Ken Follett's made a name for himself as an author of historical epic novels - and he's got a new one out.

After starting his career as a thriller writer in the 70s, Ken’s decision to write The Pillars of the Earth in 1989 set his career on a different trajectory, and it paid off.

Pillars has sold over 27 million copies and to date remains his most famous novel - and his total book sales now sits around 198 million copies globally.

Ken’s latest book, Circle of Days, is another historical epic built around the mysteries of Stonehenge.

"They didn't leave anything written, they didn't do many cave paintings and so all we've really got is what the archaeologists dig up out of the ground. My policy is - I find out what's known, what the historians feel confident about. And what isn't known, I'm entitled to make up."

LISTEN ABOVE

Ken Follett's made a name for himself as an author of historical epic novels - and he's got a new one out.
After starting his career as a thriller writer in the 70s, Ken’s decision to write The Pillars of the Earth in 1989 set his career on a different trajectory, and it paid off.
Pillars has sold over 27 million copies and to date remains his most famous novel - and his total book sales now sits around 198 million copies globally.
Ken’s latest book,&nbsp;Circle of Days, is another historical epic built around the mysteries of Stonehenge.
"They didn't leave anything written, they didn't do many cave paintings and so all we've really got is what the archaeologists dig up out of the ground. My policy is - I find out what's known, what the historians feel confident about. And what isn't known, I'm entitled to make up."
LISTEN ABOVE

News, opinion, analysis, lifestyle and entertainment – we’ve got your Sunday morning listening covered with The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin on Newstalk ZB.

The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

Ken Follett: author on his new book Circle of Days

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/f6bd4083-5031-4fcc-9db7-b366000c545e/transcript

Award-winning journalist Charlotte Glennie's built up a memorable career over the years.

As a foreign correspondent, she reported from North Korea, Mongolia, and Russia, she covered monsoon rains in a Bangladesh refugee camp and she witnessed the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami that killed more than 200,000 people.

But before all that, Glennie was in a life-changing accident while in Croatia and lost her footing and fell off a cliff onto rocks below, suffering life-threatening injuries.

She's written about all her experiences in a new memoir - Every Second Counts.

"There were two things I wanted to do, and for me, they were the pinnacle of a journalism career. One was to be a foreign correspondent and one was to be a political correspondent. And the political one came along very early on...and another theme of the book is just taking opportunities when they come along."

LISTEN ABOVE

Award-winning journalist Charlotte Glennie's built up a memorable career over the years.
As a foreign correspondent, she reported from North Korea, Mongolia, and Russia, she covered monsoon rains in a Bangladesh refugee camp and she witnessed the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami that killed more than 200,000 people.
But before all that, Glennie was in a life-changing accident while in Croatia and lost her footing and fell off a cliff onto rocks below, suffering life-threatening injuries.
She's written about all her experiences in a new memoir - Every Second Counts.
"There were two things I wanted to do, and for me, they were the pinnacle of a journalism career. One was to be a foreign correspondent and one was to be a political correspondent. And the political one came along very early on...and another theme of the book is just taking opportunities when they come along."
LISTEN ABOVE

Charlotte Glennie: Kiwi journalist looks back on her career in new memoir

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/fe998cf2-15fc-4365-ad7b-b4070002e469/transcript

Brothers Pene Pati and Amitai Pati began their music careers in South Auckland church halls, but now they've grown their international careers.

A new documentary Tenor: My Name Is Pati explored the duo's journey to the opera stages as Sol3 Mio stars - and how they got to train and work overseas.

Pene Pati says he was scared on the journey, but knew he would find his way. 

"I often think about this - it's a bit of both. I was scared, I was fearful...but at the same time, I was confident that I could do it." 

LISTEN ABOVE

Brothers Pene Pati and Amitai Pati began their music careers in South Auckland church halls, but now they've grown their international careers.
A new documentary Tenor: My Name Is Pati explored the duo's journey to the opera stages as Sol3 Mio stars - and how they got to train and work overseas.
Pene Pati says he was scared on the journey, but knew he would find his way.&nbsp;
"I often think about this - it's a bit of both. I was scared, I was fearful...but at the same time, I was confident that I could do it."&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Pene Pati: Sol3 Mio opera signer on the new documentary Tenor: My Name Is Pati

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/eb486457-80cd-4f79-b6c0-b4060189742f/transcript

Saoirse by Charleen Hurtubuse. Saoirse is a successful artist living in Ireland with a lovely family and skeletons in the closet that she hopes will stay hidden forever. When she becomes the focus of attention after winning a major art award, her carefully constructed life comes under attack as her deception becomes known, and the public gaze sees only the extent of her lies and not the desperate need that drove them.

A Far-Flung Life by M.L.Stedman. The MacBride family operate a one million acre sheep station in Western Australia, where one day an accident on the property changes their lives forever and the resulting trauma leads to a terrible secret which could rip them all apart. Set against the vast landscape of WA, amidst extreme isolation, all they have is one another and a fierce determination to protect their way of life. This book is wonderful. 

LISTEN ABOVE
 
 
 

Saoirse by Charleen Hurtubuse. Saoirse is a successful artist living in Ireland with a lovely family and skeletons in the closet that she hopes will stay hidden forever. When she becomes the focus of attention after winning a major art award, her carefully constructed life comes under attack as her deception becomes known, and the public gaze sees only the extent of her lies and not the desperate need that drove them.
A Far-Flung Life by M.L.Stedman. The MacBride family operate a one million acre sheep station in Western Australia, where one day an accident on the property changes their lives forever and the resulting trauma leads to a terrible secret which could rip them all apart. Set against the vast landscape of WA, amidst extreme isolation, all they have is one another and a fierce determination to protect their way of life. This book is wonderful.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Whitcoulls Recommends: Saoirse and A Far-Flung Life

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/4e0489e8-175e-4cc2-beeb-b4060184c7f9/transcript

Ken Follett: author on his new book Circle of Days

In 1 playlist(s)

The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips