Jilly Cooper, the author of the Rutshire Chronicles , has died. She was 88.

The news was announced on Monday (6 October), with her publisher releasing a statement which said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Dame Jilly Cooper, DBE, who died on Sunday morning, after a fall,” Sky News reported .

Cooper’s children, Felix and Emily, described their mother as “the shining light in all of our lives”, and went on to say: “Her love her family and friends knew no bounds. Her unexpected death has come as a complete shock.

“We are so proud of everything she achieved in her life and can’t begin to imagine life without her infectious smile and laughter all around us.”

Felicity Blunt, Cooper’s agent, told the BBC , it had been a privilege to work with “a woman who has defined

See Full Page