Jeffrey Archer, (Baron Archer of Weston-super-Mare) the bestselling British novelist and former Conservative MP whose extraordinary life spanned politics, publishing, scandal and reinvention, has died aged 86.
Archer died suddenly and peacefully at his London home on Monday, October 5, “between writing sessions”, according to his publisher HarperCollins. His death came on the eve of the publication of his final novel, Adam & Eve, which was due to be released on October 6.
Over a writing career spanning five decades, Archer sold more than 300 million books worldwide. His work was published in 114 countries and translated into more than 47 languages, making him one of Britain’s most commercially successful authors.
His best-known works included ‘Kane and Abel’, ‘Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less’, ‘The Prodigal Daughter’, ‘A Prisoner of Birth’, ‘The Fourth Estate’ and ‘The Clifton Chronicles’ series.
Born Jeffrey Howard Archer in London in 1940, he grew up in a complicated family. His father, William Archer, was a confidence trickster and habitual liar, while his mother, Lola, had worked in journalism. Archer’s own life would later become almost as dramatic as the plots, characters and intrigues that made him famous.
At 29, he entered politics, becoming Conservative MP for Louth in 1969. He remained in Parliament until 1974, when financial difficulties following a disastrous share-dealing episode left him bankrupt and brought his first political career to an end.
He then turned to fiction, a decision that transformed his fortunes and launched a literary career that would eventually make him one of the world’s most widely read storytellers.
Politics, however, remained a recurring thread in Archer’s life. In the 1980s, he became deputy chairman of the Conservative Party under Margaret Thatcher. He resigned after reports concerning his relationship with sex worker Monica Coghlan. Archer successfully sued the Daily Star for libel and was awarded £500,000 in damages in 1987. He was later convicted of perjury after lying under oath during the case and sentenced to four years in prison.
Despite the scandal, Archer continued to return to public life and was elevated to the peerage in 1992.
A special connection with India
Archer also developed a particularly strong connection with India, one of the biggest markets for his books. He was a regular visitor and enjoyed a loyal following among Indian readers.
His appearance at the Jaipur Literature Festival in 2019 attracted nearly 8,000 people. “I was absolutely staggered. It was like a concert,” he told the Press Trust of India in an interview in 2020.
Asked why he believed his books sold so well in India, Archer said he still could not honestly answer the question. “But I am so lucky that so many millions of people in India read me,” he said.
His relationship with the country extended beyond literature. Archer shared a deep affection for cricket and often spoke warmly of India and its people, describing Indians as his “natural friends”. He also held Indian literature in high regard, naming RK Narayan as his “personal hero” and saying the celebrated author should have won the Nobel Prize.
Away from writing and politics, Archer was married to Dame Mary Archer, an eminent scientist and Cambridge academic. The couple celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this year. They had two sons and five grandchildren and had lived at the Old Vicarage in Grantchester, near Cambridge, since 1976.
Friends remember Archer’s generosity
Tributes have been paid to Archer for his generosity to charitable causes, cricket and organisations supporting vulnerable communities in India.
Nayanesh Desai, solicitor and a trustee of The Beefy Charitable Foundation, told Asian Voice that Archer was “much more than a prolific writer and entertainer”, describing him as an “extraordinary benefactor to charities” and a passionate supporter of cricket and cricketers.
But for Desai, Archer’s greatest quality was his friendship. “Above all, he was a loyal, generous and deeply valued friend to me,” he said. Herecalled that Archer had invited him to join his 60th wedding anniversary celebrations earlier this year, an occasion he said he would “always cherish”.
Just two weeks before Archer’s death, the novelist helped raise £300,000 at a charity dinner organised in support of Desai’s work. “That gesture was typical of Jeffrey, generous, committed and always willing to go the extra mile to support a cause or a friend,” Desai said. “I will miss Jeffrey enormously.”
Lord Raj Loomba CBE, founder of the Loomba Foundation, also mourned Archer, who served as the charity’s patron for many years.
Writing on LinkedIn, Loomba described Archer not only as a celebrated author and storyteller, but also as “a generous friend, a loyal supporter” who believed deeply in the foundation’s work to improve the lives of widows and their children in India.
Archer regularly gave his time to the organisation and helped raise thousands of pounds through charity dinners. Loomba said he never treated his role as patron as merely a title, instead embracing it with genuine commitment and helping give a voice to women who are often marginalised.
He recalled Archer’s appearance at the foundation’s Widows Summit at the House of Lords on June 23 this year as a particularly poignant moment.
Loomba remembered Archer for his wit, intelligence, humour, kindness and generosity of spirit, saying his contribution could not simply be measured by the money raised or events attended.
“His support has helped change lives, and his friendship has touched mine,” Loomba said, extending his condolences to Archer’s wife, Dame Mary Archer, and the rest of his family.
From a controversial political career and an extraordinary publishing phenomenon to a generous philantropist, Archer remained an enduring and often divisive figure in British public life. His final novel, Adam & Eve, now marks the closing chapter of a literary career that reached readers across the world.
Relationship with Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar
Till 2019, for a considerable number consecutive years, Archer was the chosen auctioneer for Asian Achievers Awards, then organised by the Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar newsweeklies. He has helped the awards to raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for nominated charities (one every year) in his unique and engaging style. He was also the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the second annual Asian Voice Charity Awards (May 2017). Receiving the award, Archer said, “I will treasure this award because of my love of the Asian community.”
