Reading for the Summer Solstice

 

Pillars of the Earth, the first work of historical fiction I read by Ken Follett, made my short list of favorite books ever. I know it must have been at least twenty years since I read it--probably longer--but I still recall specific details from the fictional town and the building of the cathedral with great clarity. I have since read other books from that series and from his century series as well. This month, though, I came across Circle of Days, set before the time of Pillars of the Earth. Although the name Stonehenge is never mentioned, the story moves toward the building of a stone structure to replace the vulnerable wooden columns used to mark the passage of time in ceremonial rites conducted quarterly by a group of priestesses. 

Coming together are the disparate groups living in proximity--sometimes peaceably, sometimes so much: the herders, farmers, woods people (hunters and gatherers), and flint miners. Follett has a knack for characterization--good and evil, selfish and selfless, competitive and cooperative. He also has no compunctions about killing off characters and breaking my heart. 

Whether his characters are moving impossibly huge stones or building by hand a cathedral, Follett is nothing short of convincing. I almost think I could use his novels as a handbook to carry out my own building projects. 

One aspect I found interesting, even amusing, was the idea of a time when people were limited in their understanding of numbers, counting by how their fingers and toes. Giving names to numbers--particularly concepts such as a hundred or a thousand--was still baffling to most.

In this book in particular, Follett has strong female characters in each social group. They often have to face off against the men in their communities as well as their enemies. 

Before reading this book, I was always satisfied with the Arthurian explanation for the existence of Stonehenge: Merlin floated the stones from his place of origin. He didn't make an appearance in this story, so I will have to be satisfied with an alternative explanation. Maybe now Follett can tackle the building of the pyramids.

Reading for the Summer Solstice