The story centers on the decades-long construction of a Gothic cathedral in the fictional town of Kingsbridge. It intertwines the personal ambitions, loves, and struggles of several main characters against a backdrop of feudal power conflicts between church and state.
: The devout and resourceful head of Kingsbridge Priory, whose vision for a thriving community depends on the cathedral’s success. Pillars Of The Earth
: An artist in stone and Tom’s stepson, whose brilliance eventually helps complete the cathedral's innovative design. The story centers on the decades-long construction of
: A real civil war between King Stephen and Empress Maud that provides the political instability driving the plot. Pillars Of The Earth