Twelve Ken Follett classics get new audio editions
Published August 13, 2018 by Katherine Cowdrey


Pan Macmillan is releasing new audio editions of 12 classic Ken Follett thrillers, read by well-known actors including Richard Armitage and Emilia Fox.

Rebecca Lloyd, Audio publishing director, bought audio rights for world English language excluding USA and Canada for 12 backlist Ken Follett thrillers, including first novel Eye of the Needle.

The 12 audiobooks will each be read by a different well-known actor, with Armitage, best known for his role as dwarf prince Thorin in "The Hobbit", taking on The Man from St Petersburg and Fox, long-running star in "Silent Witness", reading Jackdaws. Other actors involved on the audio project include Samuel West ("The Darkest Hour"), Raza Jaffrey ("Homeland") and Tim Downie ("Paddington").

The first four audiobooks will be released on Thursday (16th August) and the remaining eight will be available by the end of the month.

Follett said: "I listen to audiobooks, so I know how much a good actor can add to the experience. I’m thrilled to have such a great group of stars to voice my stories—and the listeners will also be delighted."

Armitage and Fox said of reading The Man from St Petersburg and Jackdaws that the "compelling" page-turners had been "a joy to read". Fox hailed Jackdaws a "thrilling, romantic and a celebration of brave women" while Armitage said further of The Man from St Petersburg: "I wanted to know everything about these people and the privileged yet dangerous world they inhabit.".

West (pictured left), narrator for Eye of the Needle, added he was delighted to be involved, enthusing: "It is the first Ken Follett book I have read, and although it is 40 years old it still seems extraordinarily up-to-date, and a remarkable book for a man of 27, which is what he was when he wrote it. It made his name, and I have to say I’m not surprised. It is beautifully written and thrillingly exciting."

The audiobooks' launch coincides with the release of Follett’s A Column of Fire in paperback on 23rd August.

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Pan Mac celebrates 30 years of publishing Follett

Published January 29, 2019 by Heloise Wood


Pan Macmillan is marking three decades of publishing Ken Follett and his series The Pillars of the Earth by releasing new editions of 17 backlist titles and previously unseen archive material.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Follett’s global bestseller The Pillars of the Earth, and Pan Macmillan will be reissuing paperback, e-book and audiobook editions of the author's key backlist titles with new covers, and is planning digital, social media and audio promotions throughout 2019. The publisher will also work with retailers on promotions.

Previously unseen archive material will be shared including insight from the author into his books, "behind the scenes" materials from his files, old articles about the books as they come out and photos of Follett as he’s researching.

The 17 relaunched backlist titles reflect the breadth of his writing, a Pan Macmillan spokesperson said, and will feature new covers including World War thrillers such as Hornet Flight, conspiracy thrillers like The Hammer of Eden, and 20th century espionage, including Lie Down with Lions. The first three titles to be promoted will be Jackdaws, The Key to Rebecca and Night Over Water.

Follett, who was awarded a CBE last year, said: “Thirty years ago Pan Macmillan became my British publisher with The Pillars of the Earth. Authors change publishers if they’re dissatisfied: when we find a good one we stay.

“I’ve learned to love publishers who are fizzing with ideas for innovative ways to pique the interest of book lovers. Creating an air of eager anticipation for a new book is really important. The excitement starts in the office and spreads quickly to booksellers, the media, and readers. Good publishers know how to do this, and the best do it time and time again.”

Pan Macmillan's publisher Jeremy Trevathan said: "We are incredibly proud to have been working with Ken for 30 years, and to mark our long and fruitful relationship together in this seminal year as we celebrate 30 years of publishing. Ken is an outstanding writer, with an ability to create mesmerizing stories that enchant readers throughout the world.

"A superlative storyteller, he excels with every novel, and to have this opportunity to celebrate both his career, and the publication of what is undoubtedly his most beloved novel, The Pillars of the Earth, is wonderful. We look forward to continuing our successful and treasured relationship with Ken, Barbara and his team for many years to come."

Follett has sold 2.92 million books for £21.13m via Nielsen BookScan's TCM, with his biggest seller The Pillars of the Earth, at 318,214 copies sold. His most recent title, A Column of Fire , sold 96,410 in paperback and nearly the same in hardback through the TCM.

Last summer Pan Macmillan revealed the launch of 12 new audio editions of Follett's thrillers, read by well-known actors including Richard Armitage and Emilia Fox. In September 2017 he collected a Golden Pan from the publisher, recognising sales in excess of one million copies over a book's lifetime.