Jeffrey Archer, Novelist Whose Real Life Rivaled His Thrillers, Dies at 86
Jeffrey Archer, the bestselling British novelist and former Conservative politician whose life was defined by both immense literary success and severe political disgrace, has died at the age of 86. Archer passed away on Monday just before the release of his final novel titled Adam and Eve, which he firmly believed was his best work. His career spanned decades of highs and lows, from serving as a Member of Parliament and deputy chairman of the Conservative Party to enduring bankruptcy and a prison sentence for perjury.
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- ✓ Jeffrey Archer died at the age of 86.
- ✓ His novel Kane and Abel has sold an estimated 34 million copies globally.
- ✓ He served as the Member of Parliament for Louth from 1969 to 1974.
- ✓ He was sentenced to four years in prison for perjury and perverting the course of justice in 2001.
What changed
Jeffrey Archer died at age 86, days prior to the release of his final novel.
Live updates
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Author and Disgraced Politician Jeffrey Archer Dies at 86
Jeffrey Archer, the bestselling British novelist and former Conservative politician whose life was defined by both immense literary success and severe political disgrace, has died at the age of 86. Archer passed away on Monday just before the release of his final novel titled Adam and Eve, which he firmly believed was his best work. His career spanned decades of highs and lows, from serving as a Member of Parliament and deputy chairman of the Conservative Party to enduring bankruptcy and a prison sentence for perjury.
Why it matters
Born Jeffrey Howard Archer, Baron Archer of Weston-super-Mare, he built a massive global readership with blockbuster novels such as Kane and Abel, which sold an estimated 34 million copies. His public standing collapsed after a series of scandals, including a high-profile libel lawsuit and a subsequent criminal conviction for perjury and perverting the course of justice that landed him in prison in 2001. His dual identity as a polished storyteller and a headline-grabbing figure of controversy made him one of the most polarizing personalities in modern British public life.
What is confirmed
- Jeffrey Archer died at the age of 86.
- His novel Kane and Abel has sold an estimated 34 million copies globally.
- He served as the Member of Parliament for Louth from 1969 to 1974.
- He was sentenced to four years in prison for perjury and perverting the course of justice in 2001.
What to watch next
- Reactions and tributes from political and literary figures
- Further details regarding the release and distribution of his final novel, Adam and Eve
confidence 100%Sources used for this update (15)
- The Guardian — Jeffrey Archer, former Conservative politician and novelist, dies aged 86
- The New York Times — Jeffrey Archer, Novelist Whose Real Life Rivaled His Thrillers, Dies at 86
- BBC — Jeffrey Archer: successful novelist, disgraced politician and convicted liar
- People.com — After 50 Years, Jeffrey Archer Closes the Book on His Novelist Career with ‘Best Story’ Yet (Exclusive)
- BBC — Jeffrey Archer returns to his former school library
- Reuters — Jeffrey Archer, bestselling UK novelist and scandal-plagued politician, dies aged 86
- The Telegraph — Jeffrey Archer, best-selling writer and Tory MP with an incomparably colourful personal life
- en.wikipedia.org — Jeffrey Archer - Wikipedia
- flipboard.com — Jeffrey Archer Firmly Believed His Final Novel Was His Best
- www.sun-sentinel.com — Eva Marie Saint, star of ‘North by Northwest’ and ‘On the Waterfront,’ dies at 102
- www.sun-sentinel.com — Grammy-nominated R&B singer Freddie Jackson dies at 70
- americankahani.com — Jeffrey Archer, the ‘Prodigal Liar’ is Dead: For a Certain Generation of Indian Readers His Novels Were a Rite of Passage
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