The Pillars of the Earth is a historical novel by Ken Follett published in 1989 about the building of a cathedral in the fictional town of Kingsbridge, England. It is set in the middle of the 12th century, primarily during the time sometimes called the Anarchy, between the time of the sinking of the White Ship and the murder of Thomas Becket. The White Ship, a 12th-century vessel, sank in the English Channel near the Normandy coast off Barfleur, on 25 November 1120. Those drowned included William Adelin, the only legitimate son of King Henry I of England.

Production

The project was funded by the German production company, Tandem Communications, the Canadian film company Muse Entertainment and the UK and USA based Scott Free Productions. It was filmed in Austria and Hungary, from 2009

Episode 1 - Anarchy

This opening chapter in the epic realisation of Ken Follett's hit book begins when a white ship sinks under suspicious circumstances, drowning King Henry's sole heir. His nephew Stephen takes the thone, triggering a power struggle with Henry's daughter Maud and bastard son Gloucester, and plunging England into anarchy.

Episode 2 - Master Builder

Tom Builder's fortunes change when he is engaged by Prior Philip to rebuild Kingsbridge's ruined church as a cathedral. Much to his shock and anguish, he discovers that the child he thought dead is actually alive, but lost to him. And his elder son, Alfred, clashes jealously with the gifted son of Tom's new partner Ellen - Jack - who now carries a damning secret of his own.

Episode 3 - Redemption

Aliena protests against her father's execution and starts a fleece business with the hope to make enough money to help Richard become a knight. Prior Philip and William Hamleigh have a conflict of interests over access to stone in the Shiring quarry. Jack's artistic talents stand out as he begins to carve a statue to honour St. Adolphus and Kingsbridge's cathedral relic.

Episode 4 - Battlefield

When William applies to bear his father's title of Earl of Shiring, he finds out there's a mysterious knight who stands as a rival for the Earldom. King Stephen sends an assassin to kill Jack, deeply frightened by the boy's appearance. Both King Stephen and Maud's leaders are being taken hostage during the battle that confronts them.

Episode 5 - Legacy

Waleran and Regan Hamleigh put their minds together to find a way to remain on the winning side of the war and they come up with the idea of a prisoner exchange. Despite Tom's efforts for Jack and Alfred to be friends, their rivalry over work and their feelings for Aliena are too big of an obstacle. Decided to ruin Aliena's success, William decides to attack Kingsbridge as a way to stop the fleece fair. Both the Hamleighs and Prior Philip are granted rights over Shiring land but not for free.

Episode 6 - Witchcraft

When Richard returns from war he finds Aliena ruined and not longer able to support his knighthood. To make things worse, Aliena has to choose between her love for Jack and the promise she made to her father. Alfred offers his services as master builder to Prior Philip and as consequence, a disaster at Kingsbridge building site follows. Waleran takes advantage of it to remove Prior Philip from his position. Regan Hamleigh finds a way to force Waleran to speak to the King in behalf of her son's long-delayed Earldom.

Episode 7 - New Beginnings

As a consequence of his journeys, Jack has figured out a way to fulfill Tom Builder's dream of building a cathedral filled with light. Aliena is able to find Jack by tracking the trail of his carvings. Waleran offers Philip a new position at the price of always doing his will. Regan and William can't stand the sight of a prosperous Kingsbridge and they plan to attack the town but they are counteracted by Richard, Jack and Philip

Episode 8 - The Work of Angels

Eight years have passed and Jack has become obsessed with the idea of building the cathedral which leaves him little time or energy for anything else. Aliena, in turn, remains fixated about recovering her family's right over the distant Earldom of Shiring which has made her marry Alfred, despite she hates the man. Waleran and Alfred plot a plan to get rid of Jack once and for all; it is carried out successfully until some evidence surfaces and ends up fixing all wrongs.

Channel 4’s historical fiction series:

The Pillars of the Earth starring Rufus Sewell & Ian McShane

Historical drama set in the fictional town Kingsbridge in the 12th Century

Starring Ian McShane, Donald Sutherland, Eddie Redmayne, Hayley Atwell, Sarah Parish and Tony Curran

Photograph of Rufus Sewell in character as Tom Builder for The Pillars of the Earth

Photograph of Rufus Sewell as Tom Builder in The Pillars of the Earth