Jeffrey Archer: successful novelist, disgraced politician and convicted liar
Politician and best-selling author whose career was mired in scandal and disgrace.
British author Jeffrey Archer, who penned a series of best-selling novels, died suddenly at 86, his publisher HarperCollins announced. Archer died peacefully at his home on Monday. Editor Kate Elton described him as a master storyteller and an editor's dream. Archer was due to appear at the Cheltenham Literary Festival to discuss his final novel, 'Adam and Eve,' after 50 years of storytelling.
The novel was set to be published on Tuesday, October 6, 2026. Archer's career was marked by both success and scandal. He served as a Conservative MP, was named Conservative deputy chairman by Margaret Thatcher, and launched a campaign to become the first elected mayor of London. However, Archer's life was also plagued by legal troubles.
He was convicted of perjury and perverting the course of justice in 2001 after a friend admitted to providing a false alibi during a libel case. Archer had previously sued the Daily Star over a claim that he had slept with a prostitute, winning £500,000 in damages. Despite his many mishaps, Archer's long-suffering wife Mary supported him throughout his career.
Archer's novels, which sold over 300 million copies, were known for their colorful characters and intricate plots, drawing from his experiences in high finance and politics.
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