The Evening and the Morning

The Evening and the Morning is a historical fiction novel by Welsh author Ken Follett. It is a prequel to The Pillars of the Earth set starting in 997 CE, and covering a period in the late Dark Ages and under the backdrop of Viking raids, through the year 1007 CE. The book expands upon the history and founding of the fictional town of Kingsbridge, England, and the construction of the bridge and cathedral there (and the origin of the town's name is explained). It was released on September 15, 2020.[1][2]

The Evening and the Morning
AuthorKen Follett
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
GenreHistorical fiction, Novel
PublisherMacmillan
Publication date
2020
Media typeprint
Pages832
ISBN978-1447278788
Followed byThe Pillars of the Earth 

The title is in Genesis 1:5.[3] Follett has said that he has chosen biblical quotes for the titles of all his Kingsbridge novels as feels that they have a more powerful and epic feeling.

A series based on the book is in the works at Legendary Television and Range Media Partners.[4]

Characters
  • Ragna: Daughter of Count Hubert of Cherbourg, travels to England after marrying Ealdorman Wilwulf of Shiring.
  • Aldred: A young monk who wishes on making Shiring a center of learning by creating a vast library.
  • Edgar: The son of a boatbuilder that dreams of being a builder himself.
  • Ealdorman Wilwulf (Also referred as Wilf): The older half-brother of Wynstan and Wigelm, and ealdorman of Shiring. He marries Ragna against the king's will after falling in love with her on a trip to Cherbourg.
  • Bishop Wynstan: a greedy bishop obsessed with power, who uses his wit in order for his family to increase their wealth and social status.
  • Wigelm: the younger brother of Wynstan and half-brother of Wilwulf.

Marriage in the plot

At the time in which the plot is set, the Catholic Church had not yet established control of marriage. Marriage in Saxon England, as depicted in the book, was a civic ceremony in which the Church had no part. A man could marry two women and sometimes even a woman could marry two men, and a man could at his discretion "put away" his wife and marry someone else. The Church frowned at these practices, but as yet was powerless to prevent them. Many of the book's most important plot elements would have been impossible in the later Middle Ages, when the Church did establish complete control and no marriage could be dissolved except by the Pope in person.

References
  1. Sheehan, Bill. "Review". Washington Post. Retrieved 2021-01-14.
  2. Saunders, Tom Whipple. "The Evening and the Morning by Ken Follett review; Eleven Lines to Somewhere by Alyson Rudd review". Retrieved 2021-01-14.
  3. https://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/~rfrey/PDF/166/Judaism%20Christianity/166%20Genesis.pdf
  4. Del Rosario, Alexandra (30 March 2021). "Ken Follett's 'The Evening And The Morning' To Be Developed As TV Series By Legendary TV & Range Media Partners". Retrieved March 30, 2021.
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