Jeffrey Howard Archer, Baron Archer of Weston-super-Mare, born on 15 April 1940, is a distinguished English novelist, life peer, and former politician whose life has been marked by both remarkable achievements and notable controversies. Before embarking on his successful writing career, Archer served as a Member of Parliament from 1969 to 1974. His political career was initially derailed following a financial scandal, leaving him nearly bankrupt. However, he made a triumphant return as a novelist, with his work Kane and Abel standing out as one of the world's best-selling books, with an estimated 34 million copies sold globally. Overall, his books have surpassed sales of 320 million copies worldwide.

Archer's political journey included serving as deputy chairman of the Conservative Party before resigning amid accusations related to payments to a prostitute. Although he won a court case regarding this matter in 1987 and was awarded substantial damages, his political ambitions were permanently affected when he was imprisoned from 2001 to 2003 for perjury and perverting the course of justice, ending his active political involvement.

Beyond his literary and political careers, Jeffrey Archer's life has been enriched by his long-standing marriage to Dame Mary Archer DBE. Together they have two sons, William and James, along with three grandsons and two granddaughters. The Archer family divides their time between homes in London, Cambridge, and Mallorca. Jeffrey Archer's work has been published in 114 countries and more than 47 languages, amassing over 750,000 5-star reviews, with international sales exceeding 275 million copies. He holds the unique distinction of being the only author to have been a number one bestseller in fiction, short stories, and non-fiction, marking him as a literary icon with a lasting legacy.