The Pillars of the Earth

England, 12th century. Mason Tom Builder drifts with his family in search of work and reaches Kingsbridge, where Prior Philip wants a new cathedral. The build lasts through the Anarchy, the war between Stephen and Maud, and runs up against the Hamleighs and the ambitious Waleran Bigod. Aliena and her brother Richard, Earl Bartholomew's children, lose everything and fight to win back the earldom. Jack, Tom's stepson and the son of a wrongly hanged man, becomes master builder. In the end, the cathedral is finished. Waleran is exposed and loses his bishopric, William Hamleigh hangs for his part in Thomas Becket's murder, Philip becomes bishop, and Jack and Aliena marry in the cathedral.

1. ChangeRegan gets a bigger role

   On screen, Regan Hamleigh has an unhealthy fixation on her son William and bleeds her husband Percy to death. None of that is in the book, where Percy dies of unknown causes.

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2. ChangeFewer people in the story

   Henry of Blois, Andrew Sacrist and Thomas Becket were cut. On screen, it's King Stephen himself who visits the cathedral site.

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3. ChangeNo trip to Spain

   In the book, Jack and Aliena travel through Spain, and a weeping statue comes from Toledo. The show skips the trip, and Jack carves the statue himself.

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4. ChangeA rewritten ending

   In the book, William hangs for his part in Thomas Becket's murder, Waleran loses his bishopric and Philip becomes bishop. On screen, it all comes to a head at Jack's trial, and Philip stays prior.

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