The publishing market shakes every time a new work by Ken Follett. It is not for less, because we are talking about the best-selling author par excellence. His literary career has found in historical fiction a market niche that he would make entirely his world niche.
Entering to value the overwhelming success of this author, above any other, is risky. But Ken Follet sets very clear guidelines for his own stamp that place him at the top of the pyramid. We consider:
- Documentation: With a faithful reflection of the reality of each moment, with the introduction of real characters and with their solid descriptions inserted at the precise moment and without hindering the rhythm, he manages to win over the most purists.
- Plot: With some magically linked plots and maintained in a constant tension, he manages to hook to the rhythm of the best commercial bestseller.
- Characters: The characters feel. Empathy is born from the first gesture, either with the most pious of those involved or with the most perverse.
- Action: The action of each of his installments progresses in a frenetic way, always spinning very fine, with constant links and hooks to always locate the reader perfectly. An action that does not dispense with the most violent or atrocious moments, accompanied by convenient revenge or moments for replacement.
At book A column of fire, we will find more of this winning cocktail with which the trilogy of Los Pilares de la Tierra (the first of his enormous historical novels) closes.
We start with the fictional Kingsbridge Cathedral, which has seen so many moments in the saga from its ancient stones. New confrontations between nobles and religious are presenting the breeding ground of this story.
Surnames that are linking us with old characters, references to the most real history to locate this other parallel history that takes place wonderfully embedded in those real events. Elizabeth I, the Virgin Queen occupies the Crown of England and faces a suspicious, fearful continental Europe ready for armed confrontation.
While in the high spheres of power of the moment pre-war movements are beginning to be glimpsed, among the townspeople we know the love story of Ned Willard and Margery Fitzgerald (winks and constant links with already illustrious surnames of this saga and the other successful one Author's saga: «The Century») A love that unsurprisingly seems led to failure ...
As always, Ken Follet, who also had to say that he already had a solid literary career before his booms with the historical trilogies, surprises, excites and enlightens us at the same time. Your arrival is essential.
You can now pre-order the book A Column of Fire, the next novel by Ken Follet, here: