Jilly Cooper, the grande dame of English romance novels who started her career as a newspaper columnist and went on to sell millions of copies of her “Rutshire Chronicles” series, set in the upper echelons of British society, died on Sunday. She was 88.
She died after a fall, her publisher, Curtis Brown, said in a statement.
With her series, Ms. Cooper introduced a generation of British readers to the fictional county of Rutshire and its posh residents, including her dashing hero, Rupert Campbell-Black, a polo player turned Conservative member of Parliament — and the most handsome and irresistible man in England.
The series consisted of 11 books, starting with the 1985 novel “Riders,” and centered on Rupert and his friends and foes and on their sometimes outlandish behavior, extramarital activities and lavish parties. In the second book, “Rivals,” Rupert meets his second wife, Taggie, who is helpful and sweet and has severe dyslexia.
In the last entry in the series, “Tackle!,” published in 2023, Rupert explored the world of professional soccer.
Her Rutshire books, were best sellers in Ms. Cooper’s native England. In October 2024, Disney+ and Hulu released a TV series based on the books, bringing her world to American audiences.
Claire Moses is a Times reporter in London, focused on coverage of breaking and trending news.
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