Jeffrey Archer, the prolific British author and former politician, has died at the age of 86. His publisher, HarperCollins, confirmed he passed away suddenly and peacefully at home on Monday.

Jeffrey Archer, a bestselling author and former Conservative Party politician, has died at age 86. HarperCollins confirmed the news, stating he passed away suddenly and peacefully at his home on Monday. Archer, who served as an MP and in the House of Lords, was widely known for his prolific writing career, which spanned five decades and included the publication of over 300 million books.

Political and Legal Career

Archer was elected as the Conservative MP for Louth in 1969, later serving as the party's deputy chairman. His political career faced a significant interruption in 2001 when he was sentenced to four years in prison for perjury and perverting the course of justice. The conviction stemmed from a 1987 libel case against The Daily Star, in which he had been awarded £500,000 in damages after lying to the court. He was released in 2003 and subsequently returned to the House of Lords until his retirement in 2024.

Literary Legacy and Final Works

Throughout his career, Archer sold more than 300 million books across 119 countries and 49 languages. His works, including 'Kane & Abel' and 'First Among Equals', were frequently adapted for television. HarperCollins noted that Archer spent over 14 years on The Sunday Times bestseller lists. His final novel, 'Adam and Eve', is scheduled for release this week. Just one day before his death, Archer appeared at the Leicester Square Theatre in London to promote the book.