The author of The Day of The Jackal, has died as tributes for the much-loved writer flood in.
Frederick Forsyth, has died at the age of 86 after a brief illness, his literary agents Curtis Brown said. The novelist, who started his career as a journalist, had many successful works, including The Odessa File, The Fourth Protocol and The Dogs of War. Perhaps most famously, his politicial thriller The Day of the Jackal was first released in 1971 and follows a professional assassin.
“We mourn the passing of one of the world’s greatest thriller writers,” Jonathan Lloyd said in a statement. 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.”
(Image: Popperfoto via Getty Images)
Fans have flooded social media with well wishes for Frederick’s family, as well as devastation after hearing the news. One X user wrote: “Shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of the author Fredrick Forsyth.
“The day of the jackal is a masterpiece sending condolences to his family and friends RIP Frederick.”
Another added: “Very sad to hear of death of the writer, Frederick Forsyth. He wrote some of my favourite thrillers.” A third noted: “RIP Frederick Forsyth, one of the most formative and impactful authors in my lifetime.”
A fourth expressed: “Sad to hear the passing of Frederick Forsyth today.
“Fond memories of a complete & quintessential English gentleman who was always immaculately dressed in a blazer sporting a paisley cravat, smoking cigarettes taken from silver case using a cigarette holder & drinking pink gin.”
(Image: PA)
Forsyth was an RAF pilot before becoming a war correspondent for the BBC and Reuters, and revealed in 2015 he also worked for British intelligence agency MI6 for more than 20 years.
The Day of the Jackal notably inspired the film adaptation of the same name in 1973, starring Edward Fox, and more recently a TV show, starring Eddie Redmayne and Lashana Lynch.
He wrote the world-famous novel when he was out of work, as he recalled during an interview about his 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.
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