Bestselling British author Jeffrey Archer, whose political career was derailed by a perjury conviction, has died aged 86.
Archer died “suddenly and peacefully” at his home on Monday, a day before the global release of his final novel, Adam & Eve, according to his publisher HarperCollins.
Archer leaves behind one of the most commercially successful writing careers of his generation. His novels have sold more than 300 million copies worldwide, reaching readers in more than 100 countries and being translated into dozens of languages.
Among his best-known works are Kane and Abel, Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less, A Matter of Honour, The Fourth Estate, A Prisoner of Birth and The Clifton Chronicles.
Born in London on April 15, 1940, Archer initially pursued a career in politics before becoming an international literary star.
He was elected as a Conservative Member of Parliament for Louth in 1969 and served for five years. He later became deputy chairman of the Conservative Party and was made a life peer in the House of Lords in 1992.
His political ambitions were dramatically interrupted by scandal.
In 2001, Archer was convicted of perjury and perverting the course of justice after a court found that he had lied during a libel case involving the Daily Star. He was sentenced to four years in prison and served about two years before his early release in 2003.
While in prison, he wrote A Prison Diary, a three-volume account of his experiences behind bars.
The conviction did not end his literary career. Archer returned to writing and continued producing novels that attracted millions of readers around the world.
His biggest literary success came with Kane and Abel, the 1979 novel about two men from vastly different backgrounds whose lives become intertwined through ambition, wealth and rivalry.
He later created The Clifton Chronicles, a seven-volume saga following several generations of the Clifton family.
Archer’s books were known for elaborate plots built around betrayal, ambition, revenge, wealth and cliff-hangers. His fast-paced storytelling and frequent twists helped keep readers turning the pages.
Following his death, his publisher described him as a “master storyteller” and praised his commitment to rewriting and perfecting his work.
Even in his final days, Archer remained involved in his writing. His final novel, Adam & Eve, was published globally on October 6, 2026, a day after his death.
Archer is survived by his wife, Dame Mary Archer, whom he had been married to for 60 years, their two sons and grandchildren.