Dame Jilly Cooper, the bestselling author of Riders and Rivals, has died at the age of 88, prompting tributes from writers who hailed her as a sharp observer of English class and a champion of complicated female heroines.
Cooper began her career as a journalist, writing a popular column for the Sunday Times about her domestic life, before turning to romance novels. Her breakthrough came with Riders, the first in the Rutshire Chronicles, a series of books that became known for their wit, social satire, and unapologetic celebration of sex.
Fellow novelists recalled her generosity and vibrant personality, noting that she "brightened every room" and was known for her love of animals. Her response to receiving a damehood from the King was reportedly "orgasmic," and she continued working on edits and notes until the very end.
Her later years saw renewed appreciation through the Disney adaptation of Rivals, which brought her a new generation of fans. Tributes also highlighted her knack for satirising selfishness and pretension, as well as her understanding of loneliness and isolation.
Cooper's legacy includes a devoted readership who learned from her books that it was fine to be imperfect, but never to be cruel to animals. As one admirer put it, she hoped that in heaven, "all your dogs come rushing across a green lawn to meet you."
