Ken Follett is a renowned British author known for his thrilling and historical novels. Born on 5 June 1949 in Cardiff, Wales, he has sold more than 195 million copies of his works worldwide.

Educated in state schools, Ken graduated with an Honours degree in Philosophy from University College, London, later becoming a Fellow of the College in 1995. He began his career in journalism, working for the South Wales Echo and the London Evening News, before moving into publishing with Everest Books.

Follett's first major success was the publication of Eye of the Needle in 1978, a World War II thriller that earned him the Edgar Award for Best Novel. He gained further acclaim with The Pillars of the Earth in 1989, a historical epic about the building of a medieval cathedral, later adapted into a major television series. The sequel, World Without End, was published in 2007.

His latest work, The Armour of Light, released on 26 September 2023, returns to the fictional town of Kingsbridge, set against the backdrop of the Industrial Revolution.

Ken Follett is also an avid bass guitar player and lives in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, with his wife Barbara, a former Labour Member of Parliament. He is actively involved in literacy charities and was president of Dyslexia Action for ten years.

Some of Follett's books that have topped the bestseller lists include The Key to Rebecca, Lie Down with Lions, Triple, and World Without End.