Dame Jilly Cooper: Undisputed queen of the joyous British bonkbuster
26 minutes ago Share Save Share Save
Getty Images Fans bought Cooper's books in their millions, pushing many to the top of the bestseller lists
The novels of Dame Jilly Cooper, who has died at the age of 88, are joyous descriptions of a fantasy world where monied men cast smouldering glances and women are instantly aroused. The undisputed queen of the British bonkbuster, some of her biggest titles were the Rutshire Chronicles: unputdownable tales of sexual intrigue among the polo-playing classes - including such classics as Rivals, Riders and The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous. In Rutshire - Cooper's fictional country - everyone drinks like they have hours to live, outdoor sex is practically compulsory, and few vows of marriage survive until the final page. In recent years, her work was criticised for outdated stereotypes of race, gender and sexual consent. But fans bought Cooper's books in their millions, pushing many to the top of the bestseller lists. And in 2024, a Disney+ adaptation of Rivals, with its witty mixture of class-conflict, saucy sex and gentle social satire, proved that her basic recipe was still hugely popular.
Continue Reading on BBC News
This preview shows approximately 15% of the article. Read the full story on the publisher's website to support quality journalism.