World Without End (novel)
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| World Without End | |
 Cover art of World Without End, UK edition (2007) |
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| Author | Ken Follett |
|---|---|
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Historical fiction |
| Publisher | Penguin (US edition) |
| Publication date | 9 October 2007 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback) |
| Pages | 1024 (Paperback, US edition) |
| ISBN | ISBN 0525950079 (Hardback, US edition) |
| Preceded by | The Pillars of the Earth |
World Without End is a 2007 novel by Ken Follett and the sequel to 1989's The Pillars of the Earth.
World Without End takes place in the same fictional town as Pillars of the Earth — Kingsbridge — and features the descendants of some Pillars characters two centuries later. [1] The plot incorporates two major historical events, the start of the Hundred Years' War and the Black Death. [2]
Contents |
[edit] Plot summary
The novel begins in the fictional city of Kingsbridge, England in the year 1327. Four children: Caris, Gwenda, Merthin, and Ralph go into the woods on All Hallows Day. Gwenda brings her dog Hop, who Ralph shoots with Merthin's homemade bow foreshadowing Ralph's later (cruel) behavior. The children witness two men killed in the forest by Sir Thomas Langley aided by Ralph. The children then flee, with the exception of Merthin. Sir Thomas asks him to help bury a letter, and then flees to Kingsbridge and seeks refuge in the monastery where he joins the Order of Saint Benedict, becoming a monk.
Ten years later, Caris and Merthin are in love. Soon, however, tragedy strikes when the Kingsbridge Bridge collapses, killing many including the prior: Prior Anthony. The sacrist, Godwyn, also the nephew of Anthony, outwits the possible candidates, and wins the prior's position in an overwhelming victory. Godwyn claimed to be a reformer, however was as conservative as his uncle.
Godwyn eventually begins to clash with the town on a number of issues. Caris, who becomes the alderman de facto for her father, is a particular problem. Godwyn tries to execute her, despite her being his cousin, in order to get her out of the way. He charges her with witchcraft. Caris then is forced to join the Kingsbridge nunnery, and eventually becomes prioress, forcing her out of any position to marry Merthin, who leaves for Florence to pursue his building career.
Sadly, several years later, Florence is ravaged by the plague, or la moria grande. Merthin returns to Kingsbridge with his daughter: Laura (Lolla.) There he finds Caris unwilling to renounce her vows, and the two go through a sporadic liaison.
Meanwhile, Upon returning from the French Wards, Ralph is given a minor Lordship as a reward for saving the Prince of Wales. As part of this award, he was married to a fifteen-year-old who bore him a child. He murdered her to free himself from the marriage, as he never loved her. Her name was Tilly.
With the Death of the Earl to the Plague and the elimination of Tilly, Ralph has become the Earl of Shiring, finally realizing his dream of both becoming an earl and marrying the widowed countess Philippa. However, she spurns him, and eventually leaves for the nunnery, having a liaison with Merthin and Conceiving a child, Roland. Afraid of Ralph's wrath at finding out she is pregnant with Merthin's child she seduces Ralph to make him believe the child is his. As a result Merthin and Phillipa cannot continue their liaison.
Gwenda, the girl from the forest, has meanwhile overcome much adversity to marry Wulfric, a handsome village boy. His lands were denied to him after his family died on the bridge, and his beautiful wife-to-be, Annet, left him. Gwenda tried to win Wulfric back his lands by being forced to have sex with Ralph, who never even gave them the lands. Her first son, Sam, was not Wulfric's child.
Eventually, after much hardship, the people of Kingsbridge are freed. Godwyn dies, and Philemon, Gwenda's brother becomes his successor, who enjoys little power before leaving. Caris renounces her vows, after finally being able to run her own hospital, and marries Merthin. Wulfric regains his father's land. Davey, Gwenda and Wulfric's child, marries Annabel, the daughter of Annet. Merthin succeeds in building the tallest cathedral, and indeed the tallest building, in England. Sam and Gwenda kill Ralph.
The major characters are Caris, ambitious daughter of the city Alderman; Ralph, son of a disgraced knight; Merthin, Ralph's clever older brother; and Gwenda, starving daughter of a poor landless laborer. The four spend their entire lives trying to understand and protect the secret they share from that fateful encounter in the forest. The story revolves around the cathedral of Kingsbridge and its priory. In the time of Pillars, the monastery had been a pious institution that encouraged learning and innovation; in the 14th century, the monks have become conservative and discourage modernization.
[edit] Major characters
- Merthin: A descendant of Jack Jackson and Lady Aliena (POTE). Also known as Merthin Fitzgerald, Merthin Builder, and Merthin Bridger. Son of the disgraced knight Sir Gerald and Lady Maud. A clever young carpenter, builder and architect who uses his intellect to his advantage and has a life-long love for Caris. He designs a radical new bridge before leaving for Italy and becoming successful in Florence. After his wife and her family are wiped out by the bubonic plague (in Florence), he returns to Kingsbridge with his daughter, Lolla, and builds a new hospital and tower for Kingsbridge Cathedral - the tallest building in England.
- Caris: The feisty daughter of Edmund Wooler, the Alderman of the parish guild, and a direct descendent of Tom Builder. As a child, she announces that she is going to be a doctor, but Mother Cecilia informs her that only men may be physicians. She refuses to accept this, however, and aims to do whatever she can to help the sick and needy. Her determination brings her into conflict with the church, and blights her relationship with Merthin. Uses common sense and observations to write a catalogue of cures, which becomes coveted by pharmacists throughout England. Enforces hygiene practices to inhibit spread of plague. The Angel watching over the people of Kingsbridge is designed by Merthin in her likeness, as many of the people of the village view her as a saint for her work to combat the Plague.
- Gwenda: The daughter of landless laborers in the village of Wigleigh; as a small child she is taught by her father, Joby, to steal to save her family from starvation; becomes estranged from her family when she refuses to let her father sell her to vagabonds (as a repeated grift); though she never escapes poverty and tragedy, she uses her wits to better her situation and escape danger; not pretty, but sensual in her appearance; she is both desired and despised by Ralph; described as 'rat-like'; she loves Wulfric, despite the fact that he is engaged to Annette; sister to Philemon; lifelong friend to Caris, despite the great difference in their social class. She eventually kills Ralph to protect the secret that Sam is Ralph's Son and not Wulfric's.
- Wulfric: Attractive and hard-working; son of a landed peasants of Wigleigh; hated by Ralph Fitzgerald because he does not let Ralph intimidate him; loses his birthright when family dies during the collapse of Kingsbridge bridge and he has no means to work the land; town politics (and Ralph) keep him from earning back his family's land; becomes impoverished but happily marries and has two sons. He is eventually, much to Ralph's disgust, given back his family's land as the Plague has killed all others capable of farming the land.
- Ralph Fitzgerald: Merthin's younger (yet taller) brother and complete opposite, considered to be a rapist and a murderer. A natural-born warrior, he is selfish, ruthless, and will stop at nothing to become an Earl. He holds his brother in great esteem and looks to him for approval. Has a lifelong obsession with Lady Philippa; hates Wulfric. Eventually is killed by Gwenda and Sam as he is forcing Gwenda to have sex with him to prevent Wulfric from knowing the parentage of Sam.
- Godwyn: An older cousin of Caris and monk at the Kingsbridge Priory, Godwyn gives the impression of a reformer as he maneuvers his election as Prior -- with the help of his scheming mother, Petranilla. Unable to imaginatively solve the Priory's financial problems, Godwyn, with continued advice from his mother, resorts to more conservative tactics to protect his position and advance himself politically, usually at the expense of the town and of the associated nunnery. Dies as he attempts to isolate himself and the monastery in the wilderness. Ends his life having achieved very few of his aspirations despite his cruel efforts.
[edit] Minor characters
- Mattie Wise: Kingsbridge's herbalist and midwife; leaves town abruptly when another citizen is accused of witchcraft; teaches young Caris to make herbal cures and healing practices; saves Gwenda's life when educated doctors and nuns fail to help her safely through delivering her first child; always instructs patients to pray to God, to avoid any claims of witchcraft or devil conjuring.
- Joby Wigleigh: lowest in Wigleigh social hierarchy; landless laborer; missing one hand from when caught stealing; lies, cheats, and steals to feed his family; sells his daughter to outlaws for a cow.
- Madge Webber: Only surviving member of the Webber family, Honest but poor, Caris changes the family fortunes by contracting them to weave and make dye. Husband Mark was the first Kingsbridge resident to die of the plague
- Alice: Caris' sister; resents Caris; married to Elfric, who takes Merthin as an apprentice; tries to trap Merthin into marrying her stepdaughter, Griselda.
- Griselda: Elfric's Daughter from a previous marriage, Seduces Merthin after her Boyfriend leaves town when he finds that she is Pregnant. Attempts to make Merthin marry her to be a father for her child. Is frustrated by Caris as she finds that Griselda is several months along in her pregnancy and Merthin's liaison was only recent. Names her Child Merthin out of spite, though all of the town realize that he is not Merthin's Child.
- Elfric: Bitter and Vindictive Master Carpenter, Builder. He sees Merthin as a challenge to his status and livelyhood and does everything possible to make his life difficult. While alive resists attempts to admit Merthin to the Guilds as he never finished his apprenticeship. Dies in the first outbreak of the Plague.
- Annet: Pretty, flirtatious dull; uses her feminine charms to sell her family's eggs at Kingsbridge market and attract Wulfric; attracts unwanted attention from Ralph Fitzgerald and is raped by him. Eventually breaks off her engagement with Wulfric when he is disinherited and marries another. Is never happy with life and realizes the great mistake she makes. Throughout life Gwenda views her as an adversary as she keeps flirting with Wulfric. Eventually at the wedding of their children the two are reconciled as Gwenda realizes that she has won.
- Buonaventura Caroli; Italian wool merchant who trades in Kingsbridge; friend to Merthin; assists Caris in developing "Kingsbridge scarlet" low-quality bright red wool fabric; brings Caris news of Merthin after he has settled in Florence.
- Lolla: Swarthy and beautiful; Merthin's daughter with his wife in Florence; survives plague in Italy as an infant; brought to Kingsbridge by her father after whole family dies of plague. Is a cause of Consternation to Merthin in her early teens and eventually decides to follow in Caris' steps as a healer, apprenticing herself to Caris in her Hospital.
- Bessie Bell: Tavern keeper; has a brief sexual affair with Merthin when Caris refuses him; cares for Merthin and Lolla when they return from Italy, before Merthin builds his own home. Dies in the first outbreak of the Plague and leaves the Tavern to Merthin.
- Mair: A young nun and brief lover of Caris, dies in first outbreak of the plague
- Prior Anthony: Uncle of Godwyn and Prior of Kingsbridge in the beginning of the book. Is killed in the Collapse of the first bridge.
- Prior Saul Whitehead: Nephew of the Earl of Shiring, is initially chosen by the Earl to be the new Prior of Kingsbridge, but convinced not to run due to the manipulation of Godwyn.
- Tilly; young aristocrat; educated by Kingsbridge nuns; married to Ralph in her early teens, gives Ralph one son before she is murdered; seeks refuge in nunnery
- Bishop Henri: A good man he is an unlikely ally of Caris' from her days as Prioress of Kingsbridge. Although the two have differences of opinion, he realizes that Caris is bright and successful. Has a relationship with his subordinate, Cannon Claude that Caris is aware of, but never divulges. Fights against Philemon when possible.
- Thomas Langley: Man at arms that arrives in Kingsbridge at the beginning of the book. Together with Ralph, he kills two of the Queens' men after they attack him. Is injured in the fight and eventually looses his arm. Together with Merthin, he buries a message at the base of the tree. Becomes a Monk to avoid retribution and tells Merthin that if he hears of Thomas' death to bring the letter to a priest. Is a friend to Merthin and Caris and a foil to many of Godwyn's actions. Eventually dies an old man after the second outbreak of the Plague suffering symptoms like Alzheimer's. The secret is revealed after his death that the King Edward the Second was not killed, but rather he escaped and was alive in exile. The Queen and her lover had tried to kill him but had failed. This secret is eventually traded to the King in exchange for the promotion of Cannon Claude to Bishop and the promotion of Philemon to Royal envoy to the Pope, permanently removing Philemon from the town of Kingsbridge.
- Philemon (Holger of Wigleigh): Ambitious Monk, the brother of Gwenda. He succeeds Godwyn as Prior after he returns when the Plague has run its course. Is dishonest and shamelessly self promoting. Has a penchant for stealing trinkets and keeps them in a secret hiding place. Aspires to become Bishop of Shiring, but is rejected after Merthin bargains with the King's man with his letter from Thomas Langley. Becomes the royal emissary to the Pope and leaves Kingsbridge.
- Petranilla
- Edmund Wooler
- Lady Philippa
- Mother Cecilia
- Elizabeth Clerk; Foil to Caris, bright and educated, beautiful; wants to marry Merthin and nearly seduces him, but is frustrated by Merthin's unrequited obsession with Caris; enters nunnery when Merthin refuses her; politically opposed to Caris in nunnery politics, based on prior grudge.
