The coronavirus pandemic has taken a toll on everyone but that can be an opportunity for a writer to continue writing and that’s what Archer did by finishing a book during the 146 days of the lockdown in Cambridge.ĭescribing the spread of the virus as “one of the most terrible times in world history”, Archer said one should, if possible, spend the time “creatively”. If you want to read me, I’m a simple storyteller,” he added. If you want to read about India, read them. “… You have some of the greatest writers on earth in India. In theory, that would bore most people… He’s such a brilliant writer that you’ve got to turn the page,” Archer, who was part of this year’s TATA Literature Live, said. But then he writes about a tax collector in a small village. I think ‘Malgudi Days’ is a work of genius. “No better example than the great R K Narayan. Writing about India, he said, should be left to Indians as everybody should stick to the territory they know and understand.

The closest Archer has come to writing about India is in “Clifton Chronicles” where one of the major characters is an Indian. The British writer, a member of the House of Lords, shares his love for India, cricket and R K Narayan, his favourite Indian author, but steers clear of writing about the country. Indians and I have always been natural friends,” Archer told PTI in a phone interview from London. But I’m so lucky that so many millions of people in India read me. “So the answer to your question is, I don’t know the answer. When I came to the Jaipur book festival (in 2019), 7,500 people came to hear me speak. “Big author friends of mine say ‘Why do you sell millions in India?’ I still can’t honestly answer that question. The bestseller author, who has developed a loyal following in India over the decades with his many books, including “Kane and Abel”, “The Fourth Estate” and “The Clifton Chronicles” series, said Indians and he have just been “natural friends”.

The bestseller author, who has developed a loyal following in India over the decades with his many books, including “Kane and Abel”, “The Fourth Estate” and “The Clifton Chronicles” series, said Indians and he have just been “natural friends”.(Instagram) It is a question many of his “big” author friends have asked but Jeffrey Archer, one of the most widely read writers in English, says he doesn’t know why his books sell in millions in India and just feels lucky that they do.

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