RiP Jilly Cooper

[Daphnedot]

So bloody sad 😢

I wonder if she was part the way through another book. That’s the end of Rupert Campbell-Black too 😢

At the event I saw her at last year she said she was working on a book about Sparta. I don’t know how far through she was but I doubt we’ll get to see any of it. She didn’t say whether it was a novel or non fiction.

Apparently she has hoards of diaries at home . I’d pay good money if they were published . I’d bet she was gloriously indiscreet and an absolute hoot in them .

Oh yes, her diaries would be brilliant!

To all you experienced Jilly readers, is it okay read her books in any order, or is there a theme through them, like a trilogy, and you have to read them in a particular order?

I'm on holiday, with my battered copy of Imogen. Lovely light holiday read. RIP Jilly.

The ‘name’ books can be read in any order but the Rutshire Chronicles are better read in order because there are recurring characters in them and you’ll miss the backstory/get spoilers if you don’t read them in the right order. Start with Riders.

Ideally read Riders first as it introduces the characters. Then Rivals, then Polo.

Ah, I remember the description of the power of a haircut in Imogen! She gets taken to a hairdresser who transforms her. It's all St Tropez and sunshine and drinking and just swoon!

& she drops about 2 stone! Love Imogen & when her pills end up at jumble, the embarrassment of ripped up parish mag as loo paper run out re: Nicky. Matt the journo

I love that book - Imogen and Octavia are still my go-to comfort reads. But I enjoyed Harriet, Emily and Bella too. That series of books were part of my misspent youth in the seventies and bring back so many memories!!! Happy days.

I can only hope she went having a jolly super time after a glass or two too many of champagne. Far better than most of the alternatives.

Listen to her on the how to fail podcast - it’s quite recent. Lovely story of her leaving the first draft of one of her novels on a train it was all hand written and she had no copy…

I will haul my 10.5 stone bulk to the bar straighten my frizzy hair and will have a cold glass of white wine in her memory (am on hol)

Really sad to hear this 😞. Read most of her books in my 20s.

Class was a great book “mummy says pardon is a far worse word than fuck” ran through my mind when my mil tried to instil “pardon” into our dds when they were young.

You’re going to think I’m a crackpot: I was thinking of Dame Jilly this morning while buying toothbrushes having not listened to the news. I’m saddened and gobsmacked that she’s died. Lived her books and devoted them in the 80s/90s

It always makes me smile that she was born in Hornchurch when it was part of the County of Essex and was therefore born an Essex girl

May she rest in peace 🙏

I just listened to her on Desert Island Discs .Such a character and such sad news .

Her marriage weathered x 2 affairs, hers & Leo’s & love conquered all in end. Both their lives were interesting in own right, beyond her fiction etc.

I've got a feeling that I read an interview in which she said that she was leaving it up to her children whether or not to publish her diaries. They'd have to weigh the potential profits against the embarrassment they may suffer.
Iirc there were hints of orgies or, at least, three or four in a bed scenarios.
Très Riders and the Kenya trip.

So sad this afternoon, and Queen Camilla’s tribute brought a tear to my eye. I shall pull on my ‘good dress’ and raise a large G&T to Jilly this evening.

Hope they do publish with some edits. Common Years look to have edits now.

Great tribute from Queen Camilla. Apparently RCB was based on her ex-husband, I bet she was amused by that!

Just read the tribute from the Queen and you can tell that they were firm friends.

I am really upset that we will never know the fate of RCB and the other inhabitants of Rutshire

She always came across as such a warm and funny lady, bless her, thoughts to her family and all who loved her 😢

Love the queen’s tribute, especially ‘May her hereafter be filled with impossibly handsome men and devoted dogs’ 😊