Ken Follett

Ken Follett

Ken Follett is the best-selling author of 37 plus books which have sold more than 192 million copies around the world.

Ken was born on June 5, 1949 in Cardiff, Wales, and graduated 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. He worked at the South Wales Echo and then with the London Evening News. He then worked for Everest Books, a small London-based publisher where he became Deputy Managing Director.

His 1978 spy thriller, Eye of the Needle, became a breakout hit and won the Edgar Award for Best Novel from the Mystery Writers of America. It remains one of his most popular books and was adapted into an acclaimed film.

In 1989, Ken published The Pillars of the Earth, his historical fiction novel about the building of a medieval cathedral. It became a number one bestseller internationally. He has subsequently written four other books in his Kingsbridge series with the most recent, The Armor of Light, published in 2023.

Ken has supported numerous educational and literacy charities over the years. He also loves music, playing bass guitar. He currently lives in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, with his wife. They have five children, six grandchildren and three Labradors.

Recommendations For Ken Follett

Recommended by Francesca Scott

If you’re looking for a great historical thriller and enjoy Kate Morton’s and Kristin Hannah’s WWII

Recommended by Gigi Campbell

Ken Follett is one of my favourite authors. He has written so many excellent books, it’s hard to pick

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Books By Ken Follett

Under the Streets of Nice: The Bank Heist of the Century

Notre-Dame: A Short History of the Meaning of Cathedrals

Tips and Resources From Your Ken Follett Book Club Friends:

Known for his spy thrillers and historical sagas, Ken Follett has continued to challenge himself and his readers throughout his long and illustrious writing career. Readers love his work for his beautiful, immersive prose. He is an expert at creating memorable characters and plots that are infused with history, drama, and excitement.

Whether he is exploring the rich medieval history of Britain in his Kingsbridge series, the lives of five families swept up in the events of history in his Century Trilogy, or raising the political and emotional stakes in his thrillers such as The Key to Rebecca, Whiteout, Jackdaws, and his famous Eye of the Needle, Ken Follett rivets readers to the page. With each new book, he reaffirms his mastery of the craft, ensuring his place as one of today’s most compelling storytellers.

the order of the Books and all Related Books Available

All Ken Follett’s Book Series in Order of Publication

Find the right order of the books in the series.

Kingsbridge Books In Order

Century Trilogy Books In Order

Recommendations From Ken’s Fans

Amor Towles

Recommended by Elaine Ortiz

A Gentleman in Moscow is a jewel! I had a hard time getting into it on my first try, but I went back

Daniel Silva

Recommended by Iris James

Daniel Silva writes really intriguing suspense novels about international terrorism. I enjoy his tak

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Recommended Books From Ken Follett Fans

Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism

One-way Tickets: A Case For Willows and Lane

Deborah's Judgment: A Deborah Knott Short Story

Seeds of Deception: A Kate Burkholder Short Story

Death Comes Knocking: Policing Roy Grace's Brighton

Summer Rain: An Inspector Banks Short Story

Backtrack: A Mike Bowditch Short Mystery

Christmas Crumble: An Agatha Raisin Short Story

Missing Pieces: A Kings Lake Investigation

Devil's Delight: An Agatha Raisin Mystery

Disappeared: A Kate Burkholder Short Mystery

Agatha's First Case: An Agatha Raisin Mystery

The Camera Man: A DC Smith Investigation

“A baby was like a revolution, Grigori thought: you could start one, but you could not control how it would turn out.”

Ken Follett, Fall of Giants

John N.

“I’ve read most of Ken Follet’s novels and rank Pillars of the Earth as one of my all time favorite reads. Who would think that a book about the building of a medieval cathedral would be so captivating? But it’s astounding and I blazed through the thousand plus pages.”

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