‘Drained’ Forsyth finishes latest novel in three months

FREDERICK FORSYTH, who famously wrote The day Of The Jackal in 35 days, might have hoped for a more leisurely schedule when tackling The Fox, his 18th novel, which he envisaged as appearing in shops next spring. His publisher, Transworld, thought differently.

‘He usually takes a year or 18 months because he does a huge amount of research,’ his wife Sandy tells me, ‘but they wanted it like yesterday.’ Forsyth — who in a colourful career, including a stint at Mi6, has been shot at and seduced by a foreign spy — sought to oblige.

‘He started off getting up at 4am for three days,’ says Sandy. But Forsyth then paused for reflection.

‘He realised that he had to change; he had to pace himself.’

Timetable recalibrated, The Fox was written in three months. ‘it was

very taxing. i’ve never seen a man so drained,’ says Sandy. Nevertheless, she adds, Forsyth celebrated his 80th birthday on Saturday with characteristic vigour.