Creative Digital Media > eBook[PDF] > The Evening and the Morning by Ken Follett (All)

The Evening and the Morning by Ken Follett

Document Content and Description Below

The Evening and the Morning is a historical epic by Ken Follett, a prequel to his popular novel The Pillars of the Earth, that details the founding of the fictional English town of Kingsbridge in the late ...

The Evening and the Morning is a historical epic by Ken Follett, a prequel to his popular novel The Pillars of the Earth, that details the founding of the fictional English town of Kingsbridge in the late 10th century.

Synopsis

The novel is set in England starting in 997 CE, during the end of the Dark Ages, a time of chaos, Viking raids, and a fragile royal grip on power under King Ethelred. The story follows the intertwined lives of three main characters as they face a corrupt and ruthless bishop named Wynstan who will stop at nothing to gain wealth and power.

Edgar: A talented young boatbuilder whose life is shattered by a devastating Viking raid, forcing him and his family to relocate to the small, lawless hamlet of Dreng's Ferry. He dreams of a better future and becomes a key figure in the development of the settlement.
Ragna: A beautiful and intelligent Norman noblewoman who marries for love and follows her husband, Ealdorman Wilwulf, to England, only to discover the customs of her new homeland are shockingly different and less civilized than her own.
Aldred: A capable and idealistic monk at Shiring Abbey who envisions transforming his humble home into a renowned center of learning and scholarship.

The narrative explores their decades-long struggle against Bishop Wynstan and his equally ruthless brother, Wigelm, tracing the early history and eventual naming of the settlement that grows into the Kingsbridge of the later novels.

Key Themes

The rule of law vs. arbitrary power: A central conflict in the novel is the tension between those who desire England to be governed by a clear, consistent legal system and those who prefer the old ways where power is wielded at the whim of local lords and corrupt church officials.
Ambition and rivalry: The dreams and aspirations of the protagonists (Edgar's building projects, Ragna's quest for justice, Aldred's center of learning) are constantly pitted against the selfish ambition and rivalry of the villains.
Social inequality and slavery: The book vividly portrays the harsh realities of life for commoners and enslaved people in Anglo-Saxon society, highlighting the significant social stratification and the vulnerability of those without power.
Perseverance and progress: Despite numerous setbacks and hardships inflicted by their adversaries, the protagonists' determination and hard work eventually lead to progress and a better future for their community.

The Evening and the Morning can be enjoyed as a standalone novel but offers fans of the Kingsbridge series a rich, detailed backstory for the fictional town and its foundational principles.

[Show More]

Last updated: 5 months ago

Preview 10 out of 707 pages

Buy Now

Instant download