India News | Have Always Felt Strong Connection with India: Author Jeffrey Archer
Get latest articles and stories on India at LatestLY. Popular British novelist Jeffrey Archer, who has earned a legion of fan with his edge-of-the-seat thrillers, has said that it took several rejections for him to find out his "god-gifted ability to tell stories".
Kolkata, Jan 13 (PTI) Popular British novelist Jeffrey Archer, who has earned a legion of fan with his edge-of-the-seat thrillers, has said that it took several rejections for him to find out his "god-gifted ability to tell stories".
The author, during a virtual conversation with Barry O' Brien on Thursday at the Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival here, stated that he has always "felt a strong connection with India", where his books have found many takers over the years.
"There are multiple connections between your great country and ours. Indian authors write so well. I can name R K Narayanan, who wrote short stories. He was a magnificent writer," Archer, a former parliamentarian in the UK, noted.
Calling himself a "failed politician", the author said, "I wanted to be the prime minister, and have a political life, but nothing worked in my favour. I faced bankruptcy. My manuscripts were rejected on occasions. But then I found out that I have a god-gifted ability to tell stories."
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A cricket aficionado, Archer maintained that VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Sunil Gavaskar are some of his favourite players.
Asked to compare between Sachin Tendulkar and Don Bradman, he quipped, "You cannot compare the two. They were greatest of their generations."
The master storyteller, whose latest 'Next in Line' makes for a gripping read, said that he is in the process of writing his next book.
"I took time out today only to catch up with my friends in Kolkata," added the 82-year-old author, best known for his novels ‘Kane and Abel' and ‘Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less'.
(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)