A COLUMN OF FIRE

by Ken Follett

There is nothing small about a Ken Follett book, and the intimidating weight of A Column of Firekept me from picking it up for almost two years after purchasing it.  But once again (like The Pillars of the Earth) the book flies by with characters and plot lines you’ll remember for years.

Column of Fire is set during the reigns of Mary Tudor and Elizabeth I, primarily in England, but also in Spain, France, the Netherlands and even the Caribbean for one memorable chapter. The main theme is religious freedom and the struggle between Protestantism and Catholicism in Europe at that time. But there is also a healthy dose of romance, espionage, travel and great details about daily life at all levels of society.

I wish I had space here to describe all of the characters, who are by far the most intriguing and memorable part of the book. But I feel if I describe one, I will end up introducing them all, and there are hundreds.  Their stories are woven together deftly and suspensfully so that often you don’t have any idea how two stories connect until they suddenly collide. This book is epic in every sense of the word, so if you are looking for a great escape and don’t have to worry about carrying a heavy book on the subway, make this your next read! (Lily)