Acclaimed novelist Frederick Forsyth, renowned for his thriller 'The Day of The Jackal', passes away at the age of 86.
In just a blink of an eye, legendary author Frederick Forsyth penned his most iconic masterpiece, "The Jackal," following a rough patch in his life. The thrilling yarn, set in the backdrop of an assassination attempt on French President Charles de Gaulle by extremists, became a worldwide sensation.
The silver screen later embraced the book, with Edward Fox portraying the assassin in the original film adaptation. Last year, Netflix released a fresh take on the tale, with Eddie Redmayne taking on the leading role.
RIP, dear wordsmith! screamed the headlines when Forsyth's agent, Jonathan Lloyd, announced Forsyth's passing at his home, surrounded by loved ones. He had fought a brief illness, as per Curtis Brown.
Over two dozen novels stormed the bestsellers' list, including "The Odessa File" (1972) and "The Dogs of War" (1974), which sold over 75 million copies globally. A fair amount of these novels made it to the big screen too.
Forsyth began his career as a journalist, honing his skills in German, French, and Russian languages while working as a foreign correspondent during the Biafran War in Nigeria. Apparently, the horrors he witnessed there played a significant role in the creation of his early work.
With experience as a secret service agent under his belt, he penned his debut novel, "The Day of the Jackal," which critically investigated the dark side of the intelligence community.
Just around the corner, a sequel to "The Odessa File" called "Revenge of Odessa," penned in collaboration with thriller author Tony Kent, is set to hit the shelves in August. His publisher, Bill Scott-Kerr, shared this information.
Forsyth credited his success to "spectacular luck," recalling an episode from his days as a war correspondent, where a bullet narrowly missed him during the bloody Biafran Civil War. A few weeks before his demise, he reminisced about his extraordinary life while watching a documentary about himself.
Forsyth had two sons from his first marriage and lost his second wife last year. Conservative MP David Davis paid tribute to his friend, recalling his unwavering loyalty to traditional values, patriotism, and the armed forces.
Unsurprisingly, Forsyth drew inspiration from his real-life experiences to create nail-biting narratives that kept readers on the edge of their seats. His knack for detailed research and journalistic integrity were his calling cards, allowing him to craft stories that felt disturbingly real. These elements, coupled with his unique, engaging style, cemented Forsyth's legacy in the literary world.
In his journalistic career, Forsyth honed his skills in various languages, including Russian, which played a role in crafting his captivating novels. As a testament to his literary prowess, many of his books, such as "The Odessa File" and "The Dogs of War," have been translated into numerous languages and adapted into films, providing entertainment to audiences worldwide.
