Dame Jilly Cooper, one of Britain’s best-loved popular novelists and a sharp chronicler of class, romance and rivalry, has died aged 88. Her family and agent confirmed she passed away following a fall. Tributes have poured in from across public life for the author whose stories entertained millions for more than five decades.
A short biography
Born in 1937, Jilly Cooper worked in journalism and public relations before becoming a columnist for the Sunday Times. She published non-fiction in the 1960s and 70s, including How to Stay Married and the much-discussed Class (1979), before turning fully to fiction. Her breakthrough came with Riders (1985), launching the long-running Rutshire Chronicles and establishing her as the “queen” of the British bonkbuster, wry, romantic, and reliably unputdownable.
Cooper’s honours reflected her cultural impact: OBE (2004), CBE (2018) and a damehood (DBE) in 2024 for services to literature and charity. She was married to publisher Leo Cooper until his death in 2013 and is survived by their two adopted children, Felix and Emily.
Key works and where to start
Jilly Cooper’s fiction often unfolds in the fictional county of Rutshire, featuring recurring characters (not least the unforgettable Rupert Campbell-Black) in worlds of sport, media, politics and high society. Highlights include:
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Riders (1985) — show-jumping, scandal and star-crossed lovers; the novel that began it all.
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Rivals (1988) — television wars and village politics; adapted as a Disney+ drama in 2024.
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Polo (1991) — glamour, tournament intrigue and tangled hearts.
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The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous (1993) — Lysander Hawkley causes delicious havoc.
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Appassionata (1996), Score! (1999), Pandora (2002), Wicked! (2006) — expanding Rutshire’s canvas across the arts and education.
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Jump! (2010) and Mount! (2016) — steeplechasing and racing return to centre stage.
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Tackle! (2023) — football, celebrity and power plays in modern Britain.
For non-fiction, Class remains a sly, affectionate guide to British social codes.
Her legacy
Cooper’s novels were never just froth: beneath the fun lay a keen eye for status games, ambition, resilience and grief, all delivered with comic timing and deep affection for her characters (and dogs). She made millions laugh, gasp and keep turning the pages, and she gave popular fiction permission to be both glamorous and knowing. The continued adaptations and steady discovery by new readers speak to a voice that felt personal and generous — a writer who invited you in and poured the champagne.
From all of us at Shelf Indulgence, our thoughts are with Dame Jilly Cooper’s family, friends and the community of readers who adored her work.
