The Pillars of The Earth - Major Characters

Major Characters

• Jack Jackson (known also as Jack Builder): son of Jack Shareburg (Jacques Cherbourg) and Ellen; he becomes an architect and skilled stonemason.
• Tom Builder: A builder whose lifelong dream is to build a cathedral.
• Ellen: daughter of a knight. She was unusual in knowing English, French and Latin, and in being literate. The lover of Jack Shareburg and the mother of Jack Jackson, she is discovered by Tom Builder while living in the woods.
• Prior Philip: A monk who dreams of Kingsbridge rising to greatness with a cathedral.
• William Hamleigh: The son of a minor lord, he temporarily gains the earldom of Shiring but eventually loses it to Richard, the son of the former earl, Bartholomew.
• Aliena: daughter to the Earl of Shiring, and the intended bride of William Hamleigh.
• Richard (Richard of Kingsbridge): Aliena's younger brother, a knight who becomes a skilled soldier and leader, depending on Aliena for revenues from her wool business.
• Alfred Builder: Tom's son, a mason who later marries Aliena.
• Agnes: first wife of Tom Builder and mother of Martha and Alfred.
• Martha: daughter of Tom, sister to Alfred, stepsister to Jack.
• Bishop Waleran Bigod: an ambitious and corrupt cleric constantly scheming his way to more power.
• Jonathan: Son of Tom and Agnes Builder, he was raised from infancy by Prior Philip.
• Lord Percy Hamleigh, Earl of Shiring: father of William, he disposes of the traitor Earl Bartholomew and gains the earldom.
• Lady Regan Hamleigh, Countess of Shiring: William Hamleigh's mother.