The following version of the book was used to create this study guide: Follett, Ken. Morning and Evening: A Novel (Kingsbridge Book 4). Penguin Random House, New York, NY 10019. 2020. Kindle AZW file.

Edgar is the son of a shipbuilder in Combe. He is about to set off to begin a new life with the woman he loves when the Vikings attack. Edgar manages to sound the alarm, but the woman he loves is already dead when he reaches her house. Later, Edgar finds Mildred, his mother, emerging from the forest with her two older sons, Erman and Eadbald. Edgar's father died trying to protect the family's shipbuilding assets from the Vikings. Three men ride into Combe to take control of the situation. Wilf is the ealdorman of the region. His half-brother Wynstan is the Bishop and his other half-brother Wigelm is in charge of Combe. Though the people want immediate help, Wilf and his brothers can do very little other than remind the people the attack is a judgment for their sins and urge them to rebuild. Mildred is outspoken, and Wynstan offers her a farm in the tiny village of Dreng's Ferry as a means of getting her out of Combe. Mildred is skeptical, but she has no choice but to accept. Edgar hates the idea that he is going to become a farmer instead of a craftsman, but he also feels there is no choice. Dreng's Ferry's church is overseen by Degbert, Wynstan's cousin. Degbert's brother, Dreng, operates the ferry there. The lives of Edgar's family are soon intertwined with those of the corrupt men in charge.

Meanwhile, a young noblewoman in Normandy falls in love with Wilf. Ragna is surprised that he does not propose marriage, but Wynstan returns with the formal proposal. Ragna manages to gain her parents' approval. She meets Edgar on her way to Shiring. She immediately likes him. She soon discovers that life with Wilf is brutal and unpredictable. Ragna has to fight to control Outhenham, the village she was given as part of the marriage contract.

Ragna and Edgar have both befriended a young monk named Aldred. When he opposes Wynstan, he is moved to Dreng's Ferry. His first thought is that he will languish here without doing anything of note. He works hard and begins to make a difference. He and Edgar build a bridge. Though their first bridge is destroyed, they rebuild, and Dreng's Ferry becomes known as King's Bridge. Over the years, Aldred makes the town into a major marketplace, leading the town to grow and prosper.

When Wilf is seriously injured fighting the Vikings, Wynstan and Wigelm murder him and arrange for Wilf's slave to take the blame. Wigelm takes Ragna captive along with her three sons and a maid. Wigelm's rapes result in Ragna becoming pregnant, and Wigelm often threatens to take their son Alain away. When he finally follows through on that threat, Ragna feels there is nothing tying her to Shiring. She sets out to make a life in Dreng's Ferry. Edgar, meanwhile, has moved to Normandy to hone his education as a master builder. When Wigelm tries to rape Ragna at her home in Outhenham, she takes advantage of his drunken state and kills him. She gets away with his death, Aldred absolves her of the sin, and Ragna – with the help of Sheriff Den and King Ethelred – becomes regent until her son Alain is old enough to assume the duties of ealdorman. Edgar learns that Ragna is no longer married to Wigelm and returns to King's Bridge. Ragna and Edgar finally follow their hearts to marry each other.