Bestselling novelist Jeffrey Archer has announced that his upcoming novel, "Adam and Eve," will be his final work of fiction. This release will mark 50 years since the publication of his debut novel.
Career Overview
Archer, currently 85 years old, has achieved global sales of over 300 million books since his first novel, "Not a Penny More Not a Penny Less," was published in 1976. His 1979 novel, "Kane and Abel," became his most successful, selling more than 34 million copies across 119 countries and 47 languages, undergoing over 130 reprints.
"Adam and Eve"
His 31st and concluding novel, "Adam and Eve," is described by publisher HarperCollins as "a powerful story which weaves together love, betrayal and the stark realities of a world at war." The English edition is scheduled for an October release. Archer stated that he recognized the extensive scope and research requirements for this novel years ago. He concluded during its writing that it would be his final novel, as he believed he could not achieve a similar feat at his age. He also mentioned a possibility of continuing to write short stories.
Critical Reception
Throughout his career, Archer's books, despite their commercial success, received mixed reviews from critics.
Public Life and Legal History
Archer's career as a novelist has often been accompanied by his public and political engagements.
- 1969: Elected as a Conservative Member of Parliament at 29 years old.
- 1974: Resigned from Parliament following the loss of his life savings in a fraudulent investment scheme.
- 1986: Resigned as deputy chair of the Conservative party after reports by the Daily Star regarding an alleged payment to a sex worker.
- 1987: Successfully sued the newspaper for libel. He asserted that he had not met the sex worker but paid her £2,000 to assist her in avoiding press attention. He was awarded £500,000 in damages.
- 1999: Secured the Conservative candidacy for London mayor but subsequently withdrew after reports indicated he had persuaded a friend to provide false testimony during the 1987 libel trial. Archer was suspended from the Conservative party for five years, and a perjury investigation commenced.
- 2001: Convicted on two counts of perjury and two counts of perverting the course of justice, receiving a four-year prison sentence. He was also ordered to repay the damages and associated costs. During his incarceration, he authored three prison memoirs, all of which became bestsellers.
- 2003: Released from prison after serving two years.
- Post-release: Dedicated subsequent decades to his writing career, which includes approximately 50 works, and extensive charity endeavors.
- 2024: Retired from the House of Lords.