‘I am currently working in the second novel in the series which will focus on William’s time as young detective sergeant in the elite drugs unit. Should he ever make it to commissioner will depend as much on William Warwick’s determination and ability as my hopes for longevity – mine, not yours.’
These are the words of Lord Jeffrey Archer in his preface to the novel released in 2020 titled ‘Nothing Ventured’. For the first time, Lord Jeffrey Archer is talking about his own longevity and mortality.
I was introduced to Lord Jeffrey Archer’s writings sometime in early 2000s. If you ask me what is the first novel of Lord Jeffrey Archer I read – I don’t think I will be in a position to answer. When I look at his books every novel of his looks as my very first one.
Sometime in August-September 2009, the Hindu newspaper announced a nationwide contest titled ‘Meet Lord Jeffrey Archer’. He was touring India to promote his then latest novel ‘And Thereby Hangs a Tale’. There were fifteen or probably twenty quiz questions asked which are based on the writings of Jeffrey Archer. It is impossible to guess an answer if you have not read him thoroughly. I am not intelligent but I took less than 10 minutes to complete 20 questions, sent in my email with answers. I forgot all about this contest. Two weeks later the Hindu published the winners of ‘Meet Lord Jeffrey Archer’ contest. Three winners were chosen and my name figured on the top. The publication further asks the winners to reach the Landmark showroom, Begumpet by 4pm on a date specified.
He is my favourite author and continues to be. My joy and happiness of meeting my favourite author is indescribable. I reached the Landmark showroom by 3:30pm. Nobody was present, only chairs were being arranged. I was the first to reach the venue. Sharp at 4pm, Lord Jeffery Archer arrived to meet the 50 or so waiting fans. Book signing ceremony – the novels were autographed by him. Two of his books were given towards first prize. Both were specially autographed by Lord Jeffrey Archer.
During interaction, I asked him “Sir! How do you know what to write? What is your thought process at that time”? He thought a while and replied, “I don’t think. I just take the pen and paper the story comes out…the pen starts writing itself. I dint believe him then. How can it be possible? Today I believe him, fully. He was right. All you need to do is take a pen and paper and sit. The pen knows what to do.
I must make reference to some of his less talked books in India. One of them is ‘The Gospel According to Judas’. He wrote with the assistance of professor Francis J. Moloney. In 2009, he was talking of his work on the background story of his new series titled ‘Clifton Chronicles’. I saw the first book of the chronicles 5 years later in 2013 2014.
I was fascinated reading his account of his prison life in his ‘Prison Diaries’ published in three volumes – Belmarsh – Hell; Wayland – Purgatory; North Sea Camp – Heaven. These books were not easily available. You know the Hyderabad Sunday market, second hand book shops in king Koti … this market helped me in procuring those used books.
Some of his plays – Beyond Reasonable Doubt, Exclusive, The Accused, Confession and Who Killed the Mayor etc., are very difficult / impossible to find in a country like India in those days. With lots of hardship, I imported them at a prohibitively expensive cost, but reading them was worth the cost.
In conclusion, what I wish to say about Lord Jeffrey Archer is that during the last 20 years of my life I read every book of his, at least once. This reading, roughly over 50 books, helped in developing my creativity, language, dialogue style and most importantly he blessed me with the pleasure of reading his books. All I pray is, may dear Lord Jeffrey Archer be given healthy life, more time to complete the series of William Warwick and many more. It will be an honour, if my residue life permitting, to meet him again to share the fruit ice-cream shake – I had the honour of having it with him in 2009.
About the Author
Dr. K. Raja Gopal Reddy is a seasoned internationally qualified Insurance professional.
What you are reading here, may not answer all the questions we have, but has the absolute power of asking unsettling questions which increase the interest in the strange world, and show the contradictory wonders lying just below the surface of the commonest things of life. Look at this disturbing but beautiful thought of Friedrich Nietzsche “God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him”.
Dr. Reddy can be reached at: raja66gopal@gmail.com
