Key facts
- Jeffrey Archer, bestselling British novelist and former politician, died at 86.
- His final novel, "Adam and Eve," is scheduled for publication on October 6.
- Archer sold over 300 million copies worldwide and was known for thrillers like "Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less" and "Kane & Abel."
- He served as a Conservative lawmaker and senior party official under Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
- Archer was convicted of perjury in 2001 related to a 1987 libel case and served two years in prison.
Jeffrey Archer, the bestselling British novelist and former politician, has died at the age of 86, his publisher HarperCollins announced on Monday.
Archer, known for his pacy thrillers and a prominent role in Conservative politics, sold over 300 million copies worldwide. His debut novel, "Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less," was published in 1976, followed by "Kane & Abel" in 1979. His final novel, "Adam and Eve," is set to be published on Tuesday.
Archer also had a significant political career, serving as a lawmaker and later as a senior party official under then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the mid-1980s. However, his public life was overshadowed by scandal. In 1987, he won a libel case against the Daily Star tabloid for 500,000 pounds ($660,450) after denying an affair.
The case resurfaced in 1999 when Archer was selected as the Conservative candidate for London mayor. He was subsequently charged with perjury and perverting the course of justice, convicted, and sentenced to four years in prison, serving two years. During his time in prison, he wrote "A Prison Diary."
Despite the controversies, Archer's literary career continued to thrive, with his books sold in 119 countries and spending a total of five-and-a-half years on the New York Times bestseller lists. He was scheduled to speak about his final novel at the Cheltenham Literature Festival.