Dame Jilly Cooper was, according to Queen Camilla, a legend in her own lifetime, as well as wonderfully witty and a compassionate friend. Her Majesty led the tributes to the acclaimed British writer, often dubbed the “Queen of the bonkbusters”, who died aged 88, following a fall last week.
The legacy of the Rutshire Chronicles
Dame Jilly wrote 48 books in 55 years, 26 of them non-fiction. She was best known for her Rutshire Chronicles novels, set in a fictional part of the Cotswolds and featuring devilishly handsome men, strikingly beautiful women, plus much-loved horses and dogs.
The first book in the series, Riders, was written in 1970, but Jilly accidentally left the manuscript on a bus. She was so devastated that it took 10 years before she could bring herself to start re-writing it. Published in 1985, it went on to become a bestseller.
Rivals and the resurgence of Jilly Cooper
Rivals, the second book in the series – also featuring the dastardly Rupert Campbell-Black – was finally made into a mini-series last year. This adaptation kick-started a resurgence of interest in her books. Described as packed full of wicked humour, social insights and sharply observed characters, they sold 11 million copies around the world. The last one, Tackle!, was published two years ago.
Known as Jolly Jilly, the widowed mum of two has been described as warm, funny, a wonderful hostess and a little bit naughty. I can attest to that – after interviewing her on the phone for the Weekly back in the 1990s, I mentioned I was going to be in the UK visiting friends in a village near her Cotswolds home in a few weeks. She invited me to pop in and because she sounded genuine, I did.
Cheeky revenge and classic Jilly Cooper humour
Over drinks on the terrace of her 14th-century home, the former journalist reminisced. She recalled the time Robert Redford complained about an interview she’d done with him. She got her cheeky revenge when it came to her next book Class. The cover shows Jilly in a tiara eating chips out of newspaper that includes a photo of the Hollywood star.
As Queen Camilla so eloquently said, “May her hereafter be filled with impossibly handsome men and devoted dogs.”
