The bestselling British author and former Conservative politician died suddenly at home, leaving behind a five-decade writing career and more than 300 million books sold.
Jeffrey Archer, the bestselling British novelist and former Conservative politician, has died at the age of 86.
Archer died suddenly and peacefully at his home on Monday, according to his publisher, HarperCollins. He had continued writing until the end of his life, with his final novel, Adam and Eve, due to be published this week.
The author sold more than 300 million books worldwide during a writing career that began in 1976. His best-known works included Kane and Abel, Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less and the Clifton Chronicles.
Kane and Abel alone sold more than 34 million copies, according to his publisher.
From Parliament to the bestseller lists
Archer was born in London in 1940 and moved with his family to Somerset as a child. He entered politics in 1969, when he was elected as the Conservative MP for Louth at the age of 29.
His political career lasted five years in the House of Commons before financial difficulties forced him to leave Parliament. He later returned to the political spotlight as deputy chairman of the Conservative Party.
His career was badly damaged by a legal scandal involving the Daily Star. Archer had successfully sued the newspaper in 1987 and received £500,000 in damages after denying allegations about his private life.
Years later, evidence emerged that he had lied during the case and had persuaded a friend to provide false evidence. In 2001, he was convicted of perjury and perverting the course of justice and sentenced to four years in prison. He was released in 2003 after serving about half of his sentence.
Archer later returned to public life and remained a member of the House of Lords until his retirement in 2024.
A final novel
Despite the upheaval in his political life, Archer went on to build one of Britain’s most commercially successful writing careers.
His final novel, Adam and Eve, was planned as his 31st novel. Earlier this year, Archer said he had decided it would be his last after recognising that, at 85, he could not expect to surpass it. He had, however, suggested that he might continue writing short stories.
Only a day before his death, Archer appeared at the Leicester Square Theatre in London, where he signed books and took part in an event with broadcaster Gyles Brandreth.
Brandreth later described him as energetic, funny and engaging during the appearance.
Archer had also returned to his former school in Wellington, Somerset, in the final weeks of his life to promote Adam and Eve.
He was due to appear at the Cheltenham Festival later this week to discuss the novel.
Tributes
His publisher described Archer as a master storyteller and said his readers had always been deeply important to him.
Kate Elton, HarperCollins UK chief executive and Archer’s longtime editor, praised his extraordinary work ethic and attention to detail, saying it had been a privilege to work with him.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch also paid tribute, describing his death as a huge shock.
Archer is survived by his wife, Mary, whom he had been married to for 60 years, their two sons and five grandchildren.
His death comes as readers prepare to encounter his final work, a novel published just as one of Britain’s most commercially successful and controversial literary careers comes to an end.
About the Author
