British Author Jeffrey Archer Dies at 86

British author Jeffrey Archer has died at the age of 86, publisher HarperCollins said, according to a report by Kommersant.

HarperCollins said Archer died "suddenly and peacefully at home" on October 5. Archer was one of Britain's best-selling novelists, known for works including "Kane and Abel" and "First Among Equals," with his books selling in large numbers worldwide over a career spanning several decades.

Before his writing career took off, Archer was active in British politics as a member of the Conservative Party, including a period as a member of parliament, and later held senior roles within the party. His political career was at times affected by personal and legal controversies, including a 2001 conviction for perjury and perverting the course of justice related to a 1987 libel case, for which he served a prison sentence.

Despite the controversies that marked parts of his public life, Archer remained a prolific and commercially successful author well into his later years, continuing to publish fiction regularly.

Tributes to Archer's literary career were expected from publishing figures and political colleagues following the announcement of his death, though specific statements were not detailed in the available report.