"Pillars of the Earth" is still the yardstick I use to measure historical fiction. It's rare to stumble across a novel that can measure up to Follett's classic, and I was very leary of his "sequel". I wasn't sure how it could possibly stand up to the original tale. The world Follett created in "Pillars" was so rich in detail, and the characters so well drawn they became real. And while I've enjoyed most of Follett's other novels, none of his other writing captured the magic I found in "Pillars".
The great news is that "World Without End" is so entertaining, and creates a whole new world populated by wonderful (and wonderfully awful) characters, that the novel stands on it's own as another masterwork by the author. While it compliments "Pillars" and does make mention of some of the characters and setting from the novel, "World Without End" does not require a thorough knowledge of the earlier novel.
The actual storyline is basically the life and times of 4 people who happen to meet when playing in the woods as children. Over the next 1000 pages we follow the kids through various struggles and triumphs, and watch them grow and see how the world changes around them. All of the political intrigue which drove "Pillars" is back with a vengeance in "World". All of the romance which propelled the reader through "Pillars" is once again present in "World"...basically Follett changed the formula slightly, but kept all the fantastic ingredients which made the earlier novel such a pleasure to read.
I highly recommend you pick up this novel, even if you haven't read "Pillars of the Earth" (and if you haven't read that book, pick it up too!!!). These two books represent a sweeping epic that you will want to revisit multiple times.
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