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Ken Follett
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The Armor of Light: A Novel (Kingsbridge) Hardcover – September 26, 2023

by Ken Follett (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 26,069 ratings
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An epic continuation of the series that began with The Pillars of the Earth, The Armor of Light heralds a new dawn for Kingsbridge, England, where progress clashes with tradition, class struggles push into every part of society, and war in Europe engulfs the entire continent and beyond

The Spinning Jenny was invented in 1770, and with that, a new era of manufacturing and industry changed lives everywhere within a generation. A world filled with unrest wrestles for control over this new world order: A mother’s husband is killed in a work accident due to negligence; a young woman fights to fund her school for impoverished children; a well-intentioned young man unexpectedly inherits a failing business; one man ruthlessly protects his wealth no matter the cost, all the while war cries are heard from France, as Napoleon sets forth a violent master plan to become emperor of the world. As institutions are challenged and toppled in unprecedented fashion, ripples of change ricochet through our characters’ lives as they are left to reckon with the future and a world they must rebuild from the ashes of war.

Over thirty years ago, Ken Follett published his most popular novel, The Pillars of the Earth. Now, with this electrifying addition to the Kingsbridge series we are plunged into the battlefield between compassion and greed, love and hate, progress and tradition. It is through each character that we are given a new perspective to the seismic shifts that shook the world in nineteenth-century Europe.
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Previous page
  1. Book 5 of 5
    Kingsbridge
  2. Print length
    752 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Viking
  5. Publication date
    September 26, 2023
  6. Dimensions
    6.6 x 2.14 x 9.5 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    0525954996
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0525954996
  9. See all details
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From the Publisher

The Kingsbridge Series by Ken Follett. Features all 5 books from this series.
#1 NYT Bestselling Author Ken Follett returns with the long-awaited sequel to A COLUMN OF FIRE
The Evening and the Morning by Ken Follett The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett World Without End by Ken Follett A Column of Fire by Ken Follett The Armor of Light by Ken Follett
The Evening and the Morning The Pillars of the Earth World Without End A Column of Fire The Armor of Light
Customer Reviews
4.6 out of 5 stars
68,705
4.6 out of 5 stars
49,587
4.6 out of 5 stars
38,665
4.5 out of 5 stars
77,217
4.4 out of 5 stars
26,069
Price $13.99 $17.36 $13.16 $11.71 $20.07
Discover the entire Kingsbridge Series Prequel Book 1 Book 2 Book 3 Book 4

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for The Armor of Light

"Ken Follett is a master storyteller . . . His works of historical fiction have made him a legend. . . . Follett’s latest marks the end of a storytelling journey that spans a thousand years. The Armor of Light is also the final entry in his Kingsbridge series."
—Jeff Glor, CBS

"We can’t stop turning the pages. . . . it is Follett’s generosity and adeptness with historical detail and nimble depictions of technical matters that set this book, like its predecessors, above mere historical melodrama."
—The Washington Post

"A treat for fans of historical fiction."
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"This epic canvas holds a mélange of relationships which all work out exactly as they should while Follett brings Kingsbridge up to the Regency era."
—Booklist

"An impressive and immersive epic."
—Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Ken Follett is one of the world's best-loved authors, selling more than 188 million copies of his thirty-six books. Follett’s first bestseller was Eye of the Needle, a spy story set in the Second World War. In 1989, The Pillars of the Earth was published and has since become Follett's most popular novel. It reached number one on bestseller lists around the world and was an Oprah’s Book Club pick. Its sequels, World Without End and A Column of Fire, and prequel The Evening and the Morning, proved equally popular, and the Kingsbridge series has sold more than fifty million copies worldwide. Follett lives in Hertfordshire, England, with his wife, Barbara. Between them they have five children, six grandchildren, and three Labradors.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Viking (September 26, 2023)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 752 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0525954996
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0525954996
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.33 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.6 x 2.14 x 9.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 26,069 ratings

About the author

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Ken Follett

Ken Follett

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Ken Follett was only twenty-seven when he wrote the award-winning EYE OF THE NEEDLE, which became an international bestseller. His celebrated PILLARS OF THE EARTH was voted into the top 100 of Britain's best-loved books in the BBC's the Big Read and the sequel, WORLD WITHOUT END, was published to critical acclaim. He lives with his family in London and Hertfordshire.

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4.4 out of 5 stars
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Top reviews from the United States

A. Steven Toby
5.0 out of 5 stars Industrial Revolution Hits Kingsbridge
Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2024
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This book takes place in Kingsbridge, England, like the other books in the series, between about 1795 and 1815. It shows readers the relationship between economic and social changes in England at the same time as what I've always considered the main action, the wars with France, were happening at sea. (It’s also a compulsive read even though it’s 700 pages). The Industrial Revolution plays a pretty big role. If you don’t already know what a spinning Jenny is or why people opposed to innovation are called Luddites, you’ll painlessly find out in its pages.
The author is a landlubber (I found out in his previous books in the series) so he doesn’t mention that one of the Royal Dockyards invented mass production to produce blocks for the Fleet, but readers will still learn a great deal about mass production and the beginnings of automation.
Towards the end of the book the author seems to remember that the war with France has been going on for 20 years and this too would have its effect on labour. (After the fact, I am led to wonder if labour shortages created by the war might have had something to do with the creation of the spinning jenny and the programmable cards for pattern weaving, but I digress -- the author is writing a fast moving popular account, not a scholarly speculation.) Anyway, characters volunteer for the Army (England didn't have conscription in this period although criminals could be sentenced to serve), or are impressed into the Navy, and we get to see some of the characters join Lord Wellington's army while others are caught by the start of the "Hundred Days" while vacationing in Brussels. Poetry fans will remember Lord Byron wrote about this but alas, it seems from the account in the book that he exaggerated the time scale a bit.
Wellington himself appears in the book and there’s a good treatment of Waterloo that keeps the reader on the edge of his seat, so let me not give the impression that the book is entirely set in England.
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Michael E. Farrell
4.0 out of 5 stars Nice wrap up to Follet’s Kingsbridge series.
Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2024
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The Armor of Light is the 5th and presumably the last book in Ken Follet’s Kingsbridge series.

The story takes place between 1792 and 1825 during a period that saw the beginnings of the industrialization of the textile industry in England, including Kingsbridge which had been a spinning and weaving center for centuries, and the Napoleonic wars. The first disrupted the lifestyle and employment of the residents of England, including Kingsbridge, and the deterioration of the economy caused by the long running war with France. Industrialization of the trades resulted in the loss of employment for the working class while the war caused high inflation making everything more expensive for the people, while the owners of the businesses got richer.

As usual there is a large cast of characters many of whom could qualify as the main character, but the story generally follows the life of Sal Clitheroe, a cottage industry spinner and wife of a general laborer. When her husband dies as the result of a preventable accident caused by the stupidity of the Squire’s son, her life is turned on its side. Eventually she must leave her hometown of Bedford for Kingsbridge with Kit, her 7-year-old son in tow, where she gains employment in the mill of a weaver installing a spinning machine that can handle up to 8 spindles.

The story develops as more Kingsbridge weavers begin installing more machines that result in more workers losing their jobs. This then leads to more antagonization between the mill owners and the workers.

The main antagonists include Joseph Hornbeam, owner of the largest mills in Kingsbridge, and Will Riddick, the son of the Squire. Both are mortal enemies of the workers, with Hornbeam interested only in enriching himself and gaining power, while Riddick just drinks and gambles away any money he gets.

Because the story covers over 30 years, it goes through several phases: the initial struggles of the workers and the mill owners; attempts by the workers to organize while Parliament, led by the Prime Minister, passes a series of laws protecting the rights of the owners with harsh punishments against those violating these laws; the personal lives of the main characters, including marriages, births, deaths and adultery; and ending with participation of the Kingsbridge regiment in the battle of Waterloo; and the aftermath of the end of the war on the characters in Kingsbridge.

I found this book to be more in keeping with the general themes of the first 2 books in the series. Most of the action takes place in Kingsbridge and its surroundings; the division of the characters by their societal class seems realistic; the setting of the main stories is historically correct; and the story, although long, flows smoothly and quickly. I would recommend this book even if you have not read the preceding books in this series.
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Doug Naffziger
5.0 out of 5 stars One Follett’s best
Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2024
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Well written with a great cast of characters, both good and evil. A vivid description of Wellington’s defeat of Bonaparte and an equally believable description of the differences between the rich few, the many poor, and the industrious entrepreneurs who worked hard to establish their businesses in spite of the rules that were often stacked against them. I have read most of Follett’s standalone novels as well as both the Kingsbridge and 20th Century series and have not found a dud yet nor do I expect to.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Love the book
Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2024
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I've read most of Ken Follett's books. Every time after finishing his latest book, I start waiting for a new one. So after the long anticipation, I finally got this book, and it hasn't disappointed me. I also love that it comes with the hard cover.
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Linda J. Ponton
4.0 out of 5 stars Superb with only a few flaws
Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2024
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The Pillars of The Earth is my all time favorite read and easily give it 5 stars. I can give 4 1/2 stars to the prequel and all sequels.
The characters are all compellingly fabulous or horrifyingly evil - what I look for in a great book - .
Each of the books after Pillars has at least a few chapters in the middle that seem to drag on a bit, but do pick up until the end.
It is the ending of each of these books besides Pillars that all seem a little hurried and wrap up story lines a little too easily.

In this book, I particularly was disappointed in the last chapter.

However, Follett is the master at weaving the characters lives in and out of each others.
He is not afraid to touch on what would have been very controversial topics of the times in which the stories take place, but doesn't hammer home judgement.

I feel as though this is a terrific ending to this series that I started reading way back in the 1900's..... 1992
Even though I doubt if he has it in him, I would welcome a 6th book.
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Berengaria
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating book.
Reviewed in Mexico on April 24, 2024
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Great book! Last of the Kingbridge saga. Love Ken Follet.
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N. Turner
5.0 out of 5 stars Another Kingsbridge Winner!
Reviewed in Canada on March 18, 2024
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What more is there to say about the Kingsbridge novels by Ken Follet? They are among the greatest contemporary works of fiction I’ve read, and the latest addition to the series doesn’t disappoint. As he has done in the previous Kingsbridge books, Follet brings us inside a changing world through the eyes of the people caught up in the grand sweep of history in the fictional English city of Kingsbridge: the highborn, common laborers, household staff, tradespeople, and the emerging industrialists who would eventually dominate. The Napoleonic Wars are an interesting backdrop to the story, fleshing out the disparate forces in play as English society began to grapple with the widespread displacement created by the emergence of large-scale industrialization. Just as there is in real life, we find tragedy, heartbreak, cowardice, heroism, vanity, and selflessness on display throughout the novel. The pace of the story is steady, the characters are fully realized, and the reader is kept guessing as the author’s imaginative twists and turns keep us guessing as to what’s next. As always, Follet’s characters are humanized with a deft touch as he scrutinizes the hopes and dreams that motivate their behavior, be it admirable or contemptible. The Armour of Light is an astonishing novel, and a satisfying read in all respects.
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Takaki
5.0 out of 5 stars Livro excelente, no estilo Ken Follett, a venda foi sofrível
Reviewed in Brazil on January 8, 2024
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O livro segue o padrão do autor. Merece 5 estrelas. A impressão e capa dura excelentes!! Pena que a edição brasileira não vem nesse padrão. Já a venda da amazon me custou muitas horas ao lado do telefone no serviço de atendimento ao consumidor, no reclame aqui e no consumidor ponto gov. Comprei na pré venda em março de 2023 e depois de muita luta (muita mesmo) consegui receber o livro dois dias antes do natal. Sou cliente amazon antes da empresa chegar ao Brasil e nunca tinha passado por esse perrengue… Triste.
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Takaki
5.0 out of 5 stars Livro excelente, no estilo Ken Follett, a venda foi sofrível
Reviewed in Brazil on January 8, 2024
O livro segue o padrão do autor. Merece 5 estrelas. A impressão e capa dura excelentes!! Pena que a edição brasileira não vem nesse padrão. Já a venda da amazon me custou muitas horas ao lado do telefone no serviço de atendimento ao consumidor, no reclame aqui e no consumidor ponto gov. Comprei na pré venda em março de 2023 e depois de muita luta (muita mesmo) consegui receber o livro dois dias antes do natal. Sou cliente amazon antes da empresa chegar ao Brasil e nunca tinha passado por esse perrengue… Triste.
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Philip Boylan
5.0 out of 5 stars Very well paced
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 27, 2024
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Great addition to the series. Well paced with very good characters throughout. The various stages of the story were well maintained.
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Peter Berlin
5.0 out of 5 stars Very enjoyable and just a good read
Reviewed in Germany on March 25, 2024
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The first novel I ever read by Ken Follett was “The Pillars o the Earth” and I think that is really his masterpiece. I have read many of his other novel,s but this is by far his best. This is the fifth novel on the developments in Kingsbridge - the same place where Pillars took place. This novel is very good, too and very readable and enjoyable, though not as excellent and outstanding as Pillars was.

The fifth novel with Kingsbridge as its location shows the effects of the French Revolution and the effects of the Industrial revolution. The seemingly never-ending war between the French and the English and its devastating effects on the population in Great Britain is the backdrop to this novel. The aristocracy and the church are presented as the oppressors that they were. Now the new factory owners and the English Parliament are shown in the critical light that they deserve, since they don’t care either about the welfare of the people, either.

Follett has again a number of characters that the reader can easily identify with, obviously some villains as well. There is a happy gay couple that somehow manages to preserver their love through all their trials and tribulations.

The novel ends with the description of the battle of Waterloo and I learned a lot about this battle. There were many historical facts I never knew. Since the battle is presented from the point of view of the common soldiers this makes for very good reading, too.

All in all, I really enjoyed reading this novel and I can highly recommend it with five well-served stars.

I hope you found my review useful.
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