The final pictures of Jeffrey Archer capture a man still brimming with energy and optimism, smiling alongside friend Gyles Brandreth less than 24 hours before his peaceful death at home yesterday.
asserted
pictures → capture → home
The former Tory MP and author had been on stage entertaining fans as he promoted what he himself insisted was his last book and literary epitaph, Adam and Eve.
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he → entertain → fans
Jeffrey and Gyles smiled for photographs at the Leicester Square Theatre in central London on Sunday, where they discussed the novel and the highs and lows of Archer's extraordinary life.
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they → smile → life
Yesterday, Mr Archer died suddenly but peacefully at home at the age of 86 on Monday/
Sharing the images of them together, Gyles Brandreth wrote last night: 'I can't believe that Jeffrey Archer, who was always so alive, is suddenly dead.
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who → die → them
We had a wonderful day together yesterday.
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We → have → day
As anyone who was there will tell you, he was in brilliant form on stage celebrating the publication of his 50th and final bestselling novel.'
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he → tell → novel
He added: 'He was in the most wonderful, ebullient form and received a tremendous reception from a packed house.
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He → add → house
The bestselling novelist died 'between writing sessions' just a day before the scheduled release of his new book, Adam and Eve, his publisher said.
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publisher → die → book
Archer was insistent that it was the best book he'd written.
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he → write → ?
Jeffrey Archer pictured on the day before his death - on stage with Gyles Brandreth - promoting what he said would be his final book
Gyles said his friend had been on the 'most wonderful, ebullient form' on Sunday.
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friend → picture → Sunday
24 hours later he had passed away 'between writing sessions'
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he → pass → sessions
The novelist pictured on Sunday leaving the BBC clutching his book, the day before he died, leaves his wife Dame Mary, 81, an eminent scientist, and sons William, 54, and James, 52 – and five young grandchildren
His novels have sold more than 300 million copies in 115 countries.
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novels → picture → countries
He leaves his wife Dame Mary, 81, an eminent scientist, and sons William, 54, and James, 52 – and five young grandchildren.
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He → leave → wife
Lord Archer was the MP for Louth between 1969 and 1974 and later entered the House of Lords in 1992 after being made a life peer by Sir John Major.
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Archer → enter → Major
After losing his seat in the Seventies he turned to writing with his 1979 novel Kane And Abel, which is still one of the best-selling books in the world having sold more than 33 million copies.
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which → lose → copies
Reviving his political career the following decade, Lord Archer became the deputy chairman of the Conservative Party in 1985 while Margaret Thatcher was prime minister.
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Thatcher → revive → 1985
He and Dame Mary remained close friends with Baroness Thatcher, who was a regular attendee at their legendary Krug and shepherd's pie Christmas parties in their Thames penthouse until her health deteriorated in 2010.
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health → remain → 2010
Lord Archer announced in 1999 he was running for the Mayor of London for the Tories, receiving the backing of Baroness Thatcher, Sir John and then leader William Hague, but was forced to back out after accusations he had lied in a previous libel case.
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he → announce → case
The novelist and his wife celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in July with a garden party for 321 friends at their second home, the Old Vicarage in Grantchester, Cambridge.
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novelist → celebrate → Grantchester
Leader of the Conservative Party Kemi Badenoch led the tributes for Lord Archer, describing him as a 'dear friend'.
Jeffrey Archer, pictured with his wife Mary, has died 'suddenly and peacefully at home' aged 86, publishers Harper Collins have announced
Lord Archer pictured with Margaret Thatcher in 1986.
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Archer → lead → 1986
His novels have sold more than 300million copies in 115 countries
Alongside their Thames penthouse and Grantchester vicarage, the couple also owned a place in Majorca, where Jeffrey wrote many of his novels.
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Jeffrey → sell → novels
Estimates this year placed the novelist's fortune at around £200million but he declined to comment on this when speaking to the Daily Mail in September.
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he → place → September
One of Lord Archer's last interviews was with the Daily Mail last month where he discussed his career and health issues, as well as his upcoming book.
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he → discuss → career
Following a cancer diagnosis in 2013, Lord Archer of Weston-super-Mare had surgery to remove his prostate which, he revealed, rendered him permanently impotent.
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him → follow → prostate
'I'd rather have a life.
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I → have → life
It's not much of a choice, is it?' he previously said.
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he → say → choice
Lord Archer was taken as he left BBC headquarters on Sunday, having promoted the publication of Adam and Eve.
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he → take → Adam
The book, which Lord Archer was said to be 'very excited' about, explores Adolf Hitler's reluctance to invade Britain, with the idea first birthed six years ago.
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idea → say → Britain
Adam and Eve was always to be his final novel, with Lord Archer telling this paper: 'I'm 86.
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I → tell → paper
I don't think I could do it again.
uncertain
I → think → it
I write every word in longhand with felt tip pen on a 32-line pad.
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I → write → pad
I hand-wrote 18 drafts over two years.
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I → write → years
I don't know how to turn on a computer.'
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I → know → computer
He added in September: 'I find old age tiresome.
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age → add → September
I don't think I'd like to live to 100.
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I → think → 100
I have a hip problem.
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I → have → problem
I can't move as fast as I'd like to but thankfully Mary and I both seem to be firing on all cylinders mentally.
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Mary → move → cylinders
'Alzheimer's is my biggest dread, so I test my memory all the time; for names, places, events.
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I → test → events
'
'I'm conscious that time is precious now', Mary – who previously overcame bladder cancer – told the Daily Mail in September.
'
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who → overcome → September
We must use it well and I'd rather spend our old age together than apart.
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I → use → age
…and 165 more, not listed.