Jilly Cooper, the beloved British author renowned for her racy, witty, and wildly popular romantic novels, has died at the age of 88, her family and agent confirmed on Monday.
According to UK media reports, Cooper passed away on Sunday following a fall at her home.
Her publicist, Felicity Blunt, paid tribute in an emotional statement: “I have lost a friend, an ally, a confidante and a mentor. But I know she will live forever in the words she put on the page and on the screen.”
Cooper’s children, Felix and Emily, said the news of her death was 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,” they said in a joint statement.
Born Jill Sallitt on February 21, 1937, Cooper became a literary sensation with her signature blend of sex, satire, and social commentary. She is best known for The Rutshire Chronicles, a series of best-selling novels featuring upper-crust mischief, steamy affairs, and the unforgettable cad Rupert Campbell-Black — a character partly inspired by Andrew Parker Bowles, the former husband of Queen Camilla.
Her works, often cheekily titled — including Riders, Mount!, Score! and Tackle! — were affectionately dubbed “bonkbusters” and sold more than 11 million copies in the UK alone.
A new generation was introduced to her writing with the 2024 Disney+ adaptation of Rivals, reigniting interest in her iconic characters and cementing her legacy as one of Britain’s most entertaining and enduring authors.
Blunt praised Cooper’s sharp and often subversive insight: “She wrote with acuity and wit about everything — class, sex, marriage, rivalry, grief, and fertility. You wouldn’t expect books categorised as bonkbusters to have so emphatically stood the test of time — but Jilly’s did.”
Jilly Cooper leaves behind a literary legacy filled with charm, humour, and unflinching honesty — a body of work that not only entertained millions but also gently skewered British high society with affection and flair.
AFP
