Order of Ken Follett Books

If history ever needed a bard, someone to wrap wars, conspiracies, cathedrals, kings, and queens in thrilling, page-turning prose—Ken Follett would be the man for the job. Born on June 5, 1949, in Cardiff, Wales, Ken Follett was the unassuming child of devout Plymouth Brethren parents who forbade television and disapproved of popular culture. Little did they know they were raising the future titan of historical fiction—a writer who would sell over 180 million copies of his books worldwide, and who would one day make medieval masons more exciting than Marvel superheroes.

Follett’s early life wasn’t the stuff of novels—but maybe that’s what made him crave them. After moving to London at the age of ten, young Ken found escape and adventure in the pages of books. He pursued philosophy at University College London, graduating in 1970—perhaps the perfect subject for someone who’d go on to explore the deepest moral struggles of man through the lens of war, politics, and power. He even flirted briefly with journalism, working as a reporter for the Evening News and later becoming a book editor for a small publishing house. But Ken Follett wasn’t made to write blurbs—he was born to write blockbusters.

And write he did. In 1978, “Eye of the Needle”, a World War II spy thriller, changed his life overnight. The book sold millions, won the Edgar Award, and gave readers a taste of what Follett would become: a master of suspense who could effortlessly mix espionage with emotion. He could make you fall in love with a German spy, then break your heart with a single twist.

But Follett didn’t stop at thrillers. In a move that stunned critics, he shifted into historical epics, beginning with his masterpiece “The Pillars of the Earth” (1989). Set in the 12th century and revolving around the building of a cathedral, it was a book that by all logical standards should have bored readers to tears. Instead, it mesmerized millions. With its sweeping narrative, unforgettable characters, and detailed historical backdrop, the book became a cultural phenomenon—and one of the most beloved novels of our time. It also launched the Kingsbridge series, which would span centuries and captivate readers across generations.

Follett’s genius lies in his paradoxes: he writes about war but obsesses over peace; he crafts villains with chilling realism but never loses sight of the humanity in his heroes. His books stretch across three continents and five centuries, weaving complex political drama with intimate human stories. From the Cold War-era treachery in “The Key to Rebecca” to the sprawling generational saga in “The Century Trilogy,” Ken Follett has done what few authors dare—he’s made history not just readable, but absolutely unputdownable.

What’s more, he didn’t stop even after achieving literary immortality. In his 70s, Follett continues to write novels that defy age and expectation. His later works, such as “The Evening and the Morning” and “Never”, explore everything from the dawn of the Middle Ages to the terrifyingly real possibility of global catastrophe. He challenges readers to learn, to care, and to remember that history isn’t just about the past—it’s a mirror held up to our present.

And the irony? The man whose parents shunned fiction grew up to become one of the most celebrated storytellers of the modern age.

Ken Follett is still very much alive—a literary force in motion—and living proof that sometimes, the best stories aren’t invented; they’re lived. And while his books may be set in centuries past, his voice couldn’t be more timely. With every page, he dares you to ask the hardest questions: What would you sacrifice for power? For freedom? For love?

If you haven’t read Ken Follett yet, you’re not just missing out on epic tales—you’re missing out on one of the most compelling ways to understand the world we live in.

Ready to turn the first page? Because with Ken Follett, history is the greatest adventure story ever told.