Lie Down with Lions was published by Hamish Hamilton in 1986, set during the Soviet-Afghan War (1979–1989). Jean-Pierre Debaker, a French doctor working in a remote Afghan valley, is secretly reporting to the KGB on mujahideen supply routes. His English wife Jane, a nurse, gradually discovers his betrayal. Ellis Thaler, an American who was once Jane’s lover, arrives in the valley as a CIA operative tasked with arranging the delivery of anti-aircraft missiles to the resistance.
The love triangle — Jane caught between the two men — mirrors the larger geopolitical triangle of the Cold War being fought by proxy in the Afghan mountains. Follett researched the novel by traveling to Afghanistan (through Pakistan’s tribal areas) and spending time with mujahideen fighters.
Collecting Lie Down with Lions
First edition (Hamish Hamilton, London, 1986): Boards with dust jacket.
Market values:
- UK first edition, fine in jacket: $20–$40
- US first edition (Morrow): $15–$30
Projected values (2026–2036): Modest appreciation.
Afghanistan
Set during the Soviet-Afghan War, Lie Down with Lions (1986) follows an American woman, her French lover (a doctor working with the mujahideen), and an English spy in a love triangle set against the Afghan resistance. Follett’s depiction of the Afghan war — the terrain, the tribal politics, the Soviet military machine — was drawn from on-the-ground reporting and gives the novel a documentary authority unusual in commercial fiction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Follett first editions collectible? Yes. Eye of the Needle first editions (both the UK Storm Island paperback and US Eye of the Needle hardcover) and The Pillars of the Earth first editions are the most valuable. Signed copies of major titles command significant premiums. The UK editions (Hamish Hamilton and later Macmillan) are typically published before the US editions and are preferred by collectors.