A visit to the 12th century

This image by Petra Rohr-Rouendaal is from the 1999 edition of "Pillars of the Earth."

I don't recall why I picked up a copy of the historical novel "Pillars of the Earth." Perhaps a friend recommended it. Maybe I saw it on a best-seller list.

The book sparked an interest in Gothic cathedrals that changed the way I planned my travels.

"Pillars" is by Ken Follett, who was previously known for his thrillers. He published the historical novel in 1989.

When I was in the Air Force in Europe in the late 1960s, I spent a lot of time exploring Europe. Like many others who visit Europe, I dutifully spent time visiting cathedrals -- Strasbourg, Cologne, Freiburg and others -- but they were hardly a major focus for me.

Then I read "Pillars." It's a lengthy book, and when I'm interested in a novel, that's good. It is methodically researched. Set in the 12th century, "Pillars" unfolds in and around the fictional town of Kingsbridge, England, and is about the building of a an early Gothic cathedral and the stonemason, Tom Builder, who designed it and supervised its construction. But there's so much more to the book.

"Pillars" tracks the development of Gothic architecture, which followed on the heels of Romanesque architecture, against the backdrop of real historical events. Generally speaking, Romanesque churches featured large barrel vaults that resembled classic Roman arches. One quick way to distinguish a Romanesque from a Gothic cathedral is to look at the windows. Romanesque cathedrals have smaller windows with rounded tops. Gothic cathedrals feature soaring arched windows that are larger, allowing more light to penetrate the interior. Gothic cathedrals also are famous for their flying buttresses, necessary to keep the weight of the roof from forcing the supporting walls to collapse outwards. (Romanesque architects had earlier solved that problem by employing much thicker walls, which limited light from penetrating to the interior.)

You can see a classic Romanesque cathedral in the German town of Speyer. Chartres cathedral in France is a good example of a Gothic cathedral.

Before "Pillars," Follett had previously been known for writing 20th-century thrillers, only a few of which I had read. "Pillars of the Earth" became his best-selling work. (He wrote a sequel, "World Without End," in 2007, and while I enjoyed it, it was not as good a read as "Pillars.")

If long novels set in medieval times are not to your taste, you're in luck. Starz TV has just begun airing an 8-hour miniseries based on "Pillars." I've seen the first two episodes, and while you'll miss much detail and historical background, it's worth watching. If you're not a Starz subscriber, you can find episodes on the cable network's Web site at Starz.com/Pillars.