Legendary thriller author Frederick Forsyth died at the age of 86

Legendary thriller author Frederick Forsyth died at the age of 86

The British thriller author Frederick Forsyth died at the age of 86 after a short illness. This was confirmed by his agent Jonathan Lloyd today, on June 9, 2025. Forsyth became internationally known by over 25 published books that were sold more than 75 million times worldwide. His best -known works include "The Day of the Jackal" (the Schakal), "The Odessa File" and "The Dogs of War" .

his career started casually and was strongly shaped by experience and realism, which forsyth, from his time as a foreign correspondent for the BBC and Reuters. In the 1960s, he reported on the Biafra War in Nigeria, which was sustainable to his view of military conflicts. Forsyth was also one of the youngest pilots of the Royal Air Force, which influenced his spelling of informed actions in his novels.

a life's work

his debut novel "The Day of the Jackal" from 1971 was a milestone for the thriller literature. The story is about a British assassin who is commissioned to kill French President Charles de Gaulle. This novel was not only filmed, but also successfully filmed and in 2023 as a TV drama with Eddie Redmayne in a new edition on the screens.

in 2015, in his autobiography "The Outsider" , announced Forsyth to have worked for the British secret service MI6 for over 20 years. This was a crucial part of his life, even if he never saw himself as a spy, but as a "intelligence asset". This often gives his novels an authentic and exciting background.

legacy and grief

publisher Bill Scott-Kerr described Forsyth described as a yardstick of his genre. Forsyth leaves a literary heritage that will continue to captivate millions of readers worldwide. Shortly before his death, he saw the documentary "in My Own Words" , which portrays his life. This will be broadcast at the BBC later this year.

Frederick Forssyth's influence on the modern thriller literature is undeniable. His extraordinary ability to create tension and design realistic scenarios is underpinned by an impressive life's work that extends over several decades. It will be painfully missing in the literary world and beyond.

His work covers a variety of topics, from political conspiracies to military conflicts, and they remain a decisive part of thriller literature history.

For more information about his life and work, please visit , The Irish Times and wikipedia .