Frederick Forsyth’s The Day of the Jackal is one of the most acclaimed political thrillers ever written—a meticulous, high-tension novel that revolutionised the modern spy genre.
First published in 1971, the story follows a hired assassin, known only as The Jackal, contracted by a covert French paramilitary organisation to kill President Charles de Gaulle.
Forsyth’s background as a journalist informs the book’s extraordinary realism: from weapon design and forged documents to operational surveillance, the narrative reads like authentic reportage. Fast-paced, intelligent, and chillingly plausible, the novel is widely regarded as one of the finest thrillers of the 20th century and remains a staple for collectors and espionage-fiction enthusiasts.
This 1973 Corgi Books reprint retains the original early-1970s cover design and typography, characteristic of the era’s classic paperback thrillers.
Early Corgi paperbacks (1971–1973) are increasingly collectible, especially with the original artwork.
The Day of the Jackal – Frederick Forsyth (1973 Corgi) | Vintage
Title: The Day of the Jackal
Author: Frederick Forsyth
Publisher: Corgi Books, London, England
Publication Year: 1973
Edition: First Corgi Edition reprint (original Corgi edition published 1971)
Genre: Political Thriller / Espionage
Format: Softcover
Pages: 382
Price: Not price clipped (see verso)Condition: Fair vintage condition. Creasing and rubbing to the front cover. Chipping and wear to edges and corners. Spine creasing from reading. Pages show age toning typical of early-1970s paperbacks. Binding appears intact. Former price sticker mark on upper front cover. A readable and complete early Corgi printing suitable for collectors seeking an affordable vintage edition.
