Dame Jilly Cooper Dies at 88

Dame Jilly Cooper died aged 88 after a fall on Sunday, her publisher and agency confirmed, with her children saying the death was "a complete shock." A former journalist, Cooper became a bestselling novelist known for the Rutshire Chronicles — including Riders and Rivals — selling millions of books and helping popularise the so‑called "bonkbuster" genre. Rivals was adapted for Disney+ last year and Cooper remained involved with screen versions. Producers, her agent Felicity Blunt and her publisher hailed her as a cultural trailblazer whose work defined popular British fiction for decades. Queen Camilla led public tributes, calling Cooper a "legend" and saying she had seen her weeks earlier; the family said the funeral will be private with a public service of thanksgiving expected later.