Frederick Forsyth dead: The Day of The Jackal author dies, aged 86

Frederick Forsyth, the author of The Day of The Jackal, has died at the age of 86 after a brief illness, his literary agents Curtis Brown said.

The journalist turned novelist is known for works including The Odessa File, The Fourth Protocol and The Dogs of War. His politicial thriller The Day of the Jackal was first released in 1971 and follows a professional assassin known as the Jackal. It notably inspired the film adaptation of the same name in 1973, starring Edward Fox, and more recently a TV show, starring Eddie Redmayne and Lashana Lynch.

It’s just one of his novels to be adapted for the screen, with other examples including the Fourth Protocol. The Cold War novel, which was released in 1984, was followed by a film version in 1987, which starred Michael Caine and Pierce Brosnan.

Although known for his thrillers, Frederick also wrote the Phantom of Manhattan, released in 1999, which is considered a sequel to Gaston Leroux’s Le Fantôme de l’Opéra from 1910. The Phantom of the Opera musical is based on Gaston’s novel and its sequel Love Never Dies is said to have been inspired by Frederick’s novel.

Prior to his career as a novelist, Frederick was a journalist, with him having worked for the likes of the BBC. He was a columnist for the Express for more than two decades and said upon his departure from the role in 2023: “It is now time to step back and retire and that must include saying a fond goodbye to the column.”

It was announced last month that Frederick would be among those featured on the new series of BBC Arts’ In My Own Words. The show consists of “intimate” first-person testimony and archive to explore the careers and life stories of its guests.

Frederick said about his involvement: “Having spent my career telling other people’s stories, I now find myself in the unusual position of subject rather than storyteller. It has reminded me of the incredible luck I have had, the fork in the road moments, and the deep gratitude I feel for having been part of it.”

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Source: Mirror