Jilly โCooper, Beloved Author of ‘Rivals,’ Dies at 88
LONDON – Jilly Cooper, the bestselling British author renowned for โher witty and oftenโข scandalous novels exploring the worlds of glamour, power, and romanceโ – most famouslyโค Rivals – has died atโค the โขage of 88. Her agent โconfirmed theโฃ news,prompting tributes from across the literary and political spectrum.
Cooper captivated readers for over half a century with her sharp social commentary and compelling characters,selling millions of books and becoming a cultural icon.โ She dissected the behaviors โขofโ the Englishโข upper middle classes with a keen eye and aโ playful spirit, offering both escapism and insightful observations on โคsociety.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer called Cooper “a literary force whose wit,warmthโ and wisdom shaped British culture for overโฃ half a century โand brought joy to millions,” according to โขhis office. Former โคPrime Minister Rishi Sunak also praised her work, noting the books offered “escapism.”
Born in 1937 in Essex,โค near London, Cooper began her career in journalism โbefore a varied path through public โrelations and book publishing. She achieved her breakthrough in 1969 with a piece published in The Sunday Times about the challenges of being a young working wife, leading toโ a โlong-running column with the newspaper. Her first book, “Howโค to Stay Married,”โ followed that same year.
Over the โขcourse of herโ prolific career, Cooper authored some 18 novels and other works, spanning romance, children’s literature, and nonfiction.โ Her most recent publication, “Tackle!,”โฃ was released in 2023. She โขwas recognized for her contributions to literature with an OBE (Officer of the Order of the Britishโฃ Empire) in 2004 and a damehood more recently, bestowed by King Charles at โWindsorโค Castle.
Cooper is survived โby her two adopted children, Felix and Emily.โค Her husband of moreโ then 40 years,leo Cooper,died inโฃ 2013. A private funeral โคwill be held according to her wishes,โ with a public service planned in London in the coming months to celebrate โher life and legacy.
Bill Scott-Kerr, โher publisher, lauded Cooper’s “wicked social commentary and deft, lacerating characterization.” Her agent, Felicity Blunt, saeid Cooper “defined culture, writing and conversation since she was first published over 50 years ago,” adding that the author was “emotionally bright, fantastically generous, sharply observant and utter fun.”
