Jeffrey Archer

Jeffrey Archer was educated at Oxford University. He has served five years in Britain’s House of Commons and fourteen years in the House of Lords. All of his novels and short story collections---including And Thereby Hangs a Tale, Kane and Abel, Paths of Glory and False Impression ---have been international bestselling books. His latest novel is The Sins of the Father.

From his Q & A with Arifa Akbar at the Independent:

Choose a favourite author, and say why you admire her/him

RK Narayan. I love his collection of short stories, 'Malguldi Days'. In my view, it's a masterpiece. He will write about a tax collector in a small village and you have to turn to the next page. He has a gift for taking the ordinary and making it very special indeed. A gifted storyteller.
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Which fictional character most resembles you?

Tigger and Sydney Carton [from 'A Tale of Two Cities']. It was Ann Leslie who first called me Tigger and I'm proud to be him.
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Who is your hero/heroine from outside literature?

George Mallory, who in 1924 did, or did not, conquer Mount Everest in hobnail boots and a three-piece suit.

Read the complete Q & A.

See Jeffrey Archer's top ten romans-fleuves.

--Marshal Zeringue