Author & politician Jeffrey Archer dies aged 86 - Mothership

He has sold more than 300 million copies of his books over five decades.

British author Jeffrey Archer has died at the age of 86.

He died “suddenly and peacefully” at his home on Oct. 5, BBC reported.

This was a day before the global release of his final novel, "Adam and Eve", publisher HarperCollins said.

The new book, like his bestseller "Kane and Abel", follows a pair of biblically named characters born on the same day to different social classes.

The upcoming novel, a love story and class commentary, follows the daughter of an earl who wanted a son so he could pass down his estate, and the son of a shepherd who wanted a daughter because he knew a son would be sent to war.

Archer said: “'Adam and Eve' has proved the most satisfying thing I have ever written.”

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, two sons, two granddaughters and three grandsons, his publisher said.

He has sold more than 300 million copies of his books worldwide over his five-decade writing career.

Archer was plunged into financial ruin in his 30s after some bad investments.

His debut novel, "Not A Penny More, Not A Penny Less", was released in 1976.

His experience of almost becoming bankrupt inspired the book.

He subsequently spent 14 years and five months on Britain's Sunday Times bestseller lists and over five years on The New York Times bestseller lists, according to HarperCollins.

Archer was also a scandal-plagued politician, AFP reported.

He climbed the ranks of Britain’s Conservative Party under Margaret Thatcher.

He was appointed in 1992 to the House of Lords by her successor, John Major.

Archer was cast out of his political party just before he was jailed on perjury charges in 2001.

In 1999, Archer was running for mayor of London when allegations emerged that he had lied in court during a libel case in the 1980s.

In the 1987 case, he had sued a newspaper, The Daily Star, that accused him of paying a sex worker and won £500,000 (S$846,200) in damages.

But a jury found that Archer had made up an alibi.

Archer was released early in 2003 after serving just over two years.

He returned to the House of Lords, but without any political affiliation.

There was no legal avenue to remove him from the upper house of parliament at the time.