Feeling a little sad this morning.
The moment I opened that first book (it was Harriet and I’d picked it up by chance off the returns shelf at Christchurch Public Library circa 1985) I was hooked. While the sauciness of plot sometimes had me blushing, her characters were so human – so loveably, hilariously, blunderingly, nastily, stupidly, sweetly real – that they still live in my head.
Through reading her words, so amazingly researched, I have been able to explain to my family the polo handicap system, provide the correct term to what had been done to the trees down the road – they’d been pollarded – and while it’s unlikely I’ll ever attend a hunt ball in person, thanks to Jilly, I’ve already been. Yep, I’ve squeezed myself into a dress at least two sizes too small because my week of eating only celery hadn’t produced the wished for results, dodged the lobbed bread rolls, drunk way too much bucks fizz (cos I’m a lightweight),and possibly snogged someone I shouldn’t have. I went with my friend, Jilly.
Her writing was clever, unique, chaotic and smooth and erudite…and oh so funny.
Kind thoughts to all those who knew her, either for real or simply through our mutual friends Rupert, Taggie, Lysander et al. In the words of another of our mutual “friends” (Gyles Brandreth this time) What a lady! What a life!
RIP Jolly Super Jilly Cooper.
Union Homestead 
Always sad when a beloved author dies.
Yes! It’s an odd relationship between author and reader – especially nowadays with social media
I know what you mean. We feel so connected with them. They, of course, usually have no idea who we are. But still, a wonderful one-way relationship.
I was not a fan, but she was prolific, and a very popular author back in the day. Always sad when someone we treasure is gone.
She was writing (horrific term alert) Chicklit before it existed and while I wasn’t a fan of the “bonkbuster” aspect, her characters sold it to me. Unforgettable.
Bonkbuster~ I think you’ve coined the perfect term for it. It was the aspect that made her books unappealing to me, but yes, her characterization was spot on.
I have never read any of her books but she was such a character; so interesting and lively and always good for a laugh. She will be missed.
I didn’t “see” her often but her being listed as a guest on a podcast was a guaranteed way to ensure I listened.