Ken Follett is a Welsh author of thrillers and historical novels, having sold more than 198 million copies of his works. His books have been sold in over 80 countries and translated into 40 languages.

Early Life and Education
Born on June 5, 1949, in Cardiff, Wales, Ken Follett is the son of a tax inspector. He was educated at state schools and graduated from University College, London, with an Honours degree in Philosophy. He was later made a Fellow of the College in 1995.

Career
Follett began his career as a reporter, working for his hometown newspaper, the South Wales Echo, and then the London Evening News. He later transitioned to publishing, working for Everest Books and eventually becoming Deputy Managing Director. His first major success came with the publication of Eye of the Needle in 1978, a World War II thriller that earned him the 1979 Edgar Award for Best Novel.

In 1989, his epic novel The Pillars of the Earth, about the building of a medieval cathedral, became a bestseller and was adapted into a television series in 2010. The sequel, World Without End, was published in 2007 and also achieved considerable popularity. His latest book, The Armour of Light, set during the Industrial Revolution and Napoleonic Wars, was released in 2023.

Personal Life and Activities
Ken Follett is an avid bass guitar player and resides in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, with his wife Barbara, the former Labour Member of Parliament for Stevenage. They have a blended family of five children and six grandchildren. Follett has been actively involved in literacy charities and served as president of Dyslexia Action for ten years. He was also a past chair of the National Year of Reading and is the Patron of Home-Start Hertfordshire.