Jeffrey Archer, the British author known for his best-selling novels and a career marked by both political involvement and legal controversy, died suddenly at the age of 86. His publisher, HarperCollins, announced that Archer passed away peacefully at his home on Monday, amid writing sessions for what he described as his final novel, “Adam and Eve,” scheduled for publication Tuesday.

Archer’s career spanned more than five decades and included both literary success and political ambition. His novels, which sold over 300 million copies worldwide, often drew on themes of finance, power, and human ambition. Despite critical reviews that were often mixed, his storytelling captivated a large readership, securing his place as a prominent figure in British literature.

Born in 1940, Archer’s life was marked by early political involvement. While studying at Oxford University, he joined the Conservative Party and secured a seat in Parliament at 29 following a 1969 by-election victory. However, his initial political career faltered in 1974 due to financial difficulties linked to the collapse of a Canadian company in which he had invested. Turning his experience into fiction, he published his first novel, “Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less,” in 1975.

Archer's political profile continued to rise during the 1980s. In 1985, then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher appointed him deputy chairman of the Conservative Party, recognizing his fundraising capabilities and party loyalty. A peerage followed in 1992 under John Major's administration, granting Archer a seat in the House of Lords.

His political ambitions resurfaced in 1999 when he sought to become the Conservative candidate for the first elected mayor of London. However, his campaign was derailed after allegations surfaced that he had encouraged a friend to provide a false alibi during a 1987 libel case against the Daily Star tabloid. Archer had sued the tabloid for defamation over claims that he had been involved with a prostitute and initially won £500,000 in damages. The revelation led to his expulsion from the Conservative Party and the abandonment of his mayoral bid.

In 2001, Archer was convicted of perjury and perverting the course of justice in connection with the libel case and was sentenced to four years in prison. He was released on parole in 2003 after serving two years. Throughout his legal troubles, his wife Mary, a scientist and current Chancellor of the University of Buckingham, remained a steadfast supporter. The couple had endured many public challenges together, with Mary Archer often described as a calming presence amid his turbulent career.

Jeffrey Archer formally retired from the House of Lords in 2024. His death marks the end of a multifaceted career that intertwined literature, politics, and controversy.