History Literature / ThePillarsOfTheEarth

He followed it up with two sequels and one prequel many years later: ''Literature/WorldWithoutEnd'', which picks up with the characters' descendants in the same village in 1327, ''Literature/AColumnOfFire'', beginning in 1558, and ''Literature/TheEveningAndTheMorning'', set in the tenth century. Also adapted, along with ''Literature/WorldWithoutEnd'', into a popular {{Euro|Game}} BoardGame, and a VideoGame developed by [[Creator/DaedalicEntertainment Daedalic Entertainment]] and were released in 3 parts.

An epic novel, published in 1989 and set in 12th century England, ''The Pillars of the Earth'' is the chronicle of a man, his family, their enemies and the extraordinary dream that consumes them all. It is by far the [[BlackSheepHit most popular]] story that Creator/KenFollett, [[GenreAdultery mainly an author of thrillers and various spy novels]], has ever written.

** Later [[spoiler:Brother Remigius]].

* AxCrazy: William, to put it mildly.

* DeathByChildbirth: Agnes, Tom's first wife.

* SuccessionCrisis: TruthInTelevision!

** Also PlayedForDrama with Aliena.

* TheChessmaster: Bishop Waleran Bigod.

* CivilWar: The Anarchy.

* DefrostingIceQueen: Aliena.

** Philip is this most of the time, even if he is considered a very practical man for a monk.

* IneffectualSympatheticVillain: William appears to be one at first, but we soon learn otherwise.

* SinisterMinister: Waleran Bigod.

* TheLadette: ''Ellen''.
* LoveAtFirstSight: Jack and Aliena, at least for Jack.

* ParentalFavoritism: Tom to Alfred.

* RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil: William and [[spoiler:Alfred]].

* RoyalWe: Maud. "We are betrayed!"

** {{Averted|Trope}} when Aliena wants to attack William in Shiring Castle, but Richard patiently explains that storming a castle never works.

* WomanScorned: Ellen is an unusual example.

* TheWomanWearingTheQueenlyMask: Queen Matilda.

* KneelBeforeZod: Lady Regan forces Aliena's father to kneel before her in front of his people, at threat of Aliena getting her ears cut off, and tosses off a triumphant rant to the crowd warning them that this is what happens to people who disrespect the Hamleighs.

* MurderersAreRapists: William. He was a murderer, many times over. He also raped Aliena.

* PunchClockVillain: Walter. He's never shown to share William's sadism. He simply follows the orders of his lord without complaint.

* TheAgonyOfTheFeet: William tortures an enemy knight into confessing treason by hanging him from a tree limb and setting a fire under his bare feet.

* {{Sadist}}: William is sexually impotent unless he is violently assaulting his victims - consent inhibits him. When he is given the order to cut Aliena's ears off in front of her defeated father and his retainers, he discovers the command sexually arouses him.

* StandardHeroReward: William believes that his heroic capture of the treasonous Earl Bartholomew and his castle will be rewarded with the opportunity to rape Aliena and then forcibly marry her. His mother disabuses him of the notion, as Aliena's new social status as the daughter of a traitor renders her unworthy. William is eventually [[spoiler:temoprarily]] given Bartholomew's earldom.

* StandardHeroReward: William believes that his heroic capture of the treasonous Earl Bartholomew and his castle will be rewarded with the opportunity to rape Aliena and then forcibly marry her. His mother disabuses him of the notion, as Aliena's new social status as the daughter of a traitor renders her unworthy.

* KneelBeforeZod: Lady Regan forces Aliena's father to kneel before her in front of his people, at threat of Aliena getting her ears cut off, and tosses off a triumphant rant to the crowd warning them what happens to people who disrespect the Hamleighs.

* SadisticChoice: William gives Aliena a choice between [[spoiler:lying still as he rapes her and watching her brother's ear get cut off]].