Frederick Forsyth: Master of the Thriller and Creator of the Schakal died

Frederick Forsyth: Master of the Thriller and Creator of the Schakal died

Buckinghamshire, England - The British author Frederick Forsyth, known for his exciting thrillers, died on June 9, 2025 at the age of 86. Forsyth, who was born on August 25, 1938 in Ashford, England, enjoyed great success during his career. His first novel, "The Schakal", was published in 1971 and is considered a masterpiece of the genre. The action is about an assassination attempt on French President Charles de Gaulle, in which a professional killer who is committed by the Armée Secrète (OAS) organization plans to kill de Gaulle. According to the [Kleine Zeitung] (https://www.kleinezeitung.at/service/newsticker/kultur/19777341/der-schakal- British-frederick-Forsyth-died), his experiences as a journalist, above all as a correspondent in crisis areas, has a decisive impact on the world of thrillers.

The story of the novel is based on a real, failed assassination attempt on de Gaulle. The jackal, hired by the OAS, demands a fee of $ 500,000 and plans to shoot the president on August 25, the holiday to liberate Paris, from a mansarde. The struggle between the killer and the French intelligence commissioner Lebel is the heart of the tension -charged narrative, which forsyth wrote within just 35 days, as he describes in his autobiography "Outsider".

success and influence

"The Schakal" quickly became a bestseller and stayed in 1st place in the Spiegel bestseller list in 1972 for 23 weeks. Until 1994 the book reached 20 editions and a total of 315,000 copies sold. Several films, including a first adaptation directed by Fred Zinnemann in the 1970s and a Hollywood remake with Bruce Willis in the 1990s, contributed to the popularity of the title. Forssyth's works were translated into over 30 languages ​​and sold more than 70 million times worldwide, which underlines its status as one of the most important thriller authors.

In addition to "The Schakal", Forsyth wrote other bestsellers, including "The Dogs of War", "The Fairs" and "The Death List", which testify to all of his unique ability to interweave complex stories with realistic detailed attention. Forsyth was also active as a journalist and reported, among other things, about the Nigerian civil war, a topic that inspired him to write his first book "The Biafra Story". This journalistic experience is reflected in the dense and exciting prose of his novels, which are often based on real events.

personal and legacy

Forsyth grew up in a turbulent time and had the dream of becoming a fighting pilot during the Second World War. He served in the Royal Air Force before starting his career as a journalist. Interestingly, during his time in Biafra, he was an informant for the British secret service MI6, which gives his writer's work additional dimensions. In his memoirs published in 2015, he reported on his experiences and the complexity of his relationship to the world of secret service.

He was married twice and lived in Buckinghamshire for the last years of his life. Forsyth leaves a rich literary heritage that will live on not only through his books, but also by the bustle readers and film fans who were inspired by his words. Frederick Forsyth is not only commemorated for his masterful thriller, but also for his tireless spirit and his fascination for stories.