Bestselling British novelist and former politician Jeffrey Archer has died aged 86, his publisher HarperCollins said.
Archer, whose books sold more than 300 million copies during a five-decade career, died “suddenly and peacefully at home” on Monday between writing sessions.
Archer was best known for novels including Kane and Abel and the Clifton Chronicles. His final novel, Adam and Eve, is scheduled for release on October 6, and he was due to discuss it at the Cheltenham Festival on Saturday.
He had appeared at London’s Leicester Square Theatre on Sunday, signing books with broadcaster Gyles Brandreth, who described him as being in “wonderful, ebullient form” and a great storyteller “to the last”.
Born in north London on April 15, 1940, Archer entered politics in 1969 after becoming Conservative MP for Louth. He served five years in the House of Commons before becoming deputy chairman of the Conservative Party.
His political career was derailed by a 2001 conviction for perjury and perverting the course of justice linked to a libel case against the Daily Star.
He was sentenced to four years, released in 2003 and later returned to the House of Lords, retiring in 2024.
HarperCollins CEO Kate Elton called working with Archer “one of the great privileges” of her publishing career.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and former chancellor Nadhim Zahawi also paid tribute. Archer and his wife Mary celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this year.
