Frederick Forsyth, Famous British Author, Journalist Known for His Thriller Novel “The Day of The Jackal” Dies at 86 Years

By Towncriernews 

Best-selling author Frederick Forsyth, known for thriller novels including The Day Of The Jackal, has died at the age of 86, according to his agent, Jonathan Lloyd in a statement.

In the words of Lloyd, “We mourn the passing of one of the world’s greatest thriller writers.” 

Forsyth published more than 25 books sold including The Odessa File and The Dogs of War, and sold 75 million books around the world, he said.

According to his publisher Bill Scott-Kerr said: “Still read by millions across the world, Freddie’s thrillers define the genre and are still the benchmark to which contemporary writers aspire. He leaves behind a peerless legacy which will continue to excite and entertain for years to come.”

Born in Kent in 1938, Forsyth joined the RAF at the age of 18 before becoming a war correspondent for the BBC and Reuters. He revealed in 2015 he also worked for British intelligence agency MI6 for more than 20 years. Many of his fictional plots drew on his real-life experiences around the world.

Forsyth made his name with his first novel, 1971’s The Day Of The Jackal, which he wrote when he was out of work.

“[I was] skint, in debt, no flat, no car, no nothing and I just thought, ‘How do I get myself out of this hole?’ And I came up with probably the zaniest solution – write a novel,” he said.

It is a gripping tale, set in 1963, about an Englishman hired to assassinate the French president at the time, Charles de Gaulle.

The Day Of The Jackal was turned into a 1973 film starring Edward Fox as the Jackal, and then became a TV drama starring Eddie Redmayne last year.

Forsyth died on Monday, June 9 after a brief illness according to a statement.