Jeffrey Archer, Best-selling Author and Former Politician, Dies at 86
Archer, known for his novels and a career marked by both literary success and legal troubles, passed away peacefully at home.
Bestselling author and former politician Jeffrey Archer has died at the age of 86. His publisher, HarperCollins, confirmed that Archer died "suddenly and peacefully at home" on Monday.
Archer sold more than 300 million books globally during his five-decade writing career. His notable works include the Clifton Chronicles and Kane and Abel, many of which were set in his home county of Somerset. His publisher described him as a "master storyteller" whose readers were paramount.
In addition to his literary achievements, Archer had a career in politics. He served as a Conservative Member of Parliament. In 2001, his political career was significantly impacted when he was jailed for four years after being convicted of perjury and perverting the course of justice. The conviction stemmed from lies he made during a libel case against the Daily Star newspaper, for which he had been awarded £500,000 in damages.
He was released from prison in 2003 and subsequently returned to the House of Lords, where he remained until his retirement in 2024. Archer was made a life peer in 1992.
His final book, Adam and Eve, is scheduled for release this month. HarperCollins noted Archer's dedication to his craft, stating he was "phenomenally hard-working, utterly committed to completing draft after draft to get every word as perfect as possible."