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Ken Follett and The Pillars of the Earth Videos
 
Oprah.com   |   August 24, 2010
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
Set in the middle of the 12th century, The Pillars of the Earth brings you along on a sweeping journey to build the world's greatest Gothic cathedral. A sweeping storyline plus a cast of dynamic characters makes it a read Oprah can't stop talking about!

Get a glimpse inside the mind and writing process of author Ken Follett through these exclusive video conversations about his book and Oprah's Book Club 2007 selection, The Pillars of the Earth.


The Pillars of the EarthGo inside The Pillars of the Earth!
Let Oprah introduce you to Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth. Set in medieval England, the author tells the story of a monk who faces overwhelming struggles and violence on his quest to construct the greatest cathedral ever built.



Ken FollettOprah's Lunch with Ken Follett
Move over, Tom Builder! Meet the real architect behind Kingsbridge. Ken Follett reflects on his humble start as a struggling reporter, what a typical writing day is like and how he dreamed up his medieval masterpiece.


  • Lunch with Ken Follett - Part 1
    Meet Ken Follett for a red wine afternoon to discuss his medieval novel. Oprah finds out about Ken's dreams of being a hotshot reporter, days as a struggling author and determination to become a best-selling novelist.
  • Lunch with Ken Follett - Part 2
    Ken Follett's writing process begins every morning when he wakes up with the story in his head. Learn more about his writing process and how the title The Pillars of the Earth came about.
  • Ken Follett's blues band
    When Ken Follett isn't writing a best-seller, he's playing bass guitar in a blues band called Damn Right I Got the Blues. Ken explains his Monday night practices and the gigs they get to play.
  • Ken Follett on the evil William Hamleigh
    Oprah tells author Ken Follett that while she was reading The Pillars of the Earth, she was so frustrated by the character of William Hamleigh that she's convinced his evil ways must be due to a "short-man's complex!"
  • Ken Follett creating the characters of Kingsbridge
    How did Ken Follett dream up the characters of The Pillars of the Earth? Ken says he allowed them to become more complex as the story progressed. Prior Philip, for example, became the novel's problem solver.


Ken FollettOprah Interviews Ken Follett After the Show
One hour was not enough time to answer all the questions Oprah had about The Pillars of the Earth! Here are more exclusive conversations with Ken Follett.


  • Q&A with Ken Follett: After the Show - Part 1
    Ken Follett answers the audience's questions about the book's most-hated and loved characters. What does he think about Tom the Builder and William Hamleigh?
  • Q&A with Ken Follett: After the Show - Part 2
    Why did it take so long for Ken Follett to write a sequel to The Pillars of the Earth? Learn more about Ken's writing process for World Without End.
  • Q&A with Ken Follett: After the Show - Part 3
    Although Prior Philip's values are somewhat similar to the author's own, Ken Follett doesn't write characters based on specific people. Instead, he allows the plot to play a role in character development and uses historical authenticity to give the storyline its context. Also, learn more about Ken's involvement in Reading Is Fundamental and other charitable organizations.

The Animals of The Pillars of the EarthGo behind the scenes of The Pillars of the Earth the movie!
It takes a village to bring The Pillars of the Earth to life. From preproduction meetings to costume fittings, these exclusive videos take you behind the scenes and inside the making of an epic miniseries.


Get the complete reader's guide to Oprah's Book Club selection The Pillars of the Earth.
Printed from Oprah.com on Tuesday, May 21, 2013
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