Jeffrey Archer: Best-selling author and former UK politician dies aged 86
His final novel, Adam and Eve, is due to be published in October.
British author and former politician Jeffrey Archer has died at age 86.
According to his publisher, HarpersCollins, Archer died “suddenly and peacefully” at his home on Monday between writing sessions.
He sold more than 300 million books worldwide during a five-decade literary career, with acclaimed novels including Kane and Abel.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.His final novel, Adam and Eve, is due to be published in October.
Archer’s editor and HarpersCollins’ UK CEO, Kate Elton, paid tribute to the novelist, remembering him as a “master storyteller.”
“It has been one of the great privileges of my publishing life to have been Jeffrey Archer’s editor,” she said in a statement, according to BBC.
“We’re all devastated to have lost a writer who has brought joy to generations of readers — and a true friend.
“He was the master storyteller and an editor’s dream - phenomenally hard-working, utterly committed to completing draft after draft to get every word as perfect as possible, and a true champion of the ‘team’ nature of great publishing.”
Alongside his literary success, Archer’s career as a conservative politician was defined by high-profile roles and spectacular public downfalls.
He was elected as the Conservative MP for Louth in a 1969 by-election when he was 29, and spent five years in the House of Commons.
Archer resigned in 1974 after financial difficulties following the collapse of an investment in the Canadian company Aquablast.
After establishing himself as an esteemed author, Archer returned to politics in the 1980s and was appointed deputy chairman of the Conservative Party in 1985 under Margaret Thatcher.
His political career was marred the following year when allegations emerged he had paid a sex worker £2,000 ($AUD3,790). Archer denied the allegations and won a libel case against the Daily Star, recieving £500,000 ($AUD 948,000) in damages.
Archer’s biggest political downfall came in 1999 when he was campaigning to become the Conservative candidate for Mayor of London.
Reports revealed he had asked his friend, Ted Francis, to provide a false alibi connected to the earlier libel case, forcing Archer to withdraw from the mayoral race.
The revelations eventually led to a criminal prosecution, and in 2001 Archer was convicted of perjury and perverting the curse of Justice. He was sentenced to four years in prison and served about two years before being released in 2003.
