In this book, Ken Follett tells about the feelings and thoughts he felt when he heard about the fire that threatened to destroy one of the largest cathedrals in the world, Notre-Dame in Paris. It traces the cathedral's history, from its construction to its role in history, and explores how Notre-Dame influenced cathedrals around the world and the writing of one of Follett's most famous works, The Cathedral.

"Notre-Dame, the magnificent cathedral of Paris, one of the pinnacle achievements of European civilization, was in flames. The sight shocked and upset us. Crying eluded me. Here, before our eyes, something is being destroyed, the value of which cannot be measured. It was such an incredible feeling, as if the earth had moved under our feet."
Ken Follett