Dame Jilly Cooper, the bestselling novelist, journalist, and national treasure, has died unexpectedly at the age of 88.
Known for countless books – including Rivals, which was made into a hit Disney Plus show – Cooper told exuberant tales of sex, class, and scandal, ultimately transforming the face of popular fiction in the UK.
Her children, Felix and Emily, said in a statement that her death came after a fall and was ‘a complete shock.’
They wrote: ‘Mum was the shining light in all of our lives. Her love for all of her family and friends knew no bounds.
They continue: ‘Her unexpected death has come as a complete shock. We are so proud of everything she achieved in her life and can’t begin to imagine life without her infectious smile and laughter all around us.’
Across a career spanning more than half a century, Cooper became one of Britain’s most distinctive and best-loved writers.
With her signature wit and warmth, she chronicled the foibles of the English upper-middle classes with both satire and sympathy.
Her Rutshire Chronicles – beginning with Riders (1985) – defined an era of publishing and introduced readers to the rakish Rupert Campbell-Black, a show-jumping antihero whose name became shorthand for a certain brand of charming, selfish Englishman.
Felicity Blunt, her long-time agent, described Cooper as ‘a woman who has defined culture, writing and conversation since she was first published over fifty years ago.’
She continued: ‘Jilly will undoubtedly be best remembered for her chart-topping Rutshire Chronicles and their havoc-making and handsome show-jumping hero Rupert Campbell-Black,’ Blunt said.
‘You wouldn’t expect books categorised as bonkbusters to have so emphatically stood the test of time, but Jilly wrote with acuity and insight about all things — class, sex, marriage, rivalry, grief and fertility. Her plots were both intricate and gutsy, spiked with sharp observations and wicked humour.’
Jilly Cooper’s funeral will be a private family one, in accordance with her wishes. A public service of thanksgiving will be held in the coming months at Southwark Cathedral to celebrate her extraordinary life.
She is survived by her children, Felix and Emily.
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