Ken Follett

Ken Follett. Ken Follett is a prolific British author renowned for his best-selling works of historical fiction and thrillers. His career, spanning over four decades, has seen him sell more than 160 million copies of his novels worldwide, which have been translated into dozens of languages. Follett is particularly celebrated for his epic Kingsbridge Series, beginning with the monumental *The Pillars of the Earth*, which vividly reconstructs medieval life in England.

Early life and education

Born in Cardiff, Wales, Follett was the eldest son of a tax inspector and moved with his family to London at a young age. His early education was shaped by a strict Plymouth Brethren household, which forbade activities like cinema and television, leading him to develop a deep love for library books and storytelling. He studied philosophy at University College London, graduating in 1970, and subsequently pursued a postgraduate diploma in journalism. Before his literary breakthrough, he worked as a reporter for the South Wales Echo in Cardiff and later as a business editor for the London Evening News.

Literary career

Follett's initial foray into writing consisted of paperback thrillers under various pseudonyms, achieving modest success throughout the early 1970s. His career transformed dramatically in 1978 with the publication of Eye of the Needle, a World War II espionage thriller that won the Edgar Award and became an international bestseller. This success established him as a major force in commercial fiction and allowed him to write full-time. He continued to produce a string of successful thrillers, including The Key to Rebecca and The Man from St. Petersburg, before boldly shifting genre to historical epics with 1989's The Pillars of the Earth.

Major works and themes

Follett's most significant contribution to literature is his Kingsbridge Series, a multi-generational saga set in the fictional cathedral city of Kingsbridge. The series, which includes The Pillars of the Earth, World Without End, and A Column of Fire, explores themes of architectural ambition, political intrigue, and social change across pivotal periods like the Anarchy, the Black Death, and the Protestant Reformation. His Century Trilogy—Fall of Giants, Winter of the World, and Edge of Eternity—spans the entire 20th century, tracing the intertwined fates of five families through events such as World War I, the Russian Revolution, World War II, and the Cold War. Common themes across his work include the resilience of ordinary people, the clash between progress and tradition, and meticulously researched historical detail.

Awards and recognition

Follett has received numerous accolades throughout his career, beginning with the prestigious Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for Eye of the Needle. In 2003, he was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. His monumental novel The Pillars of the Earth was selected for Oprah's Book Club in 2007, vastly increasing its readership, and was adapted into a highly successful miniseries starring Ian McShane. In 2010, he was awarded the Prix des libraires du Québec for World Without End. His contributions to literature and charity were further recognized with his appointment as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2022 New Year Honours.

Personal life

Follett has been married twice; his first marriage to Mary Emma Ruth Elson ended in divorce. In 1985, he married Barbara Broer, a former Member of Parliament for Stevenage and a Labour Party politician, with whom he has collaborated on charitable and political endeavors. A long-time supporter of the Labour Party and various philanthropic causes, Follett is also a devoted fan of football, supporting Arsenal F.C. He divides his time between residences in Hertfordshire, England, and Antibes on the French Riviera. An avid musician, he plays bass guitar in a band named Damn Right I Got the Blues with other notable authors.

Category:British novelists Category:1949 births Category:Historical fiction writers Category:Edgar Award winners