Description
A Column of Fire - Ken Follett - Kingsbridge Book 3
Return to Kingsbridge in A Column of Fire, the third novel in Ken Follett's sweeping historical series and an epic story of love, loyalty, espionage and religious conflict.
The year is 1558.
Europe is divided by bitter religious tensions, and England has a new queen.
Elizabeth Tudor has taken the throne, but her position is far from secure. Powerful enemies at home and abroad threaten her rule, while Mary Queen of Scots remains a dangerous rival with supporters determined to change the future of England.
In Kingsbridge, Ned Willard returns home hoping to build a life with the woman he loves.
Instead, religious conflict and political ambition tear their future apart.
Unable to remain on the sidelines, Ned enters the service of Queen Elizabeth and becomes part of a new network of agents dedicated to protecting the monarch from conspiracies, assassins and enemies of the state.
His work takes him far beyond Kingsbridge.
Across England, France and the wider European world, religious wars, royal rivalries and secret plots place families and nations against one another.
As Protestants and Catholics struggle for power, ordinary people find themselves caught between faith, loyalty and survival.
Against this turbulent historical background, Ned must decide how far he is willing to go to protect his queen while holding on to the people and ideals that matter most to him.
A Column of Fire combines the intimate stories of families, lovers and rivals with the enormous political forces that shaped sixteenth-century Europe.
It is the third book in The Kingsbridge Novels, following The Pillars of the Earth and World Without End.
Why You'll Love It
- Book 3 of The Kingsbridge Novels
- Written by bestselling author Ken Follett
- Epic historical fiction set in the sixteenth century
- Begins in 1558 during the reign of Elizabeth I
- Features political intrigue and espionage
- Explores the beginnings of Elizabethan intelligence networks
- Includes Mary Queen of Scots and major historical figures
- Strong themes of love, loyalty and religious freedom
- Set across England and continental Europe
- Combines historical saga with spy thriller elements
- Rich Tudor and Elizabethan setting
- Ideal for fans of large-scale historical fiction
- Perfect continuation after World Without End