AColumn of Fire

Follett's storytelling skills make their adventures rivetingDeploying a substantial cast of characters, Follett unrolls a familiar history of religious and political ferment and turns it into accessible and enjoyable fictionThis triumphant saga, begun almost 30 years ago with The Pillars Of The Earth, moves across England to Scotland, France and the New WorldA sumptuous slice of swashbuckling Elizabethan romanceThe characters, both fictional and real, are fascinating, and the Tudor period setting holds its own special allure. This is a novel that fans of historical fiction will savour and cherishA huge read, perfect for long winter nightsA thundering ride through historyFollett has once more lit the touch paper of English history and allowed it to explode across the pages in in all its vivid technicolourKen Follett‰۪s third novel in the Kingsbridge series, A Column of Fire, returns to the setting and story that began, and continued, in the The Pillars of the Earth and World Without End. Christmas 1558, the world is in turmoil as a new queen takes her throne and one man pledges to protect her life at all costs.

The page-turning saga that began in The Pillars of the Earth and World Without End, which now continues with Ken Follett's magnificent, masterful A Column of Fire.

A World in Turmoil

1558, and Europe is in revolt as religious hatred sweeps the continent. Elizabeth Tudor has ascended to the throne but she is not safe in this dangerous new world. There are many who would see her removed, not least Mary Queens of Scots, who lies in wait in Paris.

A New Order

Elizabeth determines to set up a new secret service: a group of resourceful spies and courageous agents entrusted to keep her safe and in power. As she searches for those who will make the difference, one man stands out.

A Man Who Would Die for His Queen

For Ned Willard the opportunity to serve his queen is God-sent. He cannot stay in Kingsbridge and watch the love of his life marry another, and as fires burn and extremism begins to spark throughout Europe, Ned makes his choice. He will spend his life protecting his monarch from the tyrants who aim to destroy her or die trying . . .

Ken Follett was born in Cardiff, Wales. Barred from watching films and television by his parents, he developed an early interest in reading thanks to a local library. After studying philosophy at University College London, he became involved in centre-left politics, entering into journalism soon after. His first thriller, the wartime spy drama Eye of the Needle, became an international bestseller and has sold over 10 million copies. He then astonished everyone with his first historical novel, The Pillars of the Earth, the story of the building of a medieval cathedral, which went on to become one of the most beloved books of the twentieth century. One of the most popular authors in the world, his many books, including the Kingsbridge series and the Century trilogy, have sold more than 178 million copies. A father and husband, Ken lives with his wife in England and enjoys travelling the world when he can.

The Kingsbridge Novels are Ken Follett‰۪s classic historical masterpieces. Set in the city of Kingsbridge, Follett brings his rich expertise to this immersive and epic saga ‰ÛÒ full of ambition, love, power and family conflict. The story begins in The Pillars of the Earth, which centres on the struggles of Prior Phillip and his mason-turned-architect Tom as they attempt to build the greatest gothic cathedral in the medieval world.

The sequel, World Without End, is set two centuries later and follows the lives of four children who witness two men being killed the day after Halloween. From that moment, their lives are bound together by love and revenge, as they confront the Black Death and the beginning of the Hundred Years War. The saga continues in the third novel, A Column of Fire. Beginning in 1558, it charts the star-crossed romance between Will Willard and Margery Fitzgerald over half a century. Meanwhile, Europe turns against England when Elizabeth Tudor becomes queen and finds herself beset by plots to dethrone her. The Pillars of the Earth, starring Rufus Sewell and Eddie Redmayne, and World Without End, starring Cynthia Nixon, have been adapted for television.