Matt Raymond from the Library of Congress speaks with Ken Follett, who appeared at the 2010 National Book Festival on September 25, 2010, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Biography

Ken Follett is one of the best-selling novelists in the world, having sold more than 100 million copies of his books. He became an instant sensation with his first novel, 1978’s “Eye of the Needle,” which later became a successful film. Since then, Follett has continued to captivate millions of readers with his taut, suspenseful thrillers. His current project is his most ambitious yet: The Century Trilogy will relate the history of the 20th century, as seen through the eyes of five linked families: one American, one English, one German, one Russian and one Welsh. The first book, “Fall of Giants” (Penguin), focuses on World War I and the Russian Revolution. Follett is already at work on the second book in the series, provisionally titled “The Winter of the World,” about the Spanish Civil War, World War II and the development of nuclear weapons. Follett lives in England.