Stonehenge has fascinated scientists and spiritualists alike for generations, with over a million visitors flocking to the prehistoric stone circle each year. In his latest novel, author Ken Follett turns his attention to this mystery.
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Were you interested in history from a young age? What first sparked your interest in the past?
I hated history in school because it was boring – although I did read historical novels even then. Later, when I was writing spy stories, I realised that the story would be more interesting if the work of the spy was directly related to a real historical battle or war, and that’s when I began to read military history, looking for moments when a spy changed, or could have changed, history.
What fascinates you about Stonehenge and the time period when it was built?
I’m inspired by the way ordinary people living humble lives can somehow rise above their circumstance and create something eternal. The medieval cathedrals are an example of this. Stonehenge is another.
You did extensive research for Circle of Days. Which experience during that process had the greatest impact on you?
I was very struck by the discovery that the people of the Stone Age dug mines in search of the best quality flint, which was used to make tools. The mines themselves (which you can see at Grimes Graves in Norfolk) are impressive, and they also indicate that the Stone Age must have had a trading system.
Do you have your own theories about how Stonehenge was built?
I do have my own theories. These are rooted in research and based on what archaeologists and experts believe must have happened, but no one really knows the truth. This means that there is a lot of scope for me to use my imagination to elaborate on what little is known based on historical record and evidence. That’s what makes Stonehenge such a fertile and fascinating subject for a novelist – it’s a mystery.
What do you think motivated the people who created Stonehenge to take on such an enormous task?
There isn’t a short answer to this question. However, it was the people who built Stonehenge who interested me the most and who are really the focus of the story. It cannot have been easy to build the monument – in fact, it must have been immensely difficult. Stonehenge predates the wheel and they didn’t use animals to help transport heavy loads, so the stones must have been moved by sheer force of will and human effort. It’s quite inspiring when you think about it, but it does make you wonder why they did it. For the long answer, you’ll have to read the book.
Circle of Days by Ken Follett is published by Quercus and available now.
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