Jilly Cooper, the bestselling author of raunchy novels set among horse-loving high society, has died at the age of 88, her agent confirmed. The writer, known for her 'bonkbuster' genre, died on Sunday morning after a fall, her family said.
Cooper's agent Felicity Blunt described her as a writer who 'defined culture, writing and conversation since she was first published over 50 years ago'. Her children Felix and Emily said in a statement: 'We are so proud of everything she achieved in her life and can't begin to imagine life without her infectious smile and laughter.'
Queen Camilla paid tribute, saying: 'Very few writers get to be a legend in their own lifetime but Jilly was one, creating a whole new genre of literature.' Former prime minister Rishi Sunak, a known fan, also expressed his sadness on social media.
Cooper was best known for the 11-novel Rutshire Chronicles, beginning with Riders in 1985, which followed scandals among the upper classes in the fictional Cotswolds county. The second novel, Rivals, was adapted for Disney+ last year. Earlier works included romances like Emily and non-fiction such as her 1979 book Class.
Born in Essex in 1937, Cooper began her career as a cub reporter before writing columns for The Sunday Times and Mail on Sunday. She was made a dame in the 2024 New Year Honours for services to literature and charity. Her publisher Bill Scott-Kerr said Riders 'changed the course of popular fiction forever'.
