by Ken Follett, 2019, Viking

This book is, indeed, short – only 62 pages.  At the end of the book there is a note indicating that the book was written in seven days in April of 2019.

Follett wrote the book shortly after the fire in Notre-Dame.  It consists of his thoughts and emotions after witnessing the tragedy of the fire.  In addition to his musings on the fire, there are some thoughts regarding his publishing of his novel, Pillars of the Earth,  some information regarding the building of the cathedral, as well as a chapter about Victor Hugo and his writing of The Hunchback of Notre-Dame.

It is an interesting book given Follett’s writings about cathedral building, but it isn’t close to any history of the meaning of cathedrals.  It’s more just an author’s musings, which is fine, but I’m a bit disappointed in the claim its subtitle purports it to be.