World without End.

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In his long-awaited sequel to Pillars of the Earth (1989), Follett returns to the same remote English cathedral town, where he picks up with some of the original characters’ descendants 200 years later, in the fourteenth century. The cathedral still dominates the town, but times have changed, and artisans and the middle class are gaining money and influence. Follett focuses on four individuals whose intertwining lives reflect these changes. The book is long, nearly 1,000 pages, but Lee’s reading draws listeners into the dramatic saga. Reading in a British accent and in his rich baritone voice, he capably handles multiple characters and a broad canvas. Characters of rank speak melodiously and elegantly, lower classes sound more nasal and uneducated, and women are reflected in lighter tones. By varying pitch and dialect, he allows listeners to identify the characters by gender and class. Lee’s fine interpretation evokes a fascinating period as he captures dramatic historical events and gritty details of daily life.