Sample
  • The Armor of Light

  • A Novel (Kingsbridge, Book 5)
  • By: Ken Follett
  • Narrated by: John Lee
  • Length: 21 hrs and 39 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (1,526 ratings)

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The Armor of Light

By: Ken Follett
Narrated by: John Lee
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Publisher's summary

An epic continuation of the series that began with The Pillars of the Earth, The Armor of Light heralds a new dawn for Kingsbridge, England, where progress clashes with tradition, class struggles push into every part of society, and war in Europe engulfs the entire continent and beyond

The Spinning Jenny was invented in 1770, and with that, a new era of manufacturing and industry changed lives everywhere within a generation. A world filled with unrest wrestles for control over this new world order: A mother’s husband is killed in a work accident due to negligence; a young woman fights to fund her school for impoverished children; a well-intentioned young man unexpectedly inherits a failing business; one man ruthlessly protects his wealth no matter the cost, all the while war cries are heard from France, as Napoleon sets forth a violent master plan to become emperor of the world. As institutions are challenged and toppled in unprecedented fashion, ripples of change ricochet through our characters’ lives as they are left to reckon with the future and a world they must rebuild from the ashes of war.

Over thirty years ago, Ken Follett published his most popular novel, The Pillars of the Earth. Now, with this electrifying addition to the Kingsbridge series we are plunged into the battlefield between compassion and greed, love and hate, progress and tradition. It is through each character that we are given a new perspective to the seismic shifts that shook the world in nineteenth-century Europe.

©2023 Ken Follett (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Narrated skillfully by Golden Voice John Lee, the latest Follett novel offers superb dialogue, fascinating relationships, and characters from varying religions, classes, and political perspectives. The glue that holds the audiobook together is Lee, who is adept at defining every aspect of the story. Whether he is delivering subtly nuanced tones, intensity borne of political desperation, or verbal frustration from employees who know that their bosses care not a whit about them, Lee masterfully presents each character and event, allowing personalities to emerge and highlight the struggles that eventually lead to political, personal, and business transformations." (AudioFile; winner of AudioFile Earphones Award)

"Ken Follett a master storyteller . . . His works of historical fiction have made him a legend. . . . Follett’s latest marks the end of a storytelling journey that spans a thousand years. The Armor of Light is also the final entry in his Kingsbridge series." —Jeff Glor, CBS

"We can’t stop turning the pages. . . . it is Follett’s generosity and adeptness with historical detail and nimble depictions of technical matters that set this book, like its predecessors, above mere historical melodrama." —The Washington Post

"This epic canvas holds a mélange of relationships which all work out exactly as they should while Follett brings Kingsbridge up to the Regency era." Booklist

Featured Article: The top 100 series of all time


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What listeners say about The Armor of Light

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Not his best, but still very good!

i have loved the Kingsbridge saga. This book moves fast forward to the Napoleanic era. Stii abuse of worker, women, and greed...

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Another masterpiece!

Ken Follett novels never disappoint. He is a master story teller! Every paragraph is an interesting short story. Though I haven't the time to listen to the book without interruption, I can hardly wait to continue listening when time permits! I cannot wait for his next book!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

great story

great story, great narrator ,way to short at 20 hours ,ready for book 6, thank you Ken

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it.

This was a very enjoyable addition to the Kingsbridge series.
I enjoyed John Lee reading.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Not up to Follett’s standard

Way too woke for me. The characters did not get Follett’s usual excellent development. The good guys were a little too noble, except maybe sexually, and the villains had no redeeming qualities at all. Even the justices had no soul. Follett also seemed to make up for the lack of gay people in his previous books by putting them all in this story. Disappointing.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Best Kingsbridge Novel Yet!

I have read and enjoyed each and every historical novel written by Ken Follett (I’ve read the Kingsbridge novels at least twice over the years!), but THE ARMOR OF LIGHT has gripped me more than the rest. Perhaps it has to do with the era, one that I knew the least about. Follett has made 1799-1830 come alive—not just because of the wars and the impact of technology on the cloth industry, but because of the impact of Methodism on all aspects of life. Each of the major characters seems to be even more complex than those in other novels in the series, and the high and mighty seem to acknowledge the conflicts they are responsible, making the resolution (denouement) so much more satisfying. Thank you, Ken Follett! I sincerely hope you continue this most magnificent series!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Freaking Fantastic

It's hard to say this, but this may be the best installment yet. Here's to many more such installments.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great book addition to the Kingsbridge series

This was a great book. Last in the series. The villains were quite as villainess, but the heroes were still also.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Very predictable.

The story gives you much information regarding the time. But many of the individual stories are rather shallow. I find the ending interesting given the many relationships that are that are described. I doubt that I will recommend it to anyone else.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Enjoyed

While I enjoyed the listen, and I truly love the author, I missed the excitement of many of his other works…

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