Day of the Jackal author Frederick Forsyth has died after a brief illness at the age of 86.
A statement released by his literary agent, Curtis Brown, revealed he died at home after the short illness surrounded by his family.
The former MI6 agent, who was one of the youngest ever RAF pilots and a former journalist, published more than 25 books in his lifetime.
Mr Forsyth's agent Jonathan Lloyd said in a statement: 'We mourn the passing of one of the world's greatest thriller writers.
'Only a few weeks ago I sat with him as we watched a new and moving documentary of his life - In My Own Words, to be released later this year on BBC1 – and was reminded of an extraordinary life, well lived.'
