Bestselling author and former politician Jeffrey Archer has died at the age of 86. Archer passed away suddenly and peacefully at home on Monday, according to his publisher, HarperCollins.

Archer achieved widespread fame for his prolific writing career, spanning five decades and selling over 300 million books worldwide. His most notable works include the Clifton Chronicles series and the novel "Kane and Abel," often featuring his native Somerset as a setting.

The author's publisher stated that Archer died between writing sessions. His final book, "Adam and Eve," is scheduled for release this week. HarperCollins described him as a master storyteller who deeply valued his readers.

Archer's life also included a significant political career. He served as a Conservative Member of Parliament for Louth, Lincolnshire, from 1969 to 1974 and later held the position of Conservative Party deputy chairman. His political path was interrupted in 2001 when he was convicted of perjury and perverting the course of justice.

The conviction stemmed from a 1987 libel case against the Daily Star newspaper, which had alleged Archer had an affair. Archer sued for libel and was initially awarded £500,000 in damages. However, the court found he had lied under oath, asked a friend to provide a false alibi, and produced fabricated diary entries to support his story.

He was sentenced to four years in prison and released in 2003. Following his release, he returned to the House of Lords, where he served until his retirement in 2024. Broadcaster Gyles Brandreth, who recently appeared with Archer to discuss his new novel, noted that Archer seemed in "wonderful, ebullient form" and was a "great storyteller to the last."

Brandreth also commented that Archer became a "gentler person after prison." Archer had recently visited his former school to promote his latest book and spoke of the thrill of seeing the "next generation" of young students. He was also scheduled to attend the Cheltenham Festival to discuss his final novel.

Jeffrey Archer and his wife Mary, who celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this year, had two sons and five grandchildren.