Friends and family will gather at Southwark Cathedral in central London for a memorial service celebrating the life of Dame Jilly Cooper, the beloved author who died unexpectedly in October at age 88 after a fall.
The literary icon became famous for her steamy fiction novels chronicling scandal and adultery in upper-class society. Her works, including "Riders," "Rivals," "Polo," "Mount!" and "Tackle!" formed The Rutshire Chronicles series that captivated readers for decades.
Cooper published "Tackle!" in 2023, her most recent novel. She wrote it on her manual typewriter named Monica. She continued working into her late 80s, maintaining her distinctive voice and wit.
Award-winning adaptation success
Her novel "Rivals" recently achieved new acclaim through a Disney+ adaptation starring David Tennant, Alex Hassell, Emily Atack and Danny Dyer. The series brought Cooper's fictional character Rupert Campbell-Black to a new generation. The character reportedly draws partly from the Queen's ex-husband Andrew Parker Bowles.
Previous adaptations included an ITV series of "The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous" featuring Stephen Billington and Hugh Bonneville, a 1990s series of "Riders" with Marcus Gilbert, and her 1970s sitcom "It's Awfully Bad For Your Eyes" starring Dame Joanna Lumley.
Honours and legacy
Cooper received her CBE for services to literature and charity in the 2018 New Year Honours. She became a dame in 2024, describing the moment of receiving the honour from the King as "orgasmic".
Camilla previously described the author as a "wonderfully witty and compassionate friend" and a "legend".
She leaves behind her two children, Felix and Emily.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
