‘Proud to be French’: Author Ken Follett receives special citizenship

Author Ken Follett said he ‘is proud to be French’ after being naturalised in a ceremony last week. 

The British-born author – whose historical and thriller-themed novels have sold over 195 million copies worldwide – applied for citizenship in 2021, in a move he described as partly motivated by Brexit. 

Four years after applying, the author was granted naturalisation in the London-based ceremony earlier this month, attended by friends, family, and French officials.

At the same time, he was made an Officier of the Legion of Honour by France’s ambassador to the UK.

‘A way of life that I admire’

Mr Follett has long held ties with France, learning the language and moving to Grasse (Alpes-Maritimes) after the success of his debut novel Eye Of The Needle.

Despite then moving back to the UK after three years – in a previous interview, he told The Connexion that he could not live in France as he missed London and felt unqualified to comment on French life – he retained an affinity with the country. 

Currently, the author lives in Hertfordshire, however he frequently returns to France for visits and has sold millions of translated copies of his books in the country. 

Before his official French citizenship was given to him, he was granted ‘honorary citizenship’ in the town of Dol-de-Bretagne (Ille-et-Vilaine) for his help in funding works to renovate the local cathedral.

“I became more and more a friend of France, and I loved it… The French have a way of life that I admire; they discuss intellectual subjects... and, in addition, they eat well, they drink well, they dress well,” he said in an interview with Radio France.

Special citizenship

“When they told me, 'You can become a citizen,' I was happy to!” he added. 

The author explained in the interview how he was informed about the possibility to apply for French citizenship at a July 14 garden party at the French Embassy in London, by a Franco-Scottish director of Scotland’s French Film festival.

While it has not been officially revealed, it is likely the author was able to obtain French citizenship via the étranger émérite system. 

This scheme allows celebrities or others prominent in their field, who can speak at least some French and have a link with the country, to be offered citizenship by France’s Foreign Ministry (either by request to the ministry or a direct offer from the French government).

Notably Pavel Durov, founder of social media app Telegram, received his French citizenship via this route.

Unlike standard citizenship requests, recipients are not required to live in France to obtain it.

Mr Follett is in France as part of a worldwide tour promoting his new book, Circle of Days, set in Stone Age Britain. 

In interviews as part of the tour, the author said he was influenced by Brexit to obtain citizenship.