World Without End by Ken Follett: Epub Format Edition with Bonus Content
World Without End by Ken Follett: A Historical Epic in Epub Format
If you are a fan of historical fiction, you might have heard of World Without End by Ken Follett. It is a bestselling novel that spans over six decades in the 14th century, following the lives of four children who witness a murder in the English town of Kingsbridge. It is a sequel to The Pillars of the Earth, another historical epic by Follett that was published in 1989.
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In this article, we will explore what makes World Without End a historical epic, and how you can download it in epub format, which is a convenient and flexible format for ebooks. We will also look at the reception and legacy of the book, and how it has been adapted into other media.
Introduction
World Without End is a historical novel by Ken Follett, published in 2007. It is set in the same fictional town of Kingsbridge as The Pillars of the Earth, but about two centuries later, during the turbulent times of the Hundred Years' War, the Black Death, and the Peasants' Revolt.
The novel follows four children who witness a murder in the forest on All Saints' Day in 1327. They are:
Merthin, a talented builder who dreams of becoming an architect.
Caris, a rebellious daughter of a wool merchant who wants to be a doctor.
Gwenda, a poor girl who becomes a thief to survive.
Ralph, a violent and ambitious son of a knight who seeks power and glory.
Their lives are intertwined with each other and with the events that shape their world, such as wars, plagues, famines, religious conflicts, social unrest, and political intrigues. They face challenges and opportunities that test their faith, love, courage, and loyalty.
World Without End is a historical epic because it depicts a large-scale story that spans over many years and covers multiple aspects of human experience, such as history, politics, religion, culture, art, science, medicine, romance, and adventure. It also features a large cast of characters from different backgrounds and classes, who interact with each other and influence each other's destinies.
The novel is also available in epub format, which stands for electronic publication. It is a widely used format for ebooks that allows users to adjust the font size, style, layout, and orientation of the text according to their preferences. It also supports images, audio, video, and hyperlinks. Epub files can be opened and read on various devices, such as computers, tablets, smartphones, and e-readers.
The Plot of World Without End
The plot of World Without End is complex and rich, with many twists and turns. It is divided into six parts, each corresponding to a decade from 1327 to 1361. Here is a brief summary of the main events and themes of each part:
Part
Summary
Themes
1. The Crown
The four children witness a knight being killed by a wounded man in the forest. They also find a letter with a royal seal that implicates the king's cousin in a plot to overthrow him. The children swear to keep the secret, but Ralph takes the letter and uses it to blackmail his way into becoming a squire. Merthin falls in love with Caris, but she rejects him because she wants to be free. Gwenda marries Wulfric, a young farmer who loves her, but she is raped by Ralph on her wedding night.
Loyalty, betrayal, ambition, love, freedom.
2. The Four Horsemen
The Hundred Years' War breaks out between England and France. Ralph joins the army and becomes a hero at the Battle of Crecy. Merthin becomes an apprentice to the master builder of Kingsbridge Cathedral, but he clashes with his conservative and corrupt boss. Caris studies medicine with the town's healer, but she faces opposition from the church and the guilds. Gwenda and Wulfric struggle to make ends meet as wool prices drop and taxes rise. The Black Death arrives in England and kills many people, including Caris's father and Merthin's boss.
War, plague, innovation, oppression, survival.
3. The Kingsbridge Witch
Caris inherits her father's wool business and becomes a leader of the town. She also becomes a nun to avoid marriage and continue practicing medicine. Merthin returns from Italy, where he learned new techniques of architecture and engineering. He proposes to Caris, but she refuses because she does not want to leave the convent. Ralph becomes the earl of Shiring after killing his lord in battle. He abuses his power and terrorizes the people. He also marries Philippa, the daughter of the murdered knight, who hates him. Gwenda and Wulfric have a son, Sam, who is kidnapped by Ralph and raised as his bastard.
Leadership, sacrifice, cruelty, justice, family.
4. The Feast of Fools
The town of Kingsbridge faces a series of disasters, such as floods, fires, storms, and riots. Merthin becomes the new master builder of the cathedral and designs a new bridge and spire. He also has an affair with Caris, who is still a nun. Caris is accused of witchcraft by the bishop, who wants to take over the town's assets. She is saved by Merthin and the prior of the monastery, who is also her lover. Ralph continues his tyranny and tries to kill his wife and son. Gwenda and Wulfric reclaim their son from Ralph and join a rebellion against him.
Disaster, courage, faith, corruption, rebellion.
5. The Angel of Death
The Peasants' Revolt erupts in England as the poor rise up against the nobles and the church. Ralph leads the royal army against the rebels and kills many of them, including Wulfric. He also tries to kill Merthin and Caris, but he is stopped by his son Thomas, who has become a monk. Caris finally leaves the convent and marries Merthin. They have a daughter named Alice. Gwenda avenges her husband's death by killing Ralph with a crossbow. The bishop dies of old age and is replaced by Godwyn, Caris's cousin and enemy.
Revolt, death, revenge, marriage, change.
6. A New World
6. A New World
The war with France ends with a peace treaty that favors England. Merthin and Caris travel to Florence to see their daughter Alice, who has become an artist. They also meet their grandson Matteo, who is a genius like Merthin. Gwenda remarries Joby, a friend of Wulfric's who has been loyal to her family. They have another son named Philemon, who becomes a scholar like Caris. Godwyn dies of a stroke and is succeeded by Thomas as the prior of Kingsbridge. The town prospers under the new bridge and spire, and the people look forward to a new world of peace and progress.
Peace, progress, legacy, hope, new world.
The Reception and Legacy of World Without End
World Without End was a huge commercial success, selling over four million copies worldwide. It also received mostly positive reviews from critics and readers, who praised its historical accuracy, vivid characters, gripping plot, and rich detail. Some critics, however, found the novel too long, repetitive, or predictable.
The novel was also compared to its predecessor, The Pillars of the Earth, which is widely regarded as Follett's masterpiece. Some reviewers and fans preferred World Without End, arguing that it had more complex and realistic characters, more relevant themes, and more suspenseful scenes. Others favored The Pillars of the Earth, claiming that it had a more original and compelling story, more emotional impact, and more memorable scenes.
World Without End has also inspired several adaptations and sequels. In 2012, it was adapted into an eight-episode television miniseries starring Cynthia Nixon, Miranda Richardson, Ben Chaplin, Charlotte Riley, Sarah Gadon, and Tom Weston-Jones. The miniseries was generally well-received, although some fans of the book complained about the changes and omissions in the script.
In 2017, Follett published A Column of Fire, the third book in the Kingsbridge series. It is set in the 16th century, during the reigns of Elizabeth I of England and Philip II of Spain. It features some descendants of the characters from World Without End, as well as historical figures such as William Cecil, Francis Walsingham, Mary Queen of Scots, and Guy Fawkes.
In 2020, Follett published The Evening and the Morning, a prequel to The Pillars of the Earth. It is set in the 10th century, during the Viking invasions of England. It tells the story of how Kingsbridge was founded by a young boatbuilder named Edgar.
How to Download World Without End in Epub Format
If you are interested in reading World Without End in epub format, you have several options to download it legally and safely. Here are some of them:
Buy it from an online bookstore. Many online bookstores sell ebooks in epub format, such as Amazon Kindle Store , Barnes & Noble Nook Store , Kobo Store , Google Play Books , Apple Books , and Smashwords . You can browse their catalogs and find World Without End by Ken Follett. You can then purchase it with your credit card or other payment methods and download it to your device.
Borrow it from a library. Many libraries offer ebooks in epub format for their patrons to borrow for free. You can check if your local library has World Without End by Ken Follett in its collection by visiting its website or using an app like Libby or OverDrive . You can then sign in with your library card number and password and download it to your device.
Download it from a public domain site. Some sites offer ebooks in epub format that are in the public domain , meaning that they are no longer protected by copyright laws. You can find World Without End by Ken Follett on such sites if it has entered the public domain in your country. You can then download it for free and without any legal issues. Some of the most popular public domain sites are Project Gutenberg , Internet Archive , and Open Library .
Once you have downloaded World Without End in epub format, you can open and read it on various devices, such as computers, tablets, smartphones, and e-readers. You can use a built-in app or a third-party app to open epub files, depending on your device and preference. Some of the most popular apps for reading epub files are Calibre , Adobe Digital Editions , FBReader , Moon+ Reader , and iBooks .
Conclusion
World Without End by Ken Follett is a historical epic that takes you on a journey through the 14th century, following the lives of four children who witness a murder in the forest. It is a sequel to The Pillars of the Earth, but it can also be read as a standalone novel. It covers multiple aspects of human experience, such as history, politics, religion, culture, art, science, medicine, romance, and adventure. It also features a large cast of characters from different backgrounds and classes, who interact with each other and influence each other's destinies.
If you want to read World Without End in epub format, you can download it from various sources, such as online bookstores, libraries, or public domain sites. You can then open and read it on various devices, such as computers, tablets, smartphones, and e-readers. You can also adjust the font size, style, layout, and orientation of the text according to your preferences.
We hope you enjoyed this article and learned something new about World Without End by Ken Follett. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to share them below. And if you want to read more articles like this one, please subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on social media. Thank you for reading!
FAQs
Is World Without End based on a true story?
No, World Without End is not based on a true story. It is a fictional story that is inspired by real historical events and people from the 14th century. However, some of the characters and places in the novel are fictional or fictionalized versions of real ones.
How long is World Without End?
World Without End is a very long novel. It has 1111 pages in the hardcover edition and 1024 pages in the paperback edition. It also has over 300 chapters and six parts.
What is the meaning of the title World Without End?
The title World Without End comes from a phrase in the Christian prayer Gloria Patri , which means "Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen." The phrase implies that God's glory and power are eternal and unchanging. The title also reflects the theme of change and continuity in the novel, as the characters face a world that is constantly changing due to wars, plagues, famines, revolts, and innovations.
Who is the author of World Without End?
The author of World Without End is Ken Follett , a Welsh author who is known for his historical fiction novels. He has written over 30 books that have sold over 170 million copies worldwide. Some of his other popular books are Eye of the Needle , The Key to Rebecca , Fall of Giants , Winter of the World , Edge of Eternity , and The Evening and the Morning .
Where can I watch the TV adaptation of World Without End?
You can watch the TV adaptation of World Without End on various platforms, such as Reelz Channel , Showcase , Channel 4 , Star Movies , Netflix , Amazon Prime Video , or DVD . The TV adaptation is an eight-episode miniseries that was released in 2012. It stars Cynthia Nixon , Miranda Richardson , Ben Chaplin , Charlotte Riley , Sarah Gadon , and Tom Weston-Jones . It was directed by Michael Caton-Jones .
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