Christmas of 1558. The young Ned Willard returns to his hometown, Kingsbridge, to discover that his world is no longer as he left it. The ancient stones of the cathedral cast their shadow over a town torn apart by religious hatred. England is in turmoil, as bloody conflicts test values, friendships, and loves. And soon Ned finds himself on the opposite side from Marjorie Fitzgerald – the girl he longs to marry.
Then Elizabeth Tudor ascends to the throne, and all of Europe turns against England. The brilliant young queen sets up the country's first network of secret services so that she is instantly informed of any intrigue, assassination plot, rebellion, or planned invasion. Elizabeth knows that the enchanting, headstrong Queen Mary of Scotland is in Paris and is biding her time. A member of a ruthlessly ambitious French family, Mary has been declared the rightful sovereign of England, and her supporters conspire to rid themselves of the new queen.
Ned and Marjorie's love seems doomed, as for half a century extremists incite violence from Edinburgh to Geneva. And while Elizabeth clings fiercely to her throne and her principles, protected by a small, dedicated group of resourceful spies and courageous secret agents, it soon becomes clear that the real enemies – then as now – are not rival religions. The true battle rages between those who believe in tolerance and compromise and the tyrants who seek to impose their ideas on everyone else – at any cost.
Having captivated millions of readers with the masterpieces The Pillars of the Earth and World Without End, Ken Follett returns once again to Kingsbridge with the #1 New York Times bestseller A Column of Fire.
