Ken Follet

Ken Follett is one of the world’s most successful authors. More than 195 million copies of the 37 books he has written have been sold in over 80 countries and in 40 languages.

Born on June 5, 1949 in Cardiff, Wales, the son of a tax inspector, Ken was educated at state schools and went on to graduate from University College, London, with an Honours degree in Philosophy. He was made a Fellow of University College in 1995.

He started his career as a reporter, first with his hometown newspaper the South Wales Echo and then with the London Evening News. Subsequently, he worked for a small London publishing house, Everest Books, eventually becoming Deputy Managing Director.

Ken’s first major success came with the publication of Eye of the Needle in 1978. This World War II thriller set in England, earned him the 1979 Edgar Award for Best Novel from the Mystery Writers of America. It remains one of his most popular books.

In 1989, Ken’s epic novel about the building of a medieval cathedral, The Pillars of the Earth, was published. It reached number one on bestseller lists everywhere and was turned into a major television series produced by Ridley Scott, which aired in 2010. World Without End, the sequel to The Pillars of the Earth, proved equally popular when it was published in 2007.

His latest book, The Armour of Light, sees him return to the beloved fictional town of Kingsbridge for the fifth time. Set in the 1700s against the backdrop of the Industrial Revolution and war in France against the notorious Emperor Napoleon, the story follows the citizens of Kingsbridge as they battle oppression, harsh government reforms and increased mechanisation that could leave them destitute. Featuring a broad cast of memorable and diverse characters as well as all the rich historical details that have come to be trademarks of Ken’s books, The Armour of Light was published in the US and UK on 26th September 2023 and in other countries on the same day or soon after. 

Ken, who loves music almost as much as he loves books, is an enthusiastic bass guitar player. He lives in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, with his wife Barbara, the former Labour Member of Parliament for Stevenage. Between them they have five children, six grandchildren and three Labradors.

He has been active in numerous literacy charities and was president of Dyslexia Action for ten years. Ken is also a past chair of the National Year of Reading, a joint initiative between government and business. He is active in many local charities and is Patron of Home-Start Hertfordshire.