Jeffrey Archer was pictured smiling on stage with his friend Gyles Brandreth less than 24 hours before the author and former Conservative MP died suddenly and peacefully at his home aged 86.
The pair appeared at Leicester Square Theatre in central London on Sunday to discuss Archer’s new novel, Adam and Eve, which he had described as his 50th and final book.
Brandreth said Archer had been in “brilliant form” during the event, entertaining a packed audience with stories from his extraordinary life and career.
Sharing photographs from their final day together, Brandreth wrote: “I can’t believe that Jeffrey Archer, who was always so alive, is suddenly dead. We had a wonderful day together yesterday.”
He added: “He was in the most wonderful, ebullient form and received a tremendous reception from a packed house. He was funny, engaging and self-deprecating – a great storyteller to the last.”
Archer died “between writing sessions”, his publisher said, just a day before the scheduled publication of Adam and Eve. The novel examines Adolf Hitler’s reluctance to invade Britain and was inspired by an idea Archer had first developed six years ago.
Archer had insisted the book was the best he had written, while making clear that it would be his final novel. In an interview last month, he said: “I’m 86. I don’t think I could do it again. So why not go now?”
He said he had written every word by hand with a felt-tip pen on a 32-line pad, completing 18 drafts over two years. “I don’t know how to turn on a computer,” he said.
The author had been promoting the book in London on Sunday and was also photographed leaving BBC headquarters with a copy. His death came as a shock to those who had seen him shortly beforehand.
Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, said Archer sent her a message at 8am on the day before his death praising her speech at the Conservative Party conference.
“At 8am yesterday, he sent me a message saying ‘a great outfit, great speech, no need to reply’, and I read it and I smiled,” she told BBC Breakfast. “I was absolutely shocked in the evening when I heard that he’d passed away.”
Mrs Badenoch said Archer had lived “a very colourful life” and remained “very much loved by the Conservative family”. She later described him as “a dear friend to so many of us” and said her thoughts were with Dame Mary and the family.
She also said she hoped Archer would be remembered for his charity work and as “a great storyteller”, adding that he had served his time, made amends and wanted to do good in the world.
Jeffrey Archer’s political and literary career
Archer represented Louth from 1969 to 1974 before turning to fiction. His 1979 novel Kane and Abel became an international bestseller and has sold more than 33 million copies.
His books went on to sell more than 300 million copies in 115 countries. He later returned to frontline Conservative politics, becoming deputy chairman of the party in 1985 while Margaret Thatcher was prime minister.
He became a life peer in 1992, but withdrew from the contest to become Mayor of London in 1999 after accusations that he had lied during an earlier libel case.
Archer was later convicted of perjury and perverting the course of justice in 2001 and served two years in prison. He used his time in custody to write diaries that subsequently became bestsellers.
He is survived by his wife, Dame Mary, their sons William and James, and five grandchildren. The couple celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in July with a garden party at their home in Grantchester, Cambridge.
