Jeffrey Archer says Adam and Eve will be his final novel

Jeffrey Archer has said his new novel, Adam and Eve, will be his final one. The 86-year-old author and peer gave a long interview at his former school in Somerset, where he discussed the book, his time in prison, his political career and his treatment for prostate cancer.

The novel is a love story set during the Second World War. Its plot turns on Hitler's repeated changes of mind about whether to invade Britain. Archer said he wanted Adam and Eve to be responsible for those changes without the device feeling forced. He described the challenge as making readers believe that two people born on Armistice Day, the last day of the First World War, could have changed the history of the world.

He said he wanted to finish on an epic scale. Asked why he chose such a large story for his last novel, he compared retirement to running the final 100 metres at the Olympics and winning gold. He added that there is always a time to stop and that the clever thing in life is knowing when to get out.

Archer grew up in Weston-super-Mare and is Lord Archer of Weston-super-Mare. His first job was as a cub reporter in the town. He said Adam and Eve contains small references to his childhood, including a paddle steamer called Weston-super-Mare. He also repeated his advice to young authors: do not chase fashions such as sex, ghost stories or history, but write what you know about.

The interview covered his criminal conviction. Archer was found guilty of perjury and jailed for four years. Asked about prisons, overcrowding, early release and how to solve the crisis, he said he had been lucky. He said he was held in what is called a D-cat, which he described as almost a holiday camp compared with the toughest end of the prison system. He spent six weeks in Belmarsh at the start, which he called a long six weeks. He said he learned a lot and got three books out of the experience. On solving the prison crisis, he said it was hard to win because whatever you do the public will not be pleased and there is no money.

He said he was not upset, haunted or embarrassed by his imprisonment. He said he learned how privileged and lucky he was, and that the British people are very forgiving.

On politics, Archer said he entered the House of Commons at 29, when politicians were giants. He questioned whether today's MPs are of the same calibre. He spoke warmly about John Smith, whom he admired and thought would make a great prime minister, even though they were in different parties. He said they respected each other and cared about their country. He believes politics is now very different and predicted a five-party election next time. He raised the possibility of transferable votes and proportional representation, adding that Margaret Thatcher would have opposed the idea.

Archer also spoke about his prostate cancer. He said he had been very aware of how lucky he was and urged men to go to their doctor and check their PSA. He said too many men avoid the test because they think they are macho. He said Mary told him to go in and check. He said he is fine, fit and healthy at 86.

He said he would not be retiring, although he accepted that giving up novels amounted to semi-retirement. When the interviewer suggested he might return to novel writing, Archer said no, but told him he could interview him if he did.