How realistic are the lifestyles, the characters, their way of thinking and generally the things portrayed in "The Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett?

by novadako

I'm at 60% of the book, so don't spoiler. As a side note i'm at the point where i'm starting to hate every character (aside from Jack). But i ask those who have read this book, are the things described credible? Is it a honest and realiable portrait of the medieval world? For example i know that when there was a raid in a city, people used to prepare food for the soldiers passing by, and this is something unseen in the book (at least until now). Another thing described once in the book is the so called Ius Primae Noctis,which i know should be just a myth and totally unreal.

Thx for replying.

Steelcan909

You would be a lot better served if you had more specific questions on the book rather than just a blanket "What is realistic about this entire work?"