A column of fire by Ken Follett

At the end of the 16th century, Kingsbridge sees the conflicts between the Fitzgerald and the Willard, the first one are strong catholics, and the second are going to be protestants.

Margery Fitzgerald and Ned Willard are in love, but the thirst for higher ranks lead her family to make her marry the local aristocrat.

More than that, the Fitzgeralds ruin the Willards and Ned goes to London to become a spy for Queen Elizabeth. His brother will go to Spain, then will become a sailor.

In France, there's a war raging between catholics ans Huguenots, Ned comes to Paris, where he meets Sylvie and succeeds to escape the St Bartholomew massacre. Rollo Fitzgerald brings catholic priests to England, helped by his sister Margery.

When Mary Stuart is killed, Spain wants to invade England to establish a catholic king on the throne, and is defeated, with its Armada.

The novel ends with the Guy Fawkes compiracy, planned by Rollo.

As usual, romance and history are mingled in this novel which makes us live from the inside the terrible events of the religious wars.