World Without End

Kingsbridge, 1327. Caris, Merthin, Gwenda and Ralph grow up in the priory's shadow. Caris wants to heal in a world that calls women healers witches, and to escape a witchcraft sentence she joins the nunnery. Merthin, a gifted builder, gets rich in Florence. Ralph fights in the Hundred Years' War, is knighted and rises to Earl of Shiring, leaving a trail of crimes. The Black Death arrives, and Prior Godwyn flees with the monks to St. John-in-the-Forest, where he dies with them. Caris becomes prioress, renounces her vows after the plague and marries Merthin, who builds the tallest spire in England. The town wins its charter, and Ralph dies in a struggle with Gwenda and her son, Sam.

1. ChangeThomas Langley is the king

   In the book, Thomas Langley is a knight who keeps a secret about Edward II. On screen, Ben Chaplin plays both roles: Thomas is the deposed king himself, hiding at the priory.

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2. ChangeGodwyn doesn't stay gone

   In the book, Godwyn flees the plague with the monks to St. John-in-the-Forest and dies there. On screen, Caris and Merthin find him driven mad, and he threatens Caris again in the final episode.

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3. ChangeA different kind of climax

   The show ends with peasants in revolt and Edward III's army marching on them. The book settles things on a smaller scale: Ralph dies in a struggle with Gwenda and her son, Sam.

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