A masterful author of thrillers and historical fiction, Ken Follett has become one of modern literature’s most read and revered writers. With over 40 novels to his name – celebrated for their sweeping narratives, rich character development and meticulously researched settings – his work has sold more than 180 million copies worldwide.
Born in Wales in 1949, Follett spent his 20s working in rock journalism, crime reporting and publishing, writing books on the side before striking gold with the 1978 thriller, Eye of the Needle. A spy story set in the Second World War, it won him the Edgar Award for Best Novel and set a spectacular precedent: every book he’s released since has become a bestseller.
In 1989, Follett surprised fans with his first non-spy thriller, The Pillars of the Earth. An epic novel about the building of a medieval cathedral, it’s proved to be his most popular – spawning three sequels, a prequel, and a television series produced by Ridley Scott. Follett found further acclaim with his 2010s Century Trilogy, a sweeping historical saga following the fates of five families as they navigate the social and political turmoils of the 20th century.
In a reading list for The Week, Follett shared some of his favorite stories of suspense, science fiction, and good old-fashioned sleuthing. From Frank Herbert to Ian Fleming, explore his recommendations below, and complement with the bookshelves of Dan Brown, David Baldacci, Dean Koontz, John Grisham, Lee Child and Stephen King. For further insight into Follett’s process, check out his BBC Maestro course on writing bestselling fiction.
Ken Follett’s Reading List
Orley Farm by Anthony Trollope
“Trollope’s first success, and a masterpiece of construction. It’s a complex courtroom drama, though we don’t get to court until late in the book. As the case unfolds, Trollope describes the effect of each development on each of several characters. The suspense is terrific as the net slowly tightens around the guilty party.” -KF
Dune by Frank Herbert (also rec’d by Margot Robbie)
“A magnificent science fiction blockbuster. The story takes place mostly on a brilliantly imagined desert planet in a universe of tyranny and violence. The ecology of the planet is startling but credible. Multiple storylines are interwoven and come together shockingly but in a deeply satisfying way.” -KF
Cousin Bette by Honoré de Balzac (also rec’d by Tom Wolfe)
“A fascinatingly horrible villainess, a cast of mostly unscrupulous Paris schemers, several charming prostitutes, and a very few decent people who mostly come to a sad end. This is a vicious tale of clever, remorseless revenge, served very cold. I love Balzac because he doesn’t flinch from how cruel the world is.” -KF
Bleak House by Charles Dickens
“I dithered over which Dickens to choose because I love so many (but not all). This is one of his best. The plot is deep, the entanglements complex, and the big scenes wonderfully melodramatic. But, as always, we remember the characters: haughty Lady Dedlock, foolish Richard Carstone, sponging Harold Skimpole, the sly lawyer Tulkinghorn, and Inspector Bucket of the Detective Branch.” -KF
Live and Let Die by Ian Fleming
“I read this when I was 12, and re-read it a few weeks ago to see whether it was as good as I remembered. It was. The opening line is so alluring: ‘There are moments of great luxury in the life of a secret agent.’ As well as luxury, we get three terrific action scenes, the last mostly underwater.” -KF
The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng
“This is Tan’s third book, and he just keeps getting better. He is a somewhat spiritual writer, with a love of gardens, but the stories are always about the brutal consequences of ethnic strife, revolution, and war. The combination is mesmerizing.” -KF
(via The Week; photo by Beatriz Valasco)
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