Pillars of the Earth / Ken Follett / 973 pages / Frist Book in a Series

Set in 12th century England, this in an epic tale of church building, intrigue, and the curse of humanity.  Political struggle, both within the church and the court and within individuals themselves, highlight the master builder's compulsion to create a church that by itself expresses the magnificence of the Creator.  We see architectural elements that are taken for granted today in their initial conceptions.  Although somewhat long and at time a bit slow, Pillars of the Earth does a credible job of recreating the middle ages with all it treachery and violence.