I love historical fiction and Pillars of the Earth is a great example of this genre!  I read Pillars of the Earth before going to England on vacation and it was great preparation for appreciating some of the history.  I was able to explain historical aspects to my family as we visited different sites.  It was much more interesting to have read about early developments in this book than to have tried to read a history book ohn it.  Follett develops his characters so that they are memorable.  His description of the scenes make them come alive in the reader's mind. This book and the characters...