"pillars Of The Earth" Author, Ken Follett, Author Biographies

Ken Follett was born on June 5, 1949 in Cardiff, Wales. His father, Martin, a tax inspector, and his mother, Veenie, moved the family to London when he was 10 years old. He was raised in a strict Christian household. With little outside entertainment, he acquired an appreciation for books and storytelling.

Ken earned a bachelors degree in philosophy from the University of London in 1970. He took a three month post graduate course in journalism and moved back to Cardiff, Wales to pursue his career.

Ken Follett married Mary in 1968. They have a son and daughter, but later divorced.

Ken Follett worked as a journalist for the South Wales Echo for three years. Upon returning to London, he worked as a general assignment reporter for the London Evening News. He wrote stories in his spare time.

In 1974 Ken left journalism to pursue publishing at Everest Books where he later became Deputy Managing director.

Ken started his writing career using pseudonyms. Although he wrote two children’s books and several novels, he didn’t become a literary success until “Eye of the Needle” was published in 1978, when he was only 27 years old. This book won an Edgar Award and was the first of several of his subsequent books to be made into films.

Ken Follett became involved in politics supporting the Labor Party. In 1984 Ken married Barbara Boer, a member of Parliament. He became stepfather to her three children by a previous marriage.

Even though Ken Follett’s novel, “Pillars of the Earth”, published in 1989, was a big hit, it became a sensation when Oprah Winfrey added it to her Book Club nearly 10 years later. The book was subsequently made into an eight hour television series.

The sequel to this book, “World Without End”, was published in 2007. Ken says that the subject of this book centers on The Black Death 200 years later. Both books are close to 1,000 pages each.

In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, he says he sold his first story for $500, which is the amount he owed to get his car fixed. He told her that writing was the only thing he felt he could do well.

Ken Follett is president of “Dyslexic Action”, a foundation to teach children and adults how to read and write. He says dyslexia is demoralizing because it’s difficult to learn to read. He says he mainly does fund raising.

Ken is also involved in the “National Literacy Trust”, a knockoff of the United State’s “Reading is Fundamental.” They give free books to disadvantaged children. He says the main difference is that the US has federal funding, whereas in the UK they have to raise all the money themselves.

Books by Ken Follet:

Series:

Apples Carstairs Series: (written as Simon Myles)
The Big Needle (1974)
The Big Black (1974)
The Big Hit (1975)

Piers Roper:
The Shakeout (1975)
The Bear Raid (1976)

Pillars of the Earth:
The pillars of the Earth (1989)
World Without End (2007)

Childrens’ Books:
The Power Twins: A Science Fantasy for Young People (1976) (written as Martin Martinsen)
The Mystery Hideout (1976)

Novels:
Amok King of Legend (1976) (written as Bernard L. Ross)
The Secret of Kellerman’s Studio (1976)
The Modigliani Scandal (1976) (written as Zachary Stone)
Paper Money (1977) (written as Zachary Stone)
Capricorn One (1978) (written as Bernard L. Ross)
The Eye of the Needle (1978)
Triple (1979)
The Key to Rebecca (1980)
The Man from St. Petersburg (1982)
Lie Down with Lions (1985)
Night Over Water (1991)
A Dangerous Fortune (1993)
A Place Called Freedom (1995)
The Third Twin (1996)
The Hammer of Eden (1998)
Code to Zero (2000)
Jackdaws (2001)
Hornet Flight (2002)
Whiteout (2004)

Nonfiction:
Under the Streets of Nice (1978) (with Louis Maurice)
On Wings of Eagles (1983)

By: Elizabeth Lindsey

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