Ken Follett is a Welsh author of thrillers and historical novels. He is best known for his works The Pillars of the Earth and World Without End, both of which have been adapted into television miniseries. He has also written several other best-selling books, including Eye of the Needle, The Key to Rebecca, and The Man from St. Petersburg. Follett has sold more than 160 million copies of his books worldwide, making him one of the world's best-selling authors. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and a member of the Order of the British Empire. Follett is also an active philanthropist, supporting a variety of causes including literacy, education, and the arts.