Jilly Cooper, bestselling author of 'Riders' and 'Rivals', dies aged 88
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British novelist and journalist Jilly Cooper, best known for her bestselling Rutshire Chronicles, has died at the age of 88. Her agent, Felicity Blunt, confirmed that Cooper passed away on Sunday morning following a fall. Her death, described as “a complete shock” by her children, Felix and Emily, ends a literary career that spanned over five decades.
“Very few writers get to be a legend in their own lifetime, but Jilly was one,” said Blunt, adding that Cooper’s work “defined culture, writing and conversation since she was first published over 50 years ago.” Cooper authored 18 novels, including Riders, Rivals, and Bella, which blended romance, satire, and sharp commentary on British society. Often dubbed the “queen of the bonkbuster,” Cooper once joked the term should be updated to “shagbuster,” reflecting the evolving language of love and lust.
“Jilly will endure and go on.”
Dame Jilly Cooper, author of best-selling books including Rivals and Riders, has died at the age of 88.
Her literary agent and executive producer on the TV serialisation of Rivals, Felicity Blunt, tells #BBCWato how she will be remembered.Born in Hornchurch, Essex, in 1937, Cooper attended Godolphin School in Salisbury and began her career as a junior reporter at the Middlesex Independent in 1956. She later moved into public relations before transitioning into journalism and writing. She wrote columns for The Sunday Times and Mail on Sunday, gaining popularity for her witty and candid commentary.
Cooper married publisher Leo Cooper in 1961. After experiencing fertility challenges, they adopted two children, Felix and Emily, in the 1970s. Her first book, How to Stay Married, a nonfiction guide, was published in 1969. She later turned to fiction, beginning with Emily in 1975, and followed it with a series of romantic novels before launching her most iconic work.
Riders, published in 1985, was the first installment in the Rutshire Chronicles, a series exploring the private scandals of England’s privileged classes. It was followed by Rivals in 1988 and nine further titles. Several were adapted for television, with Rivals most recently made into a Disney+ series in 2024.
Her publisher, Bill Scott-Kerr, praised her legacy, noting she “changed the course of popular fiction forever” with her sharp social satire and unforgettable characters.
A private funeral will be held for Cooper, with a public memorial planned at Southwark Cathedral in the coming months.