Ken Follett

Ken Follett, whose actual name is Kenneth Martin "Ken" Follett, is an English novelist who specializes in writing historical and spy fiction, and thrillers. He was born on June 5, 1949in Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. His parents' names are Martin Follett and Lavinia (Veenie) Follett.

Martin was a government employee. His family was very conservative, and they would not allow Ken to watch television. As a result, Ken developed the habit of reading books. When Ken turned ten, his family shifted to London.

In Wales, Ken was relatively weak in studies, but he began excelling in his academics in London. Ken went to Harrow Weald Grammar School and later to Poole Technical College. In 1967, Ken secured admission in University College London.

He studied philosophy there and also became interested in politics. After graduating from there, he did a short course of journalism and got a job at South Wales Echo, Cardiff, as a trainee reporter. Ken changed several positions after Cardiff. Eventually, he shifted to London and started to devote his time to writing to earn more money.

After penning several books, he achieved success in 1978 with the release of Eye of the Needle. Since then he has published The Man from St. Petersburg, The Pillars of the Earth, Lie Down with Lions, A Place Called Freedom, The Heist of the Century, and much more. Filmmakers have adapted several of his works for the big as well as the small screen.

While studying at University College London, he met and fell in love with fellow mate Mary. In 1968, they married each other. Mary gave birth to Emanuele and Marie-Claire. However, their union couldn't last long. Ken met Barbara Broer, a political figure, in 1984, and got hitched to her on November 8, 1985.

Ken regularly donated to several social causes and charities. He and his wife Barbara, together, bestowed fifty thousand pounds to Yvette Cooper. Ken was Roebuck Primary School's governor for nearly a decade. He is an active member of the nation's Labour Party.

On September 2010, Ken signed an open later which opposed the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the state. He is one of the members of National Academy of Writing's board, the National Literacy Trust's trustee, the chairperson of the Reading Is Fundamental's advisory committee and the president of Dyslexia Action. Saginaw Valley State University, Michigan, houses the drafts and first papers of some of his projects. He has managed to sell millions of copies of his works.