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British novelist and former politician Jeffrey Archer has died aged 86, publisher “HarperCollins” said on Monday, according to Reuters. The bestselling author died suddenly and peacefully between writing sessions, the publisher said.
Archer sold more than 300 million books worldwide. His best-known works included his 1976 debut, “Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less,” and the 1979 novel “Kane & Abel.” His final novel, “Adam and Eve,” is due to be published on Tuesday.
“HarperCollins” UK chief executive and Archer’s editor, Kate Elton, said in a statement that the company was devastated by the loss of a writer who had brought joy to generations of readers and was a true friend.
Archer was also a prominent Conservative politician. He briefly served as a lawmaker before becoming a senior party official under then-prime minister Margaret Thatcher in the mid-1980s.
His political career was later overshadowed by a high-profile legal case. In 1987, Archer sued the “Daily Star” for claiming he had paid a woman for sex. He won £500,000 in damages, then a record sum.
The case resurfaced in 1999, when Archer was selected as the Conservative candidate to become London’s first elected mayor. A former friend accused him of lying, and Archer was later charged with perjury and perverting the course of justice. He was convicted and sentenced to four years in prison, serving two. During that time, he wrote “A Prison Diary.”
The trial of Archer’s libel case became known for the judge’s summary of testimony from Archer’s wife, Mary. Judge Bernard Caulfield asked jurors to recall her appearance in the witness box, describing her elegance and radiance, and also posed a pointed question about Archer’s alleged need for sex in a seedy hotel.
Archer’s reputation as a colourful figure in British public life did not hinder his writing career. “HarperCollins” said his books were published in 119 countries, and that he spent a total of five and a half years on the “New York Times” bestseller lists.
He was due to discuss “Adam and Eve” this weekend at the Cheltenham Literature Festival and had recently appeared on radio programmes to promote the book.
