Jeffrey Archer to end novel-writing career with Adam and Eve

Bestselling novelist Jeffrey Archer has announced his next book, Adam and Eve, will be his last. The 85-year-old said the novel will arrive 50 years after his debut was published. HarperCollins described the 31st and final novel as "a powerful story which weaves together love, betrayal and the stark realities of a world at war" and said it will be out in English in October.

In a statement Archer said, "When I came across the idea for this novel a few years ago, I knew it was bigger in scope than anything I’d done before and I accepted that the research alone would be more demanding than anything I’d tackled in the past. When I finally sat down to write Adam and Eve I also realised, by the end of the first draft, that this was going to be my final novel, as at the age of 85 I could never hope to equal it again." He added: "I can’t quite imagine putting my pen down for good," saying he might continue writing short stories.

"But I can think of no more fitting way to bring my novel-writing career to a close." According to his publishers, Archer has sold more than 300m books around the world since his first novel, Not a Penny More Not a Penny Less, was published in 1976. His 1979 novel Kane and Abel was his biggest hit, selling more than 34m copies in 119 countries and 47 languages and being reprinted more than 130 times.

Archer's long career as a novelist was often overshadowed by controversy and mixed critical response.

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Culture, Jeffrey Archer, Conservative Party, Perjury, London Mayor