Beloved Author Jilly Cooper, Known for ‘Rivals‘ and ‘Riders,’ dies at 88
Jilly Cooper, the best-selling author celebrated for her captivating and often scandalous novels including Rivals and Riders, has died at the age of 88. Her novels, known for their charismatic characters, witty prose, and exploration of British society, captivated generations of readers and established Cooper as a cultural icon.
Cooper’s passing marks the end of an era for romantic fiction and leaves a void in the literary world. Her books,frequently adapted for television,offered a glamorous and often humorous look at the lives of the wealthy and powerful,while also championing strong female characters. A public service of thanksgiving will be held at Southwark Cathedral in London in the coming months, following a private family funeral.
Tributes have poured in from across the entertainment industry and literary circles. TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp described cooper as “a British institution, funny, excited and self deprecating, we don’t see enough of it these days.” Piers Morgan posted that she was “a fabulously fun, mischievous, warm-hearted lady,” adding that her presence instantly cheered people up.
Former Sky News presenter Kay Burley admitted that the dashing anti-hero of Cooper’s Rutshire Chronicles, Rupert Campbell-Black, “had quite the influence on my early 20s.” Fellow broadcaster Russell Grant remembered Cooper as “one of the most kind, courteous, generous, warm-hearted and smiley people” he ever met.Author Adam Kay recalled being her ”perhaps unlikely penpal,” stating, “We have lost one of the greats.”
The executive producers of the Disney+ adaptation of Rivals, Dominic Treadwell-Collins and Alex Lamb, remembered working with “one of the world’s greatest storytellers.” They recalled “crawling around on her sitting room floor with storylines on pieces of paper…receiving scoldings and heaps of wisdom in equal measure,” and witnessing her joy as Rutshire came to life on set. They concluded,”every moment spent with Jilly Cooper was bloody marvellous.”
