Reading historical fiction is a great way to learn about history. Instead of memorizing boring facts like dates and names, you can transport yourself to another time period and even meet people who lived during that time.
ken follett is one of the best historical fiction writers working today, with more than 30 novels to his name. His books cover some of the most critical turning points in world history.
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In addition to publishing books under his real name, Follett has also used pseudonyms, including Zachary Stone, Storm Island, Martin Martinsen, and Bernard L. ross.
ken follett’s best books
Below are 11 of the best Ken Follett books. for books in a series, we’ve linked to the first book.
1. the kingsbridge series
The Pillars of the Earth is the first book in the Kingsbridge series. It is set in the Middle Ages and follows the life of a community near a prominent cathedral in a fictional city in England. Ken Follett weaves in such important elements as the martyrdom of Archbishop Thomas Becket and the tragic sinking White Ship, as he weaves a captivating story of politics, religion, and love.
The second book, World Without End, picks up 157 years later, during the Edwardian War and the Black Death. Later books cover the royal family in England, up to the development of the legal system during the years of Viking raids and Norman attacks on England.
2. the trilogy of the century
The Fall of Giants is the first book in Ken Follett’s Century Trilogy, which follows people from five fictional families at the start of World War I, through the Russian Revolution and even the women’s rights movement. women.
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The great thing about these novels is that not only do you travel to significant periods of history, but readers can also travel around the world. And, a key focus of these stories is the triumphs of the working middle class over the aristocratic elite, as Ken Follett effectively weaves together the lives of characters from different social backgrounds.
The second book, Winter of the World, introduces the next generation of the same families living through World War II and the Nazi regime, right up to the Cold War.
3. eye of the needle
This novel is part thriller, part historical fiction and inspired the 1981 film of the same title. The book earned Follett the Edgar Award for Best Novel and is considered his first big success.
The Eye of the Needle opens in 1940, when a German spy calling himself “The Needle” is given a mission to obtain important information about London and send it to Berlin. Due to some turn of events, he is framed for murder and ends up escaping to a small island off the coast of Scotland.
4. the key of rebecca
While researching the Eye of the Needle, Follett stumbled upon the story of Johannes Epsler, a Nazi spy, who inspired this book’s main character, Alex Wolff. In this novel, Wolff heads to Egypt to deliver a code to German General Erwin Rommel. This code, linked to Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, will open the gates of Cairo to German forces.
5. a dangerous fortune
When a student dies in front of his friends in a mysterious drowning accident at a prestigious boarding school in 1866, his death continues to haunt them even 20 years later. at that point, they are all part of the upper strata of British society, with the Victorian class system collapsing around them.
6. a place called freedom
this novel follows mack mcash, who defends the rights of abused coal miners. In the process, he gains the attention of Lizzie Hallim, who, unfortunately, is married to one of the mine owners that Mack is advocating against.
7. wasp flight
In this novel based on true events, Follett focuses on a Danish pilot during World War II, teenage Harald Olufsen, who, in the midst of German air dominance, finds a new German radar. Because of this, the Germans chase him and he ends up flying on an old plane to England to escape.
8. the man from st. petersburg
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This novel, set in 1914, shows the need for both sides of the war for Russia. Winston Churchill and the Earl of Walden conspire for a secret alliance with this superpower, but someone sneaks into England, affecting the course of history.
9. on wings of eagles
This non-fiction thriller tells the true story of several key figures during the Iranian Revolution, when Paul Chiapparone and Bill Gaylord are rescued from a prison in Tehran, thanks to a team of IT executives led by a Green Beret Colonel who leaves of retirement.
10. sleep with the lions
This novel is set in the Afghan mountains, where two young aid workers and an American arrive in the Valley of the Five Lions with a message for Masud, the legendary guerrilla leader. the Russians want him dead or alive.
11. night on the water
The year is 1939 and war has just been declared. The luxurious Pan-American clipper takes several privileged people on a flight to New York. What will unfold overnight as the plane crosses the Atlantic, with tensions rising and finally exploding in a terrifying climax?
the best of ken follett
Reading Ken Follett’s books is a great way to immerse yourself in different cultures and nuances of bygone eras. plus, you can enjoy the heart-stopping thrill of espionage, love, and life-or-death options.
Of course, you’re not the only historical fiction novelist out there, so don’t be afraid to try other historical fiction books. the more you read, the broader your perspective will be!
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