by paying someone less fortunate to take their place. If a man was charged with a crime, he might be punished by being forced into the military. Press gangs seized men off the streets and moved them onto the navy ships. Wives and children left behind were destitute. When a starving child was caught stealing, he could be hanged for the offence. Seven-year-old children of the poor were expected to work.
Public liberties were crushed. The American and French Revolutions were recent, and the King and Parliament feared similar uprisings in England.
We read about the upheaval caused by a new era in manufacturing, the struggle for human rights among the destitute and working classes, the need for improved working conditions, differences between the Anglican and Methodist religions, clashes between the Anglican and Methodist faiths, the ongoing war in Europe led by the powerful Napoleon.
We conclude with a description of the Battle of Waterloo, with the British army awaiting the Prussian reinforcements. The orders of the generals and the detailed strategy and tactics used by the soldiers against the French under Napoleon were confusing if one lacked knowledge of military history.
I doubt I would have continued this lengthy book, except I found the characters intriguing and was invested in learning changes in their lives and their fates. I thought the dialogue sometimes slipped into the modern vernacular. I admire how much historical research Mr. Follett included in the story. I do not believe he can write loving relationships with an aura of romance. Relationships have a tinge of the soap opera, with cringe-worthy, cheesy dialogue between lovers detracting from the story.
Read
February 5, 2024I liked this more than A Column of Fire, but I don't think it's quite as epic (for me anyways) as The Pillars of the Earth and World Without End. I loved the focus on Kingsbridge and seeing how it's developing over the centuries. I enjoyed all the references to the previous books that are mentioned in throwaway lines. Some of the history was really illuminating - I had never heard of 'press gangs' before and I'm not surprised, but definitely horrified. I also really loved the relationships and characters. Roger and Kit especially made this novel for me! Sal, Amos, Spade and Arabella, too! Lots of awww ♥️ Overall, the book left me wanting more Kingsbridge, as it didn't feel quite as wrapped as I'd imagine. If it's the ending of the series, it's definitely a quieter ending than I anticipated.
My review of The Pillars of the Earth is here.
My review of World Without End is here.
My review of A Column of Fire is here.
My tbr review of The Evening and the Morning is here.
☆ Book Reviews | Bluesky | Twitter | Threads ☆
My review of The Pillars of the Earth is here.
My review of World Without End is here.
My review of A Column of Fire is here.
My tbr review of The Evening and the Morning is here.
☆ Book Reviews | Bluesky | Twitter | Threads ☆
February 25, 2024
Mr Follett manages again to engage us in History together with ordinary people who try to find themselves in the circumstances beyond their control. Ambition, love, sometimes unrequited, weakness, intelligence, betrayal, all these and more drive inhabitants of Kingsbridge at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries. I especially liked the portrayal of a city which opens to the Industrial Revolution, theme which may seem boring but which is not, thanks to Mr Follett's writing skills and style.
October 9, 2023
Wouldn't it be amazing if he wrote one last book in the series and it starts in sync with the Century trilogy??? I have one dream.
October 6, 2023
Whenever I read that Ken Follett has a new installment of his Kingsbridge series in the offing, I always find myself hoping against hope that literary lightning will strike twice and he will turn out another volume as brilliant and magnificent as Pillars of the Earth, the original novel in the saga. Unfortunately though, formulaic plotlines, poor character development, and the use of modern language by historical characters have made his recent renderings increasingly mediocre.
In Armor of Light, Follett has chosen to use his novel set in the 18th and 19th centuries as a vehicle for his own 21st century virtue signaling and social agenda. The story was boring and felt recycled, and most of the characters two dimensional. After all the time and expense I've doggedly devoted to Kingsbridge through the years, including three readings of Pillars, I think I'm done. To quote the old song by The Who, I "Won't get fooled again."
In Armor of Light, Follett has chosen to use his novel set in the 18th and 19th centuries as a vehicle for his own 21st century virtue signaling and social agenda. The story was boring and felt recycled, and most of the characters two dimensional. After all the time and expense I've doggedly devoted to Kingsbridge through the years, including three readings of Pillars, I think I'm done. To quote the old song by The Who, I "Won't get fooled again."
October 1, 2023
This one was definitely lacking something. I didn't have strong feeling one way or the other for any of the characters. Ok, there was one I greatly disliked, but his role in the book just kept shrinking as the story went on. The characters also felt like they were never really part of the action. A lot of things happen, but they were more just observers to it instead of being the cause. Often it felt like they'd make a big deal out of something, and then if it didn't go their way, the story didn't drastically change. Even when something big did happen to the characters, it felt like they just shrugged it off and kept going like nothing happened. Although it's admirable for characters to continue trying to make the best out of their lives regardless of circumstances, portraying them in such a way really caused the story to lack tension. At times, many of the things going on felt like nothing more than high school drama.
This was certainly a disappointment after how much I liked A Column of Fire and The Evening and the Morning.
This was certainly a disappointment after how much I liked A Column of Fire and The Evening and the Morning.
December 22, 2023
Ken Follett's Kingsbridge series has been a favorite of mine for over a decade. Combining the richness of English history and the complexity of small town drama, these multi-generational literary tomes are brilliant, memorable, and influential. From understanding life the clergy to recognizing the vast human and industrial improvements over a four-century period, readers are entertained to no end. In this latest installment, America has formed and the British are at war in France with Napoleon. The Spinning Jenny has been invented and the people of a small British town learn how to survive through it all. Filled with odes to former books and focused on the themes of evil landowners and clergy, the underdog always finds a way to rise in the end. Lots of death in the fifty-year span of this book, and the emotions run high. Definitely a good one but not as impactful as World Without End or Pillars. Highly recommended!
March 19, 2024
4,5 Sterne Habe das von Tobias Kluckert hervorragend gesprochene Audiobook gehört.
Weltbewegende Ereignisse, Armut, Klassenunterschiede, industrieller Wandel, unmenschliche Bestrafungen, Recht auf Bildung, Meinungsfreiheit.
Alle Themen wurden vom Autoren wieder sorgfältig recherchiert und lebendig dargestellt.
Ein würdiger, sehr unterhaltsamer Abschluss der Kingsbridge Reihe, auch, wenn ich als Anhängerin dieser historischen Romane ein wenig traurig bin, ist die Geschichte nun wohl auserzählt.
Weltbewegende Ereignisse, Armut, Klassenunterschiede, industrieller Wandel, unmenschliche Bestrafungen, Recht auf Bildung, Meinungsfreiheit.
Alle Themen wurden vom Autoren wieder sorgfältig recherchiert und lebendig dargestellt.
Ein würdiger, sehr unterhaltsamer Abschluss der Kingsbridge Reihe, auch, wenn ich als Anhängerin dieser historischen Romane ein wenig traurig bin, ist die Geschichte nun wohl auserzählt.
October 4, 2023
If you like misery, rotten human conditions, poverty, sexism and wars, this 18th century novel is for you! 0 10 stars
October 19, 2023
Armor of Light
Fiction>Historical Fiction>1770-1820 England
I waited FOREVER for this to come out. I was on the library wait lists as soon as they existed. I also worried this might not live up to the first 3 (or 4) books of the series. After all, The Kingsbridge Trilogy started in 1989 and these last 2 releases were clearly just in response to the fans loving them, there being room is history for a couple more timelines, and the high probability that the book would sell. I'm OK with all that but I was just hoping it'd be good old-fashioned Follett historical fiction and I was not disappointed.
There were a few references to the earlier characters from the trilogy, but nothing that would prevent a Book 5 reader from understanding and appreciating the whole story. I like that. There were nods for those of us who knew the whole series, but new readers don't need to read 4 other books first to enjoy this one.
This timeline is interesting, too, because as an American I have a narrow view of what was 'happening in the world' for this period of time. Of course I know about Napoleon and the French Revolution as well as the industrial revolution happening in England, but it's not really the focal point of my understanding of this time period. This was enlightening and entertaining to read. I learned a little bit, came away with a better context for the time period, and I really liked the characters he developed. I suppose Sal or Kit is supposed to be the MC, but I really like Spade the best.
"There was a new atmosphere since the stoning of the king’s carriage and the food riots: the British ruling elite were in an unforgiving mood. In Kingsbridge, shopkeepers gave no credit, landlords evicted late-paying tenants, and justices handed down harsh sentences."
“It’s like a war,” said Spade. “At the beginning, both sides expect to win. One of them is wrong.”
"They were all getting older—something that should never have been a surprise but always was."
"Forgiveness was essential in marriage, Charles said; it was virtually impossible for two people to live together for any length of time without offending each other occasionally, and sores must not be allowed to fester."
Now he said: “We have to deal with men as they are, not as they ought to be.”
"His companions were other struggling weavers, and they fed one another’s discontents."
____________________
When book was announced: I have been leaving The Evening and the Morning to
savor...it's been hard to leave it on my TBR for just the right week to read it. Now I learn there's another one coming! I'm quite tempted to read the prequel and then re-read the trilogy to end with this one later in the year. I probably won't, but I'm tempted. :D
Update: I did read Book #4 a few months ago and it was good. This #5 was much better imo.
Fiction>Historical Fiction>1770-1820 England
I waited FOREVER for this to come out. I was on the library wait lists as soon as they existed. I also worried this might not live up to the first 3 (or 4) books of the series. After all, The Kingsbridge Trilogy started in 1989 and these last 2 releases were clearly just in response to the fans loving them, there being room is history for a couple more timelines, and the high probability that the book would sell. I'm OK with all that but I was just hoping it'd be good old-fashioned Follett historical fiction and I was not disappointed.
There were a few references to the earlier characters from the trilogy, but nothing that would prevent a Book 5 reader from understanding and appreciating the whole story. I like that. There were nods for those of us who knew the whole series, but new readers don't need to read 4 other books first to enjoy this one.
This timeline is interesting, too, because as an American I have a narrow view of what was 'happening in the world' for this period of time. Of course I know about Napoleon and the French Revolution as well as the industrial revolution happening in England, but it's not really the focal point of my understanding of this time period. This was enlightening and entertaining to read. I learned a little bit, came away with a better context for the time period, and I really liked the characters he developed. I suppose Sal or Kit is supposed to be the MC, but I really like Spade the best.
"There was a new atmosphere since the stoning of the king’s carriage and the food riots: the British ruling elite were in an unforgiving mood. In Kingsbridge, shopkeepers gave no credit, landlords evicted late-paying tenants, and justices handed down harsh sentences."
“It’s like a war,” said Spade. “At the beginning, both sides expect to win. One of them is wrong.”
"They were all getting older—something that should never have been a surprise but always was."
"Forgiveness was essential in marriage, Charles said; it was virtually impossible for two people to live together for any length of time without offending each other occasionally, and sores must not be allowed to fester."
Now he said: “We have to deal with men as they are, not as they ought to be.”
"His companions were other struggling weavers, and they fed one another’s discontents."
____________________
When book was announced: I have been leaving The Evening and the Morning to
savor...it's been hard to leave it on my TBR for just the right week to read it. Now I learn there's another one coming! I'm quite tempted to read the prequel and then re-read the trilogy to end with this one later in the year. I probably won't, but I'm tempted. :D
Update: I did read Book #4 a few months ago and it was good. This #5 was much better imo.
Shelved as 'wish-list'
January 25, 2023Here we go again.
October 2, 2023
Just a brief note.
The story runs from 1792 to 1824.
I did not know what to expect, after reading the disappointing “Never”, but this one was much better.
The storytelling is terrific!
Although very engrossing, the characters lacked depth and they did not cause any impact.
But I liked all characters, the good and bad ones. And I enjoyed the storyline and the writing.
I read the first 47% in one sitting.
Compared to the other 4 books, this one is my least favourite.
There wasn’t anything extraordinary.
Regardless, it is very entertaining, hence my rating.
I read the hardcover and simultaneously listened to the excellent audiobook.
Hardcover (Scribner): 737 pages (divided into 7 parts and 45 chapters) - it’s size is deceiving- large margins and line spacing gives the illusion that it’s massive - it’s the shortest one, even if counting the number of words)
ebook (Kobo): 682 pages (default), 211k words
Audiobook - highly recommended - narrated by John Lee: 21.7 hours (normal speed)
The story runs from 1792 to 1824.
I did not know what to expect, after reading the disappointing “Never”, but this one was much better.
The storytelling is terrific!
Although very engrossing, the characters lacked depth and they did not cause any impact.
But I liked all characters, the good and bad ones. And I enjoyed the storyline and the writing.
I read the first 47% in one sitting.
Compared to the other 4 books, this one is my least favourite.
There wasn’t anything extraordinary.
Regardless, it is very entertaining, hence my rating.
I read the hardcover and simultaneously listened to the excellent audiobook.
Hardcover (Scribner): 737 pages (divided into 7 parts and 45 chapters) - it’s size is deceiving- large margins and line spacing gives the illusion that it’s massive - it’s the shortest one, even if counting the number of words)
ebook (Kobo): 682 pages (default), 211k words
Audiobook - highly recommended - narrated by John Lee: 21.7 hours (normal speed)
November 12, 2023
Overall I liked this book, but can't help but feel like the magic is gone from this series. As these stories became more national and international in A Column of Fire and The Armor of Light, it just lacked the charm of the previous installments. It seemed like in this book, even with the structure, that Follett just wanted to progress from different historic events to others and pull his characters along, but what resulted was for me a more detached style of storytelling, especially in the last half of the book. It was still a story well told, and plotted superbly, but a shadow of the greatness that was Pillars of the Earth.
October 4, 2023
This book felt like a different author wrote it. I got through the first four chapters and had to put it in my DNF pile. The book felt like flatly written fan fiction. This thing was this. That thing was that. This person said this thing. That person said that. Historical events and outdated terms, are mentioned, then defined as if it’s a textbook for middle schoolers. Dialog is stilted and two dimensional.
“So I’m one of the servants, Kit thought. I’m the one that polishes the boots. I wish I knew how to polish the boots. I wonder what all the other servants do. I wonder if they run away and get brought back and flogged.”
Really?
I thought maybe the problem was the subject matter or my own inflated expectations because I was so excited to get my hands on this one, but just to be sure I went back and sampled Pillars of the Earth and there is no comparison. Pillars immediately sucked me in again from the first page. Armor of Light doesn’t measure up
“So I’m one of the servants, Kit thought. I’m the one that polishes the boots. I wish I knew how to polish the boots. I wonder what all the other servants do. I wonder if they run away and get brought back and flogged.”
Really?
I thought maybe the problem was the subject matter or my own inflated expectations because I was so excited to get my hands on this one, but just to be sure I went back and sampled Pillars of the Earth and there is no comparison. Pillars immediately sucked me in again from the first page. Armor of Light doesn’t measure up
October 3, 2023
No soy nada objetiva con esta saga.
Esta vez estamos en la época de la revolución industrial y las guerras napoleonicas.
La trama, como en todos los libros de la saga, gira en torno a Kingsbridge. En ella conocemos la historia de nobles y clase baja y como interactuan entre ellos. La lucha obrera, de las mujeres…
Coincide también con las guerras napoleónicas; muchos soldados fueron reclutados de malas maneras y otros por necesidad. Se conocen las guerras crueles; muertes, violaciones, intereses económicos…
Las tramas personales, con en los otros libros, son interesantes; deslealtades, traiciones, asesinatos,…
Se pueden leer los libros independientemente.
Esta vez estamos en la época de la revolución industrial y las guerras napoleonicas.
La trama, como en todos los libros de la saga, gira en torno a Kingsbridge. En ella conocemos la historia de nobles y clase baja y como interactuan entre ellos. La lucha obrera, de las mujeres…
Coincide también con las guerras napoleónicas; muchos soldados fueron reclutados de malas maneras y otros por necesidad. Se conocen las guerras crueles; muertes, violaciones, intereses económicos…
Las tramas personales, con en los otros libros, son interesantes; deslealtades, traiciones, asesinatos,…
Se pueden leer los libros independientemente.
February 24, 2024
Returning to Kingsbridge and the solid community that has developed, Ken Follett invites readers to see how things have changed and what new sentiments are in the air. Those who have followed the series from its beginning will see that Kingsbridge has advanced according to society’s new views and inventions, which Follett addresses once more in this late-18th and early-19th century piece. With great characters and powerful themes, Follett delivers once more and keeps readers fully engaged until all is settled, only to open new and exciting possibilities for yet another novel in the series. I cannot help but devour books in this series, though their length makes it a monumental task.
As Kingsbridge enters 1792, there is revolution in the air. A powerful government in Westminster has new and exciting hopes for England, turning the country into a commercial empire. The Industrial Revolution is in full swing and machinery has made itself known, showing how the work of one man (or woman) can be replaced with a weaving machine, ensuring mass production and trade throughout Europe. The locals are not keen to see this change, as they have lived quietly and effectively on their small farms and come to market with items to trade and barter with others. Still, the shadow looms and Kingsbridge has not been ignored by political and religious figures across the country, with hopes of pressuring those who resist.
While Kingsbridge is on edge with all these changes, other issues are brewing across the English Chanel. A new and powerful military figure emerges in France, one Napoleon Bonaparte. With France flexing its muscle and seeking to expand its own empire, Europe is tense, especially the English Government, who has had a love/hate relationship with France for many years. Eyeing potential issues, the Government is eager to fill the coffers, should any military action be needed to quell the short general and his outlandish ideas.
As Kingsbridge holds onto its intimate nature, centred around the Cathedral, edifice and religious roots, change will not be met with open arms. A core group, including spinner Sal Clitheroe, weaver David Shoveller and Kit, Sal’s inventive and headstrong son, have their own plans and hope to be able to protect Kingsbridge, as well as its rural nature. It will be a fight like no other, but Kingbridge’s history relies on its past in order to shape the future. Europe is teetering on the edge and no one is yet ready to give up. In a stunning novel that explores historical events and the strength of Kingsbridge as a community, Follett delves into it all and presents this unique novel for all to enjoy.
I remember when I first discovered this series and how impactful it was for me. In fact, the first novel in the series was the first exposure I had to Ken Folloett and his powerful multi-generational writing. The narrative flow takes the reader through many of the aspects present in this novel (and series as a whole), weaving together historical events as well as the community living found in Kingsbridge as it develops. Follett uses his wonderful writing style to keep the reader fully involved and committed as things progress and events shape the larger Kingsbridge community. Great characters, ancestors of those who impacted past events in Kingsbridge, share the story and keep things on track to be wonderful yet again. I love it and am eager to see where things are headed.
Plot points might seem surprising, as this is a piece of historical fiction. While Follett uses key events in history, he is able to shape his fictional community and offers perspectives through their eyes, as well as how the world answers events, contrasted against that which Kingsbridge chooses to accept. This has always been a core theme for Follett and makes the books even more exciting. Looking at the themes presented and setting of each book, I am left with but one question... will the next Kingsbridge novel be the last with the story likely to leap into the 21st century’s and all that is going on around the world?
Kudos, Mr. Follett, for a stunning novel that had me hooked throughout.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
As Kingsbridge enters 1792, there is revolution in the air. A powerful government in Westminster has new and exciting hopes for England, turning the country into a commercial empire. The Industrial Revolution is in full swing and machinery has made itself known, showing how the work of one man (or woman) can be replaced with a weaving machine, ensuring mass production and trade throughout Europe. The locals are not keen to see this change, as they have lived quietly and effectively on their small farms and come to market with items to trade and barter with others. Still, the shadow looms and Kingsbridge has not been ignored by political and religious figures across the country, with hopes of pressuring those who resist.
While Kingsbridge is on edge with all these changes, other issues are brewing across the English Chanel. A new and powerful military figure emerges in France, one Napoleon Bonaparte. With France flexing its muscle and seeking to expand its own empire, Europe is tense, especially the English Government, who has had a love/hate relationship with France for many years. Eyeing potential issues, the Government is eager to fill the coffers, should any military action be needed to quell the short general and his outlandish ideas.
As Kingsbridge holds onto its intimate nature, centred around the Cathedral, edifice and religious roots, change will not be met with open arms. A core group, including spinner Sal Clitheroe, weaver David Shoveller and Kit, Sal’s inventive and headstrong son, have their own plans and hope to be able to protect Kingsbridge, as well as its rural nature. It will be a fight like no other, but Kingbridge’s history relies on its past in order to shape the future. Europe is teetering on the edge and no one is yet ready to give up. In a stunning novel that explores historical events and the strength of Kingsbridge as a community, Follett delves into it all and presents this unique novel for all to enjoy.
I remember when I first discovered this series and how impactful it was for me. In fact, the first novel in the series was the first exposure I had to Ken Folloett and his powerful multi-generational writing. The narrative flow takes the reader through many of the aspects present in this novel (and series as a whole), weaving together historical events as well as the community living found in Kingsbridge as it develops. Follett uses his wonderful writing style to keep the reader fully involved and committed as things progress and events shape the larger Kingsbridge community. Great characters, ancestors of those who impacted past events in Kingsbridge, share the story and keep things on track to be wonderful yet again. I love it and am eager to see where things are headed.
Plot points might seem surprising, as this is a piece of historical fiction. While Follett uses key events in history, he is able to shape his fictional community and offers perspectives through their eyes, as well as how the world answers events, contrasted against that which Kingsbridge chooses to accept. This has always been a core theme for Follett and makes the books even more exciting. Looking at the themes presented and setting of each book, I am left with but one question... will the next Kingsbridge novel be the last with the story likely to leap into the 21st century’s and all that is going on around the world?
Kudos, Mr. Follett, for a stunning novel that had me hooked throughout.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Shelved as 'dnf'
October 16, 2024Nope. Can't do it. DNF at 32%. I tried reading this after finishing three more in the series. The stories are separated by centuries, but the plots are nearly identical, with their pantomime baddies and damsels in distress and cliché strong independent women and cheesy love affairs and crap intrigues and really very, very, very simplistic writing. Of all Follett's Kingsbridge books, this one in particular read like it was written in a hurry. Perhaps it was. Whatever the case, I'm done with it, and with the remaining books in the series.
September 30, 2023
Suffers from the same problem A Column of Fire had, in a diffusion of purpose. Though more of it takes place in Kingsbridge, it builds toward and has its final part set in France again, this time going up against Ol Boney, in scenes that wishes they were half as engaging as Cornwell's Sharpe series. Follett can't take that up close and personal view, and keeps reverting to a God's eye that stops any feeling of engaged tension and reads like a Youtuber's battlefield summary. It's a bit similar with the rest of the plot points he bakes into the narrative, where he's so keen to show off the research he made into sweeping social and technological changes, the characters at times just become cutouts to stand next to his real purpose in summarizing a historical period in fictional form. What Pillars of the Earth managed so well was firstly building interesting characters and drama, and letting the historical context be a compelling backdrop to that central story, and now it's like they're just stock characters that need to be there to tell a story about the historical context.
January 6, 2024
Ken Follett does it again with this book! It’s great to return to Kingsbridge in this book set in the late 18th and early 19th Century. As always with Ken Follett he creates great characters, both good and bad, and he does an excellent job of making you have to read on to find out what is going to happen next.
As you can imagine from the time this was set, amongst the Industrial Revolution and the Napoleonic wars, this isn’t all hearts and roses. The authorities are clamping down on the ‘workers’ as they are running scared following the French Revolution and fear the same will happen in England. There are some tragic stories and cases within this book which leave you crestfallen and both upset and angry. Ken Follett really does an excellent job bringing this period to life, and showing the impact on everyday lives.
Towards the end of the book it also covers the Battle of Waterloo, and Napoleon’s last stand. This is well-written, but feels a bit out of place compared to the rest of the book. It is however important for the book in what happens to our characters following the battle.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough, and despite being over 1000 pages, it passes all too quickly. If anything it makes me want to go back and restart the whole of this series. I do hope he will continue this series.
Put quite simply, five stars and a favourite!
As you can imagine from the time this was set, amongst the Industrial Revolution and the Napoleonic wars, this isn’t all hearts and roses. The authorities are clamping down on the ‘workers’ as they are running scared following the French Revolution and fear the same will happen in England. There are some tragic stories and cases within this book which leave you crestfallen and both upset and angry. Ken Follett really does an excellent job bringing this period to life, and showing the impact on everyday lives.
Towards the end of the book it also covers the Battle of Waterloo, and Napoleon’s last stand. This is well-written, but feels a bit out of place compared to the rest of the book. It is however important for the book in what happens to our characters following the battle.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough, and despite being over 1000 pages, it passes all too quickly. If anything it makes me want to go back and restart the whole of this series. I do hope he will continue this series.
Put quite simply, five stars and a favourite!
August 27, 2023
This was again a whopper of just over 1,000 pages but man oh man. It was another enthralling read by one of the best writers of historical fiction!
This book is part of the Kingsbridge series, a series that takes you on a journey through centuries of European history, all centered around the fictional town of Kingsbridge.
The Amour of Light is set between 1792 and 1824.
The attention to detail is astounding and Ken Follett seamlessly weaves historical events, politics, religion, and war into a gripping tale of ambition, love, and survival. The character development is exceptional, with each individual facing their own struggles and challenges, making them come alive on the page.
The characters are so well-crafted that they become like friends. Some characters you fall in love with, some you find despicable. I loved Sal! Her no-nonsense attitude and resilience were so heartwarming!
The themes of resilience, love, and the pursuit of justice are beautifully explored.
Religious strife, political intrigue, and espionage form the backdrop of the war against Bonaparte and the story ends just after the Battle of Waterloo.
Ken Follett has a unique talent for bringing the past to life and making it accessible to all readers. The depth of research and attention to detail is evident on every page!
Highly recommend!
Thank you to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion
This book is part of the Kingsbridge series, a series that takes you on a journey through centuries of European history, all centered around the fictional town of Kingsbridge.
The Amour of Light is set between 1792 and 1824.
The attention to detail is astounding and Ken Follett seamlessly weaves historical events, politics, religion, and war into a gripping tale of ambition, love, and survival. The character development is exceptional, with each individual facing their own struggles and challenges, making them come alive on the page.
The characters are so well-crafted that they become like friends. Some characters you fall in love with, some you find despicable. I loved Sal! Her no-nonsense attitude and resilience were so heartwarming!
The themes of resilience, love, and the pursuit of justice are beautifully explored.
Religious strife, political intrigue, and espionage form the backdrop of the war against Bonaparte and the story ends just after the Battle of Waterloo.
Ken Follett has a unique talent for bringing the past to life and making it accessible to all readers. The depth of research and attention to detail is evident on every page!
Highly recommend!
Thank you to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion
October 19, 2024
Cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
And so begins the fifth book in The Pillars of the Earth saga, The Armor of Light. I loved when I picked up my copy of The Pillars of the Earth, complete with drawings of the cathedral that was only imagined in the twelfth century amid political violence and chaos and the struggle for the English throne, the ripple of the effects felt even in Kingsbridge. World Without End tells us of the 14th century focused on the 100 years war and the Black Death, It was followed by A Column of Fire taking place in the sixteenth century with the bloody reigns of Mary I and Elizabeth I and on to the reign of James I.
And now with The Armor of Light, we have returned to Kingsbridge, a center of woven textile production as it moves from the homes of hand carders, spinners and weavers to mills with more productive machinery. And this is the tale that unfolds as we begin in 1792 as the spinning engine begins to revolutionize the textile and labor industry. It is followed by the revolt of the housewives and the Combination Act of 1799, outlawing worker organizations or meetings of the workers. The consequences of any violations were gruesome including long hours and pay cuts, and in the extreme, gruesome flogging, hanging or imprisonment or tranwport to a penal colony in Australia It then moves on to the Press Gangs of the early 1800s where they basically captured young men for service in the military. This was followed by The World War from 1812 to 1815, as Napoleon Bonaparte battled to extend his grasp of Europe. This stunning book ends with the Battle of Waterloo and the peace that is forged from 1815 to 1824.
This book takes place over decades as many characters are highlighted. This is historical fiction at its finest beginning in 1792 when the French Revolution shook the European monarchy and ending with the nineteenth century when the Industrial Revolution began to storm the world with labor unrest. While this book focuses on the revolution within the weaving industry, it heralds a new era of machination. And we come to follow the people that are affected from all walks of life in our return to Kingsbridge. While it has its flaws, as one who is captivated by historical fiction, this was a fitting capstone to The Pillars of the Earth series.
“The work of transforming fleece into cloth was done mainly by villagers working in their homes. First the fleece had to be untangled and cleaned, and this was called scribbling or carding. Then it was spun into long strings of yarn and wound onto bobbins. Finally the strings were woven on a loom and became strips of cloth a yard wide. Cloth was the main industry in the west of England, and Kingsbridge was at its center.”
January 6, 2024
Follett concludes the Kingsbridge series with the end of the feudal system. In Armor of Light, he explores the impact of industrial advancements and the Napoleonic wars. His main characters are ambitious, amorous, kind, or villainous. Through their hardships and scandals, he demonstrates the injustices of the legal system and the obstacles to forming trade unions. It was an enjoyable read, though I wasn't as invested in the characters as I was in their ancestors.
October 4, 2023
A formulaic addition to the series. Plus, I for one, wish Follett would leave out all the graphic descriptions of romantic encounters.
November 17, 2023
Das vierte Buch um die fiktive Stadt Kingsbrigde....eine Mischung aus Hauptmanns " Die Weber" und Tolstois "Krieg und Frieden "....nur ohne den Tiefgang der Klassiker....!
Ken Follet erzählt in seinem Epos die Geschichte der napolionischen Kriege....die Hauptfiguren seines Romans bleiben für mich dabei ungewöhnlich flach.....einzig die Figur des Bösewichts Hornbean hat bei mir Emotionen erzeugt....
Trotzdem ein gelungenes Historienepos!
Lesenswert!
Ken Follet erzählt in seinem Epos die Geschichte der napolionischen Kriege....die Hauptfiguren seines Romans bleiben für mich dabei ungewöhnlich flach.....einzig die Figur des Bösewichts Hornbean hat bei mir Emotionen erzeugt....
Trotzdem ein gelungenes Historienepos!
Lesenswert!
November 8, 2023
This book is another massive historical tale of hard working people, villains, and everything in between. It’s about the invention of the spinning jenny, worker’s rights and unions. Some parts of it feels like we haven’t gotten very far. The rich have always ensured that money and power remains in the hands of the few. Engrossing and worth the effort!
October 5, 2023
The latest installment in Follett's wonderful series is somewhat disappointing. The Armor of Light takes place in Kingsbridge, the site of the other wonderful Pillars of the Earth titles. What makes this entry different, however, is that the characters are rather unremarkable. The Industrial Revolution, war with Bonaparte's France, and the English class structure aren't powerful enough to cover the lack of reader connection to the characters.
December 22, 2023
I liked Armour of Light almost as much as the first two Kingsbridge novels. This book made it clear to me that what I like most in Ken’s writing is the daily events of the characters and the economic background, even if sometimes it has a flare of a soap opera.
I loved all the bits related to the Industrial Revolution and the beginning of automation process on the wool business, and its impact on its workers, their rights and subsequent revolt, exacerbated by the war.
Looking back, Pillars of the Earth should have been my first sign that what I liked was business, and I’m glad I eventually changed majors. This one is also a confirmation that I would love to study industrial management engineering. Give me all the machine descriptions Ken, I just can’t get enough of them 😅
I loved the characters in this book and was truly invested in their lives and future. The time jumps, although realistically contribute to a better/ faster pace to the novel, left me sad about all the small details of their lives I was missing (and all the improvements in the production processes 🙈)
Although I loved the characters, I must admit I’ve felt some were not aligned with the historical period. The main characters are all very understanding in regards to women speaking their minds (including in politics), adultery, as well as to M/M and F/F relationships, which doesn’t feel quite right for the 18th and 19th century. It appeared to be quite easy to improve the social status, even though we are constantly reminded about how difficult was the economy due to the war. I’m not an historian though, and I forgive all of this.
I disliked when everyone leaves Kingsbridge to go to Brussels, for reasons, and we end up reading a detailed account of Waterloo. This felt unnecessary and off story, but my guess is that Ken will eventually connect this series with the century trilogy. This should appeal to readers who like military strategy, less so to the ones like me that prefer to read about steam engines.
Overall it was a worthy sequel to one of my favorite series.
I loved all the bits related to the Industrial Revolution and the beginning of automation process on the wool business, and its impact on its workers, their rights and subsequent revolt, exacerbated by the war.
Looking back, Pillars of the Earth should have been my first sign that what I liked was business, and I’m glad I eventually changed majors. This one is also a confirmation that I would love to study industrial management engineering. Give me all the machine descriptions Ken, I just can’t get enough of them 😅
I loved the characters in this book and was truly invested in their lives and future. The time jumps, although realistically contribute to a better/ faster pace to the novel, left me sad about all the small details of their lives I was missing (and all the improvements in the production processes 🙈)
Although I loved the characters, I must admit I’ve felt some were not aligned with the historical period. The main characters are all very understanding in regards to women speaking their minds (including in politics), adultery, as well as to M/M and F/F relationships, which doesn’t feel quite right for the 18th and 19th century. It appeared to be quite easy to improve the social status, even though we are constantly reminded about how difficult was the economy due to the war. I’m not an historian though, and I forgive all of this.
I disliked when everyone leaves Kingsbridge to go to Brussels, for reasons, and we end up reading a detailed account of Waterloo. This felt unnecessary and off story, but my guess is that Ken will eventually connect this series with the century trilogy. This should appeal to readers who like military strategy, less so to the ones like me that prefer to read about steam engines.
Overall it was a worthy sequel to one of my favorite series.
October 18, 2023
gay sex scene
“It does turn some readers off. To which my response is, fuck them,” he declares. “I get letters from people who say ‘I like your stories, but why do you have to put in perverts, I don’t want to read about such people.’ I generally don’t reply, but the feeling I have is, ‘Go read something else.’”
I WILL!
https://www.thedailybeast.com/popular...
“It does turn some readers off. To which my response is, fuck them,” he declares. “I get letters from people who say ‘I like your stories, but why do you have to put in perverts, I don’t want to read about such people.’ I generally don’t reply, but the feeling I have is, ‘Go read something else.’”
I WILL!
https://www.thedailybeast.com/popular...
October 9, 2023
Why bring homosexuality into this 18 century drama? And end the book with a homosexual encounter? What was the author thinking? He catering to the WOKE culture. Disgusting and pathetic. Totally disrespectful to a reader.
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