World Without End

World Without End by Ken Follett

The epic follow up of Pillars of the Earth. World Without End is also set in Kingsbridge........just two centuries later. The Cathedral has been built and the town has prospered since the first book. Now all new characters take us through the religious and medical themed book. In this male and Catholic dominated society, women are treated like cattle........or witches. The church crushes anything in its way in the name of God. I can see why people hate organized religion.

Caris is the town wooler's daughter. She wants to become a doctor but settles for learning from the town apothecary, which turns out that she learns a whole lot more than she would have at university. She also revitalizes the town with her wool dying techniques. She is in love with Merthin the town builder. They spend most of their lives pining for each other.........and most of that is Caris' fault. She doesn't want to be the slave to a husband and family but she still wants Merthin. She even goes as far as having an abortion when she becomes pregnant with his child. Caris finally decides she wants to marry Merthin and on the eve of their wedding is tried for witchcraft by her cousin the Prior of Kingsbridge.......Godwyn. Caris is forced into the service of God and becomes a nun in order to save her skin. Through the cloth she is able to serve the town with her medical skill. The plague attacks the village and kills many but Caris learns much. Finally she is able to free herself from the priory and marry Merthin. They build a hospital that she can run properly without the heavy threat of the priory stopping her from using logic instead of myth.
Merthin witnesses a mystery as a child. The mystery is connected to the King and a knight turned monk. The mystery follows him throughout his life. Because Merthin's parents are in debt they strike a deal with the priory. They will be cared for by the priory and give their boys up.....Ralph to be trained as a knight and Merthin to train with a carpenter. Ralph becomes an evil, raping, murdering animal and Earl of Shiring. Merthin becomes a famous builder and travels to Florence to learn amazing techniques which he brings back to Kingsbridge. Merthin is able to see out his destiny and build the tallest tower in England as part of Kingsbridge Cathedral. He becomes the town leader.
The Priory goes through some changes. After many years of heavy handed, back stabbing, scheming done in the name of God the plague kills the evil Prior Godwyn. He is replaced by the soulless Philemon, Godwyn's former lackey. Finally after much tightrope walking, logic, and truth.........Caris and Merthin are able to get the village removed from the rule of the church and put under the rule of the King. This makes more money in taxes for the King and the town is able to flourish when the priory isn't taking all of their money. Finally the mystery witnessed by Merthin is discovered by the right people and with this power Merthin is able to gain a new and sympathetic prior for Kingsbridge. Philemon is sent packing!
Gwenda, the poor unfortunate soul. She becomes friends with Caris at a very young age. Gwenda's father is a landless laborer, which means most of the time he's a thief. At one point he sells Gwenda to a band of outlaws. She is to be their prostitute and her father gets a cow in exchange. The law allows this because Gwenda is not an adult, therefore she is the property of her father. Gwenda is able to break free from the band of outlaws with only one rape and one murder to count. She is desperately in love with Wulfric a sweet and devoted boy two years her junior. Wulfric is engaged to another girl, whom he adores. When she is assaulted by Ralph, Wulfric breaks Ralph's nose in her (Annet) defense. Ralph makes Wulfric pay for this the rest of his life. Wulfric is not given his father's land after the plague wipes out the whole family.......leaving only Wulfric. Annet then marries another. Wulfric is heart broken. Gwenda woos him ending up pregnant and a landless laborer. Wulfric and Gwenda marry and live a life of misery, unable to own their own land. Gwenda tries in vain to persuade Ralph to give Wulfric his land back. Ralph is the one to impregnate Gwenda but neither Ralph or Wulfric know. Years later their child Sam, having the same evil disposition as his biological father, catches Ralph attempting to rape Gwenda AGAIN and kills him. Freeing the family of the tyranny they have lived with for years. Wulfric gains his land back because Ralph had no one else to work it.
This review could end up as an epic itself! The book was so long and miserable at times. I couldn't stand the Prior or the evil committed in the name of God. Caris made me want to run screaming. She caused so much grief for Merthin but she was also a good and strong character.
Rating 4
Rating R murder, rape, violence, war, sex, disease and distress.