BookBingeKingsbridge Books in Order
The short answer
Ken Follett · 5 books
- How many books?
- There are 5 books in the Kingsbridge series, published 1989–2023.
- Is it finished?
- Yes — the series is complete; it ends with The Armor of Light (2023).
- Where to start
- Start with The Pillars of the Earth (1989).
About 5,000 pages — roughly 80 hours of reading
A multigenerational saga centered on the English town of Kingsbridge, from cathedrals to the Industrial Age.
Here is the complete Kingsbridge reading order — all 5 books by Ken Follett, in the order you should read them:
Reading order
- The Pillars of the EarthA 12th-century master builder dreams of a cathedral as England tears itself apart in civil war.19891,040 pages
- World Without EndTwo centuries later, four children witness a death that will mark their lives — and the Black Death that changes England.20071,178 pages
- A Column of FireElizabethan intrigue, religious persecution, and spies between Catholic Spain and Protestant England.2017934 pages
- The Evening and the MorningThe origin of Kingsbridge — a prequel set in 997.2020876 pages
- The Armor of LightThe Napoleonic era reshapes Kingsbridge as the Industrial Revolution begins.2023928 pages
Good news: for this series, reading order and publication order are the same — just read straight down the list.
Track your place in Kingsbridge
BookBinge remembers which book you're on and writes a spoiler-safe recap before every sequel. Free on iOS.
Get BookBingeFrequently asked questions
How many Kingsbridge books are there?
There are 5 books in the Kingsbridge series by Ken Follett, from The Pillars of the Earth (1989) to The Armor of Light (2023). Together they run to about 5,000 pages.
Is the Kingsbridge series finished?
Yes. Ken Follett completed the series with The Armor of Light in 2023; all 5 books are out now.
What is the first Kingsbridge book?
The Pillars of the Earth (1989) is book one, at 1,040 pages. A 12th-century master builder dreams of a cathedral as England tears itself apart in civil war.
Should I read the Kingsbridge series in publication order?
Yes. For the Kingsbridge series, reading order and publication order are the same — The Pillars of the Earth (1989) through The Armor of Light (2023).
How long does it take to read all Kingsbridge books?
About 5,000 pages across 5 books — roughly 80 hours at a page a minute. The longest is World Without End (1,178 pages); the shortest is The Evening and the Morning (876 pages).