Jilly Cooper, Romance Author And Rivals Writer, Dies Aged 88

<div><img src="https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/68e3946614000018f55c6f85.jpg?ops=scalefit_630_noupscale" alt="Jimmy Cooper at a screening of Rivals last year" data-caption="Jimmy Cooper at a screening of Rivals last year" data-credit-link-back="" data-credit="James Veysey/Shutterstock" />Jimmy Cooper at a screening of Rivals last year</div><div class="content-list-component text"><p><span style="font-weight:400">Best-selling author <a href="news/jilly-cooper/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Dame Jilly Cooper</a> has died at the age of 88.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400">Dame Jilly was best known as the writer of the Rutshire Chronicles series of romance novels, which last year were adapted for television in the hit series <a href="news/rivals/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Rivals</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400">On Monday morning, her publishing house announced that she had died on Sunday morning after a fall.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400">Dame Jilly’s two children said in a statement: “Mum was the shining light in all of our lives. Her love for all of her family and friends knew no bounds.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400">“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.”</span></p><p><span style="font-weight:400">Happy Prince, the production company behind Rivals (on which Dame Jilly also served as an executive producer), also paid homage to the writer in a tribute posted on social media.<