Frederick Forsyth, Master of Thrillers, Passes Away at 86
LONDON — Renowned British author Frederick Forsyth, famed for his gripping thrillers like The Day of the Jackal, has died at 86 following a brief illness, confirmed his literary agent, Jonathan Lloyd. Forsyth passed away early Monday at home, surrounded by his family, sparking an outpouring of tributes from the literary community.
Born in Kent in 1938, Forsyth began his career as a Royal Air Force pilot before becoming a foreign correspondent. His coverage of an assassination attempt on French President Charles de Gaulle in 1962 inspired his breakout novel, The Day of the Jackal, published in 1971. The book, which follows a professional assassin, catapulted him to international fame and was adapted into a film and a television series.
Forsyth’s connections to intelligence agencies only added depth to his compelling storytelling; he revealed in a 2015 BBC interview that he had covertly collaborated with MI6. Over his lifetime, Forsyth authored more than 25 novels, including The Afghan, The Kill List, and The Dogs of War, with sales exceeding 75 million copies worldwide.
His publisher, Bill Scott-Kerr, noted that Forsyth’s work continues to influence contemporary thriller authors, emphasizing, “Freddie’s thrillers define the genre.” Forsyth’s forthcoming novel, Revenge of Odessa, co-written with fellow author Tony Kent, is set for release in August, keeping his literary legacy alive.
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