Ken Follett

Author

Ken Follett is a Welsh-born author whose epic historical novels have sold over 170 million copies worldwide, making him one of the bestselling authors in history. His ability to weave gripping personal stories through the great events of history — wars, revolutions, and the building of civilisations — is unmatched in contemporary... fiction. Born in Cardiff in 1949, Follett grew up in a strict Plymouth Brethren family where television, radio, and cinema were forbidden. Books became his escape, and he developed a voracious reading habit that would fuel his later career. He studied Philosophy at University College London and went on to work as a journalist and then in publishing before turning to fiction. His breakthrough came with Eye of the Needle, published in 1978, a World War Two spy thriller that won the Edgar Award and became an international bestseller. Storm Island and The Key to Rebecca followed, establishing Follett as one of the finest thriller writers of his generation. But it was The Pillars of the Earth, published in 1989, that redefined his career. The novel follows the building of a cathedral in a fictional English town during the twelfth century, weaving together stories of ambition, faith, love, and conflict against the backdrop of the Anarchy — the civil war between Stephen and Matilda. The book was initially a slow burner but became a global phenomenon, selling over 27 million copies and inspiring a television adaptation and a board game. Its sequels, World Without End and A Column of Fire, extended the Kingsbridge saga across centuries. Follett's Century Trilogy — Fall of Giants, Winter of the World, and Edge of Eternity — traces five interconnected families through the major events of the twentieth century, from the First World War through the Cold War. The scope is breathtaking, and the series has sold tens of millions of copies. The audiobook editions of Follett's novels are among the most popular in the world. His long, richly detailed novels are ideal for audio, offering dozens of hours of immersive listening. Narrators bring his vast casts of characters and epic settings to compelling life, and many fans consider the audiobooks the best way to experience his sweeping historical canvases. Ken Follett lives in London and continues to write. His books and audiobooks are essential for anyone who loves historical fiction that combines the intimacy of personal drama with the sweep of world-changing events. Read more Show less