Bestselling British author Jeffrey Archer, whose political career was derailed by a perjury conviction, has died at 86.
Archer died “suddenly and peacefully” at his home on Monday, a day before the global release of his final novel, “Adam and Eve”, publisher HarperCollins said.
His writing career spanned five decades, beginning with his 1976 debut, “Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less”. He went on to sell 300 million books worldwide, including “First Among Equals”, and spend 14 years and five months on Britain's Sunday Times bestseller lists, according to his publisher.
Archer’s political career and conviction
Archer also rose through the ranks of the Conservative Party under then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and was appointed to the House of Lords in 1992.
His political career collapsed after he was convicted of perjury in 2001 for fabricating an alibi in a libel case. He was sentenced to four years in prison and released early in 2003 after serving more than two years.
He later returned to the House of Lords as a non-affiliated member and retired in 2024.
Archer chronicled his prison experience in his three-volume “A Prison Diary” series. His political legacy also included campaigning for equal succession rights for royal daughters, efforts that helped inspire the Succession to the Crown Act 2013.
His final novel, “Adam and Eve”, explores class and war through two characters born on the same day to different social classes.
