Pillars of Catalunya: Novelist Ken Follett gives his views

BEST-SELLING historical fiction writer Ken Follett told reporters in Madrid this week that he is 'not bothered about a Nobel Literature Prize' and is 'quite happy with his Maserati and champagne', and reveals that his latest epic is partly set in the southern Spanish city of Sevilla.

During the Welsh author's presentation at Madrid's Ritz Hotel of A Column of Fire – his 31^st novel and the third set in the fictitious Mediaeval city of Kingsbridge, a series started with his massive hit The Pillars of the Earth – he was inevitably asked what he thought of the situation in Catalunya, given that last Sunday's extreme police action and the subsequent protests have been broadcast all over the world.

“I have to say two things,” stated Follett, 68.

“Firstly, it's very hard to tell people they can't vote, even if that's the right thing to do. Even if the voting is illegal – even if all that's true – those who send in the police to stop people voting are always going to be seen as the villain of the piece. I'm not saying that's the case, but that's what it will look like. We're talking about a public relations error.

“Secondly, I think that, in the end, they won't be able to prevent the catalanes voting on their future, but I hope they vote to stay in Spain, because I believe that better integration is where the future lies. My own country, Wales, is much better off inside the UK than on its own. I think the UK would be better off staying in the European Union than out of it. And I believe Catalunya is better off in Spain than out of it.

“Nationalism is not the future. They'll vote, but I hope they vote to stay in Spain.”

As for Brexit, Follett 'continues to believe' that the vote to leave the European Union 'was a big mistake'.

“I year ago I was hoping it could be reversed, but right now I don't think that's going to be possible, and it's a great shame,” the novelist laments. “Sometimes, when people are given the chance to vote, they vote for what's not good for them at all. But that's what democracy is all about!”

Follett's new tour-de-force has a small part set in Sevilla, and it has not escaped Spanish readers' notice that these scenes feature historical villains – the Spaniards in the book are the Catholic integrationists, or the 'baddies' - but Follett tells his readers in Spain not to be offended.

“Often, I tell stories of the history of the UK without the usual myths about how fabulous the British were; but if my British readers can put up with that, I guess my Spanish readers will be able to cope with their lot too,” he admits.

“I've written several novels about World War II, and they sell very well in Germany – yet there's no getting away from the fact that the Germans are the 'baddies' in them. That said, there's a very attractive Spanish character in A Column of Fire whom I think people here [for Spain] will like very much.”

Ken Follett has helped revolutionise the historical novel, and 'internationally so', as he explains – but always avoiding 'glorifying national heroes' who 'rebel against the invaders'.

“Where the British are fighting in my novels, they're fighting for freedom and justice, not for nationalistic reasons – nationalism isn't one of the values of my stories,” Follett explains.

“Historical novels often have, indeed, promoted nationalism, but I don't because I think that in general, foreign invaders have been good for us. For example, the Normans who invaded England improved it quite a lot! They built castles and cathedrals, governed better – everything went better, actually! And I'll never write a novel about a 'brave and valiant Englishman' who fights against the Normans.”

As well as being a subject of huge personal interest, Follett confesses that his novels are aimed at making history more thrilling for the layperson.

“Most people aren't interested in history. We all remember how boring it was at school,” he confides.

“But I get tweets and emails from people who say, I never thought history could be so fascinating until I read your novels. The thing is, you have to write it the right way, and schools do not teach it the right way.”

This is one of the reasons Follett does not hold back in writing sex scenes - “All love stories are really Romeo and Juliet; two people who love each other and can't be together...and after 300 pages of looking at each other with longing, finally they get together and there has to be, shall we say, a 'physical resolution'; the modern reader wants to be in the room when they finally rip each others' clothes off and jump into bed.”

Although Follett admits his novels are long – each around 900 to 1,000 pages – he says this is the only way to trace characters' lives from earliest childhood through to old age and death, and on to the next generation. Also, each chapter is so full of adventure, romance and action that they feel much shorter.

Despite his resounding global success, Follett is not concerned that he has lost out on the Nobel Literature Prize – which has gone to the equally huge Kazuo Ishiguro, the Japanese-born British author of Never Let Me Go and The Remains of the Day.

“I'm very well rewarded for my work. I enjoy life, drink champagne whenever I want, spend all my time doing something I love and get paid a fortune for it – and get to stay at the Ritz!” Follett confesses. “So I've no hard feelings about other authors getting the prize. They can have their Nobels; I'll stick to my Maserati!”