The Evening and the Morning

The book: The Evening and the Morning by Ken Follett

Genre: Historical fiction

Published: 2020

What’s the story?

This book is the prequel to Follett’s epic The Pillars of the Earth. It’s the year 997 AD and England is still in the grip of the Dark Ages. Vikings torment English villages, and life is harsh and sometimes very short. There are three main characters in the book. Edgar, a very skilled craftsman (he has a keen eye and can build almost anything). Ragna, a Norman noblewoman with a strong personality, and Aldred, a likable English monk.

The action is focused on Dreng’s Ferry, a nondescript little hamlet with an interesting future (remember, this is a prequel!). The lives of these three characters intertwine and as love and ambition blooms, so do danger, hatred, and heartache. Will Edgar fulfill his promise of becoming a master craftsman? Will Ragna find happiness and true love? And will Aldred rise above temptation and the attacks of his enemies?

Why read it?

I’m a massive Ken Follett fan – his books transport you to worlds that totally captivate and entertain. The Pillars of the Earth was the very first of his books I read. Since then I’ve devoured most of his works. And, when I heard that a prequel to Pillars was to hit the shelves, I did a little happy dance. Pillars, published in 1989, is set in 12th century England. It’s about the building of a cathedral in the fictional town of Kingsbridge. Two sequels followed, World without End (2007) and A Column of Fire (2017). The Evening and the Morning takes the reader way back to the origins of Kingsbridge. And makes you want to reread all the books again!

What I really love about Follett’s characterization is that he creates villains you absolutely LOVE to hate. Their actions are so despicable that when they finally get their comeuppance, you throw your hands in the air and cheer! If you haven’t read any of the Kingsbridge-novels, start with Evening, and working your way through to Column.

I also suggest you put your life on hold because you won’t be able to put the books down! And they are meaty monsters – Evening is 817 pages long. But, it reads easily and the story flows effortlessly. If you like historical fiction filled with believable, interesting characters and a plot that sometimes shocks but always captivates, you need this book in your life.