533. A Column of Fire
Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Recommended by:
Author: Ken Follett
Genre: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Foreign
916 pages, published September 12, 2017
Reading Format: Audiobook on Overdrive
Summary
A Column of Fire is the third book in Ken Follett’s series of historical fiction that focuses on the town of Kingsbridge, England during succeeding time periods. In this book, the focus is on the continent wide conflict between Protestants and Catholics. The story unfolds with a focus on characters from England, France and Spain as they navigate the treacherous mid 1500’s. In England, after a young Ned Willard is stymied in his desire to marry Margery Fitzgerald by class and religious differences he enlists in service to Princess Elizabeth. When she becomes queen, all Europe turns against England. Over a turbulent half century, the love between Ned and Margery seems doomed as extremism sparks violence from Edinburgh to Geneva.
Quotes
“When a man is certain that he knows God’s will, and is resolved to do it regardless of the cost, he is the most dangerous person in the world.”
“Some men craved deference; others craved wine, or the bodies of beautiful women, or the monastic life of order and obedience. What did Ned crave? The answer came into his mind with a speed and effortlessness that took him by surprise: justice.”
“Trials rarely found men not guilty. The general view was that if a man were innocent he would not have got into trouble in the first place.”
“I may yet go through anguish in hell for my sin. But if I had to live that time again I would do the same, to end Margery’s ordeal. I preferred to suffer myself than to know that her agony continued. Her well-being was more important to me than my own. I have learned, during the course of a long life, that that is the meaning of love.”
“Changing your beliefs with every change of monarch was called “policy,” and people who did it were “politicians.”
“there are no saints in politics, but imperfect people can make the world a better place.”
“he thinks the aldermen’s job is to make decisions and then enforce them. When your father was mayor he said that aldermen should rule the town by serving it.” Ned said impatiently: “That sounds like two ways of looking at the same thing.” “It’s not, though,” said his mother. “It’s two different worlds.”
“We hanged him in front of Kingsbridge Cathedral. It is the usual place for executions. After all, if you can’t kill a man in front of God’s face you probably shouldn’t kill him at all.”
“My father taught us to learn as much as possible of any tongue we came across. He says it’s better than money in the bank.”
“The simple idea that people should be allowed to worship as they wished caused more suffering than the ten plagues of Egypt.”
“Elizabeth’s true attitude was probably that of someone who hears two drunks fighting in the street at night: it did not matter who won so long as neither tried to get into the house.”
My Take
With his engaging style that effortlessly weaves historical figures into compelling stories, I always find Ken Follett a pleasure to read and A Column of Fire is no exception. I had previously read several authors’ take on the frought Elizabethan era, but gained some new information and insights from Follett’s book. I also found myself involved with the characters and often kept playing the audio book to see what would happen next. If you like this book, then check out the rest of the Kingsbridge series: The Pillars of the Earth, World Without End and The Evening and the Morning. All are excellent.
