Ken Follett
A master of historical suspense, he has built vast fictional worlds that have captivated over 195 million readers globally.
Born 1949 (age 77)·British bestseller novelist·Birthday: June 5·Baby Boomers
Biography
Ken Follett's journey to literary fame was anything but direct. Born in Cardiff, Wales, he started as a newspaper reporter in London before drifting into publishing. His early thrillers, written under pseudonyms, were modest successes. The tectonic shift came in 1978 with 'Eye of the Needle,' a World War II spy novel that became a phenomenon, establishing his signature blend of meticulous research and relentless pacing. Rather than rest on that success, Follett pivoted ambitiously, constructing the sweeping historical sagas for which he is now best known. His 'Kingsbridge' series, beginning with 'The Pillars of the Earth,' immerses readers in the drama of medieval cathedral-building, while his 'Century' trilogy tracks five families through the world wars and Cold War. Follett's process is architectural: he builds intricate plots on foundations of real historical events, creating door-stopping novels that feel both epic and intimate. His work has transformed him from a thriller writer into a storyteller who makes history breathe for a mass audience.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Ken was born in 1949, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ken Was Born
The biggest hits of 1949
#1 Movie
Samson and Delilah
Best Picture
All the King's Men
#1 TV Show
Texaco Star Theatre
Ken's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1949Born
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
1954Started school
Brown v. Board of Education desegregates US schools
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $8,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Little Things Mean a Lot" — Kitty KallenBest Picture: On the Waterfront
1962Became a teenager
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1965Could drive
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1967Could vote
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1970Turned 21
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1979Turned 30
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1989Turned 40
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1999Turned 50
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2009Turned 60
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 70
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 77 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- His 1978 spy novel 'Eye of the Needle' won the Edgar Award and became an international bestseller.
- Authored 'The Pillars of the Earth,' a monumental novel about cathedral building that has sold tens of millions of copies worldwide.
- His books have sold more than 195 million copies, making him one of the best-selling fiction authors of all time.
- Was awarded a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 2024 for services to literature and philanthropy.
Did You Know?
He was a member of a band called 'The Damned' (not the famous punk band) before becoming a full-time writer.
Follett is a committed supporter of the Labour Party and has served as president of the charity Dyslexia Action.
He once worked as a baby-sitter for the novelist Michael Korda, who was then an editor at a publishing house.
A passionate lover of music, he plays bass guitar in a band called 'Damn Right I Got the Blues' with other authors.
“I think the most important thing in writing is to tell a good story.”
