Ken Follett | Signed First Editions

About Ken Follett

Ken Follett is one of the world’s most widely read storytellers, celebrated for his command of narrative pace and his ability to fuse richly drawn characters with meticulously researched settings. Born in Cardiff in 1949 and later settling in London, Follett began his career as a reporter before moving into publishing, experiences that sharpened his fascination with how information, secrets, and ambition drive human behaviour. His breakthrough came in 1978 with Eye of the Needle, a taut wartime thriller that earned instant acclaim and established his reputation for high-stakes storytelling. He continued to explore espionage across several novels, including The Key to Rebecca and Lie Down with Lions, but it was his turn toward historical fiction that transformed his readership on a global scale.

In 1989, Follett published The Pillars of the Earth, an epic tale of medieval cathedral building that grew into a cultural phenomenon, selling many millions of copies and inspiring television adaptations, board games, and a passionate fan community. Two further novels expanded the Kingsbridge sequence: World Without End and A Column of Fire, each weaving together themes of power, faith, and resilience. Follett later returned to this fictional town with The Evening and the Morning, a prequel set at the end of the Dark Ages, and most recently The Armour of Light, which carries the saga into the age of industrial and political upheaval.

Beyond Kingsbridge, Follett has crafted several multi-generational historical epics. Fall of Giants, Winter of the World, and Edge of Eternity form the Century Trilogy, charting the intertwined destinies of five families across the turbulent events of the twentieth century. Follett’s interest in how ordinary lives intersect with sweeping historical forces is also evident in his thrillers, such as Triple, The Third Twin, and Hornet Flight, each displaying his instinct for momentum and detail.

In 2024, Follett released Circle of Days, a powerful new work that revisits the Kingsbridge world and deepens the overarching narrative landscape he has spent decades building. The novel blends human drama with questions of faith, community, and survival, further cementing Follett’s place as a master of sprawling, immersive storytelling. With more than thirty novels published and over 180 million copies sold, his work continues to attract readers who value ambition, scale, and emotional depth. Follett’s books bridge commercial appeal and literary craftsmanship, making him one of the defining popular novelists of his generation.