BESTSELLING author Ken Follett is coming to Salisbury Cathedral next month to mark the 25th anniversary of his book The Pillars of the Earth.

Best-known for the book that depicts the struggles, scandals and secrets during the construction of a mediaeval cathedral, Follett will be giving a lecture on the subject and why it fascinates him. He will also be accompanied by one of the actors from the television mini-series created from his book.

The author says Salisbury was one of the cathedrals that inspired him to write The Pillars of the Earth, which remains his most popular novel and the one of which he is most proud.

He said: “I come back again and again to the people who built the cathedrals. Those men and women were by modern standards, poor and ignorant. They lived in wooden huts and slept on the floor. Yet they created the most beautiful and awesome buildings the world has ever known.”

The author will be visiting on Sunday, March 2 at 6pm at the start of a tour of five cathedrals. His lecture is called Why Cathedrals? and he will sign books and meet fans at a reception immediately afterwards.

Sarah Mullally, Canon Treasurer at Salisbury Cathedral, said: “This is truly a rare opportunity to hear Ken Follett talk about cathedrals, the inspiration behind his extraordinary book and to meet him in person. He is passionate about these buildings.”

Follett will be joined by the actor David Oakes - who played the dastardly William Hamleigh in the TV mini-series and by Gary Price - the cathedral’s Clerk of Works - for a question-and-answer session after his talk.

Tickets cost £10 for the lecture and £17.50 for the lecture and reception with Ken Follett, David Oakes and Gary Price. They are available online from salisburycathedral.org.uk and at Waterstones Salisbury from Friday.