Renowned British author and journalist Frederick Forsyth has d!ed at the age of 86 following a brief illness, his literary agents have confirmed. He d!ed on Monday morning, surrounded by family.
Known for his captivating thrillers and investigative precision, Forsyth was best known for The Day of the Jackal, which was adapted into a 1973 film and more recently a Sky Atlantic TV series starring Eddie Redmayne.
Nigerians may remember Forsyth’s Emeka, a rare authorised biography of Biafran leader Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, published in 1982. The book chronicles Ojukwu’s youth, military service, the Nigerian Civil War, and his 12-year exile.
Forsyth’s career began in the skies as one of the youngest RAF pilots, before transitioning to journalism, reporting from conflict zones including Biafra. His agent said it was what he witnessed during this time, combined with a stint in British intelligence, that inspired his debut novel.
His books have sold more than 75 million copies worldwide and earned him a permanent place among the world’s top thriller writers.
Forsyth also worked as an informant for Britain’s MI6 foreign spy agency, using his experiences as a reporter in Paris to pen the story of a failed assassination plot on Charles de Gaulle.
Frederick Forsyth was a renowned English novelist and journalist, best known for his thrilling spy novels that often drew from his real-life experiences. Born on August 25, 1938, in Ashford, Kent, Forsyth initially pursued a career in the Royal Air Force as a pilot before transitioning to journalism. He worked with Reuters and the BBC, covering significant events like the Nigerian Civil War.
Forsyth’s writing style was characterized by meticulous research and precise storytelling, often blending fact and fiction. He sold over 70 million books worldwide, with many of his titles adapted into films. Forsyth passed away on June 9, 2025, at the age of 86, leaving behind a legacy as one of the world’s greatest thriller writers.
