The Weapons of Light

Welcome back to Kingsbridge! With his latest work, Ken Follett ushers in a new era for the people of Kingsbridge. An era where tradition and progress collide, class struggles permeate all parts of society, and the entire continent is engulfed in a bitter war: the age of industrialization. England, 1770. With the invention of the Spinning Jenny, a new era of manufacturing and industry begins. Within just one generation, the loom fundamentally changes people's lives. The world is in turmoil, including Kingsbridge. Machines render the traditional handwork of weavers obsolete—and dangerous. A worker dies in a negligence-related workplace accident, leaving behind a widow and children. A young woman fights to fund her school for children from poor families. A well-meaning young man unexpectedly inherits a failing business. Another ruthlessly protects his wealth at any cost. At the same time, as England's rulers attempt to shape the kingdom into a dominant trading power, war cries are heard in France. Napoleon Bonaparte is in power and is forging a massive plan to seize control of the world. Suddenly, there is war in Europe, and centuries-old institutions are being called into question across the continent. Nothing is as it once was. Change dictates the lives of the people. Will they manage to navigate the new world and rise from the ashes of war? Over thirty years ago, Ken Follett published his most popular novel, The Pillars of the Earth. The fifth installment of the groundbreaking Kingsbridge series once again takes us directly to the heart of history. It is Ken Follett's most ambitious work to date, masterfully depicting the seismic shifts that shook 19th-century Europe. Dive into the struggle with Ken Follett's heroes.