Jeffrey Archer, whose books sold 300 million copies, dies aged 86

British author Jeffrey Archer, renowned for his best-selling novels, passed away unexpectedly at the age of 86, according to his publisher HarperCollins. The cause of his sudden death was not specified. Archer, who had been set to speak at the Cheltenham Literary Festival about his final novel, Adam and Eve, left behind a legacy of over 300 million copies sold for his works.

Born into a life of ambition and controversy, Archer began his political career at the young age of 29, becoming a Member of Parliament. However, his time in politics was short-lived, as he was forced to resign in 1974 due to the collapse of a Canadian company he had invested in. Undeterred, he turned his experiences into his first novel, Not A Penny More, Not A Penny Less, which was published in 1975.

While Archer's novels were celebrated by critics and earned him significant wealth, his real-life story was fraught with scandal. In 1985, he resigned from his position as Conservative deputy chairman after admitting to sending £2,000 to a prostitute. Despite his legal battles and personal struggles, Archer continued to rise in the world of literature, ultimately launching a campaign to become the first elected mayor of London in 1999.

However, his candidacy was derailed when it was revealed that he had asked a friend to provide a false alibi during a libel case. Archer was subsequently expelled from the Conservative Party and found guilty of perjury and perverting the course of justice in 2001. After serving four years of his sentence, he was granted parole in 2003.

Throughout his life, Archer was married to Mary, a scientist, who stood by him through the many challenges he faced. In 2024, Archer retired from the House of Lords, where he had served as a peer since 1999.