: Their efforts are constantly sabotaged by Bishop Waleran Bigod and the ruthless William Hamleigh, who seek power and revenge through violence and political manipulation. Key Characters
: The son of the cursed man from the prologue; he becomes a brilliant architect who brings innovative Gothic styles from France to Kingsbridge.
: The transition from Romanesque to Gothic architecture serves as a metaphor for the dawning of a new, more enlightened age.