Jilly Cooper has died at the age of 88, her agent has confirmed.
The author, whose 18 novels include Riders and Rivals, “defined culture, writing and conversation since she was first published over 50 years ago,” said her agent Felicity Blunt. “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.”
Cooper died on Sunday morning after a fall. “Her unexpected death has come as a complete shock,” said her children Felix and Emily. “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.”
Cooper is best known for The Rutshire Chronicles, which follow the scandals of the upper classes in the fictional Cotswolds county of Rutshire. The second novel in the series, Rivals, was adapted for Disney+ and released last year.
More to follow
