Share this @internewscast.com

FREDERICK Forsyth, the author of The Day of The Jackal, has died at the age of 86 after a brief illness, his literary agents Curtis Brown said.

The best-selling author was surrounded by his family as he died at home on Monday morning, the firm added.

Frederick Forsyth died at home after a brief illnessCredit: Arthur Edwards / The Sun
Frederick Forsyth at his typewriter.
Forsyth made his name with thrillers such as The Odessa FileCredit: Getty
The author wrote over 25 booksCredit: Arthur Edwards / The Sun

His novel The Day of the Jackal was so popular it sparked a Bafta-winning film and a series featuring Eddie Redmayne.

Jonathan Lloyd, his agent, said: “We mourn the passing of one of the world’s greatest thriller writers.

“Just a few weeks back, I had the chance to sit with him as we watched a touching new documentary about his life—In My Own Words—which is set to air on BBC1 later this year. It was a powerful reminder of an extraordinary life that was well lived.

“Starting as one of the youngest pilots in the RAF, he later ventured into journalism, leveraging his linguistic abilities in German, French, and Russian to work as a foreign correspondent in Biafra.

“Horrified by the scenes he encountered, and drawing from his time as a secret service agent, he penned his debut and perhaps most renowned novel, The Day of the Jackal (1972), which skyrocketed him to global bestseller status.

He leaves behind a peerless legacy which will continue to excite and entertain for years to come.

Bill Scott-Kerr, Freddie’s publisher

“He went on to write more than 25 books (many of which were made into films) that have sold over 75 million copies.

“He will be greatly missed by his family, his friends, all of us at Curtis Brown and of course his millions of fans around the world – though his books will of course live on forever.”

Tributes for the much-loved author have begun pouring in with his publisher, Bill Scott-Kerr calling his time spent with Frederick – affectionately known as Freddie – “one of the great pleasures of my professional life”.

He said: “Having long held The Day of the Jackal as the blueprint of the modern thriller, I was honoured to become his editor for Avenger in 2002 and have remained so ever since.

“Working with Freddie has been one of the great pleasures of my professional life.

“He leaves behind a peerless legacy which will continue to excite and entertain for years to come.”

Born in Ashford, Kent in 1938, Frederick flew fighter jets during his national service before turning to a career in journalism.

Working with Freddie has been one of the great pleasures of my professional life.

Bill Scott-Kerr

After just a short period working at the news agency Reuters, he got his lucky break and was sent to Paris.

It was during this time that he made a name for himself- getting the inside scoop after then-President Charles de Gaulle’s assassination.

Following a brief sting in Germany he moved to the BBC in 1967 where he was sent to Nigeria to cover the Biafran war.

His adventures as a journalist soon became the inspiration behind his thriller novels, such as The Odessa File which tells the story of a young German reporter on the hunt for a Nazi war criminal.

Here began a sprawling career in fiction writing, seeing Frederick amass numerous accolades and praise for his work along the way.

Over the course of his life, he wrote more than 25 books that have sold a staggering 75 million copies and have won him honours, including a CBE in 1997.

But despite his rolling literary success, the author admitted on several occasions he had lost interest in the work.

In 2018, following the launch of the novel The Fox, he told The Times: “The interest has gone”.

He added: “I’ve got three unused typewriters in a cupboard at home.”

Life of adventures

Last year, The Sun spoke to the best-selling author whose debut thriller The Day of The Jackal sparked a Bafta-winning film.

The story follows the professional killer, who works for Organisation Armée Secrète (Secret Army Organisation), a dissident political group.

Freddie said: “There definitely was an OAS trying to assassinate President de Gaulle. I was there covering it as a Reuters reporter in 1962 to ’63.

“I thought to myself that they probably would fail because they were so penetrated by French counter-intelligence.

“But I thought if they were ever to call in an outsider who’s not on the radar at all, he might get away with it.”

During his year in Soviet East Germany, as the official correspondent for Reuters and he revealed he worked as a “bag carrier” for Britain’s MI6.

He said: “I call it running errands. You pop over to someone’s house and pick up something and bring it back.

“I got a lot of attention from the secret police, the Stasi. I was followed all over the place.

“I thought the only way to survive is to take the mickey. They had no sense of humour, so I would do stupid things.

I knew my apartment was bugged, so I would go into the bedroom and have a passionate orgy with a non-existent female.

Frederick Forsyth

“I knew my apartment was bugged, so I would go into the bedroom and have a passionate orgy with a non-existent female.

“Knowing every word was being recorded I used two or three voices and then there would be a knock on the door. ‘Mein Herr, your gas is leaking’.

“They would search the flat and discover I had an invisible mistress. I am bilingual in ­German but whenever I was up against officialdom, I’d become a bumbling idiot who hardly spoke a word of the language.

“Terrible grammar, appalling pronunciation, thick as a plank.

“I was once picked up in Magdeburg by the Stasi and interrogated through the night.

“I was like the PG Wodehouse character Bertie Wooster. Eager to please, helpless, hopeless, hapless and therefore harmless.

“Having shouted at me all night, they took me down a long corridor to a door. I didn’t know whether it was the execution chamber or what it could be.

“Turned out to be the car park. They were chucking me out.

“As I was getting in the car, I heard one of them say ‘He’s too stupid to be an agent’. I drove out of the car park and gave them an elegant two fingers.”

A man in a fedora sits at an outdoor cafe table, reading a magazine.
The Day of the Jackal sparked a Bafta-winning film and a series featuring Eddie RedmayneCredit: Marcell Piti
Photo of Frederick Forsyth in a pilot's uniform at age 19.
Freddie aged 19 in his pilot uniformCredit: Arthur Edwards / The Sun
Black and white photo of Frederick Forsyth.
Freddie started his career as a pilot before becoming a journalistCredit: Alamy
Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Karen Read asks Massachusetts court to throw out wrongful death lawsuit after murder acquittal

Karen Read Requests Massachusetts Court to Dismiss Wrongful Death Lawsuit Following Her Murder Acquittal

Karen Read, who was exonerated from murder charges last month concerning the…
US Drug Enforcement Administration Chicago field office touts progress after major fentanyl busts: ABC7 I-TEAM EXCLUSIVE

The Chicago DEA Highlights Success After Significant Fentanyl Seizures: An Exclusive Report by ABC7 I-TEAM

CHICAGO (WLS) — The ABC7 I-Team spoke exclusively with Chicago’s top drug…
Protesters and federal agents clash during raid at Southern California farm

Clash Erupts Between Protesters and Federal Agents During Southern California Farm Raid

A clash broke out on Thursday involving protesters and federal agents conducting…
Grieving mom of dead Camp Mystic camper desperately seeks daughter's 'most prized possession' lost in devastating Texas floods

Heartbroken Mother Seeks Lost Treasured Item of Late Camp Mystic Daughter After Texas Floods

A heartbroken Texas mother, whose 8-year-old daughter tragically passed away during catastrophic…
Photo of Carolina Wilga at a petrol station.

Backpacker Carolina Winger, 26, Found Alive After Nearly Two Weeks Lost in Australian Wilderness

A GERMAN backpacker missing for nearly two weeks in the remote Australian…
Military amphibious vehicles in the water.

Observe as a Massive Fleet of New Chinese ‘Tank Boats’ Takes to the Water Amid Taiwan’s Largest War Drills Yet

DRAMATIC footage captures a fleet of Chinese tank boats charging through the…
Israel Coalition Against Houthis: Pressuring US for Yemen Strikes

Israel Coalition Advocates for US Intervention: Urging Strikes on Houthis in Yemen

Israel is urging the United States to resume military operations against Yemen’s…
Former public school teacher, 33, charged after 'prolonged pattern of abuse' with teen boy

Ex-public school teacher, 33, faces charges for ‘extended abuse’ involving teenage boy

A former South Carolina teacher was charged with having a prolonged inappropriate…
Damaged Camp Mystic mailbox in flood debris.

Heart-Wrenching Letters from Camp Mystic Kids Reach Families Days After Texas Floods Tragedy

Letters penned by young campers at Camp Mystic have begun reaching their…
Cars parked in a lot near a gated entrance, surrounded by tall pine trees.

Tragic Incident: Teenager Dies After Sand Hole Collapse on Beach

A 17-YEAR-old boy has died on a beach after being buried alive…
Chicago crime: Dion Wallace speaks out after son killed in Logan Square stabbing, fire; Wendy Tolbert charged after 3 kids stabbed

Tragedy in Chicago: Father Dion Wallace Shares Loss After Son’s Death in Logan Square; Wendy Tolbert Faces Charges in Stabbing Incident Involving 3 Children

CHICAGO (WLS) — A Chicago father is speaking out after a tragedy…
Marcus Stroman's 'gritty performance' kept Yankees in it early

Marcus Stroman’s Determined Effort Keeps Yankees Contending Initially

Late-game Yankees heroics? Sure, but how about another “gritty” five-inning start from…