Bestselling author and former politician Jeffrey Archer has died at the age of 86, as confirmed by his publisher, Harper Collins. He passed away suddenly and peacefully at his home on Monday while in between writing sessions.
Archer’s career spanned decades, from serving as a Conservative MP to becoming a life peer in 1992 as Lord Archer of Weston-super-Mare. He even campaigned for the Conservatives in London’s first mayoral election.
But his political journey took a sharp turn in 2001 when he was imprisoned for four years on charges of perjury and perverting the course of justice. An Old Bailey jury found that he had lied during a libel suit against The Star newspaper, which resulted in him losing £500,000 in damages.
After an early release in 2003, he rejoined the House of Lords until his retirement in 2024. Despite his political setbacks, Archer enjoyed immense success as an author; his most famous work includes Kane And Abel, following his debut novel Not A Penny More, Not A Penny Less, published in 1976.
The day before his passing, Archer participated in a sold-out event with broadcaster Gyles Brandreth at the Leicester Square Theatre. Brandreth noted on social media that they celebrated Archer’s new novel together and remarked on the author’s vibrant spirit during the event.
Kate Elton, chief executive at HarperCollins UK and Archer’s editor, expressed her sadness over his passing. She described him as “the master storyteller” who was dedicated to perfecting every word of his drafts.