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R-I-P Jilly Cooper

(70 Posts)
infoman Mon 06-Oct-25 10:47:25

at the age of 88.

J52 Mon 06-Oct-25 12:03:09

How sad, she certainly was an icon of racy novels. I too remember reading Petticoat and her contributions.
RIP Jilly.

Grandma70s Mon 06-Oct-25 12:20:40

Susie42

I loved her book The Common Years, which showed that she didn’t only write fiction. Jolly Super will be much missed.

Yes, and also Turn Right at the Spotted Dog. Always good fun.

eazybee Mon 06-Oct-25 12:32:20

I am sorry to hear that.
I loved her column in the Sunday Times, describing how she washed her husband's jock strap with a red garment and it came out rose pink, and how her mother in law slept blissfully on a pillow case stuffed with damp washing, and little books, How to stay Married'; the frothy romances and the bonkbusters, also one about her time living in Putney (was that The Common Years) and life in general.
She certainly had a full and I think , happy life.

Aldom Mon 06-Oct-25 12:33:38

The news of Jilly Cooper's death came as quite a shock. I'm saddened by her loss. May she rest in peace.

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Mon 06-Oct-25 12:39:51

Although I was never interested in any of her books, clearly she brought much joie de vivre to the world and will be missed by many. RIP Super Cooper and condolences to her family.

Cossy Mon 06-Oct-25 12:42:02

Visgir1

I started reading her books when I was a Teenager, and like many, fell for R C-B..horses and hunks the perfect match.
She was one of those women you would have liked to have a drink with.
RIP lovely lady 🌹

Yes I agree RIP

Maremia Mon 06-Oct-25 12:42:48

Good that she saw the great success of the TV adaptation of Rivals.

nanaK54 Mon 06-Oct-25 12:52:06

I had no idea, what sad news...

dalrymple23 Mon 06-Oct-25 14:29:17

Oh, no. Can't bear it.

JenniferEccles Mon 06-Oct-25 14:30:00

She was delightfully eccentric, and I imagine, great fun to have as a friend !

LovesBach Mon 06-Oct-25 14:45:45

So sad. What a few months - Terence Stamp, Patricia Routledge, Robert Redford and now the lovely Jilly Cooper gone from the world. 'Read all her books, and her early newspaper articles about the harassed young wife were spot on.

Grantanow Mon 06-Oct-25 15:20:46

ŔIP

Taunton Mon 06-Oct-25 15:38:22

I feel ridiculously sad. I read my first Jilly Cooper book ‘Harriet’ when still at school and have carried on reading and loving her novels into my sixties. They have provided great escapism and humour during some tough times - I sat re-reading Rivals whilst waiting to be taken down for breast cancer surgery and feeling terrified and it definitely helped! Her characters always drank Pouilly Fume wine and after trying it, it became a Christmas lunch tradition in our house to have a bottle! I
I laughed, and often cried, reading her books and loved her empathy and wit. The end of an era!

mancgirl Mon 06-Oct-25 15:43:52

I first read "Imogen" when it was serialised in the 19 magazine. I couldn't wait for the next instalment. When I realised it was available in paperback, I bought it and I have re-read it many times since. I think a part of me identified with her. I went on to read many of her books after that. RIP Jillyflowers

wildrose Mon 06-Oct-25 15:57:37

I always laugh out loud each year when I read How to Survive Christmas! In fact I've just ordered a new copy for myself as the original copy is well thumbed and tatty.
Haven't read anything else of hers but I always loved that!

R.I.P Jilly.

Witzend Mon 06-Oct-25 16:04:00

TerriBull

Wasn't her pseudonym "Jolly Super" I believe I read that somewhere.

It was Private Eye’s name for her.

Another icon gone, after Patricia Routledge and Maggie Smith not so long ago…. Mind you in a way I think she was lucky to go like that at 88, after a fall - certainly preferable to months or years of cancer or dementia.

pinkprincess Mon 06-Oct-25 20:25:42

Rest In Peace Jilly I will miss your writing

Grannmarie Mon 06-Oct-25 23:12:47

Very strangely, the final question on this evening 's University Challenge was about the Rutshire Chronicles.

R.I. P. Jilly .

windmill1 Tue 07-Oct-25 01:57:50

I started off with the Harriet, Imogen, etc novels. Enormous fun and I could just about relate because they made the silliest mistakes.
One - I don't remember which - went to a dress shop in Edinburgh and the snooty shop assistant said "it's a little tight around the barkside, don't ye thenk?"
Jilly really had a way with words!

So sad.

TillyTrotter Tue 07-Oct-25 08:23:49

RIP Jilly. 🌹
In my teenage years I read one of the girls name books - think it was Bella - and thought it great fun. Couldn’t wait to get hold of the others and read them all.
Then the blockbusters - Riders,Rivals,Polo . Gosh they were thick books full of mainly “posh’ characters and provided escapism to a world that was so different to mine.
I loved the way the front of the books had a sketch of the ‘Shire’ and who lived where.
And a list of all the characters that I thought I’d never remember, but I soon got into it.
Thank you Jilly for your storytelling talent.

Allira Tue 07-Oct-25 12:23:30

I think one of her 'posh' heroes was based on Andrew Parker-Bowles.

Oreo Tue 07-Oct-25 12:40:24

Never read any of her books, the subject matter didn’t appeal at all, but saw a docu about her a few years ago and she seemed a very interesting and pleasant woman who had enjoyed life to the full and felt the loss of her DH, Leo so very much.

mabon2 Tue 07-Oct-25 13:47:24

Never read any of her books.

LovesBach Tue 07-Oct-25 14:27:27

Allira

I think one of her 'posh' heroes was based on Andrew Parker-Bowles.

It was 'THE' posh hero, Rupert Campbell Black, who appeared in most of her books, and was evidently based on Andrew Parker Bowles. He begins as a spoilt and cruel individual, but is softened a little by true love.

Allira Tue 07-Oct-25 14:29:00

Thanks LoveBach, I've not read any of her books but she well-known anyway.