Who is Jilly Cooper? Dame Jilly Cooper, DBE, is a celebrated English author known for her witty, engaging, and often provocative writings. Born Jill Sallitt on February 21, 1937, in Hornchurch, Essex, she has enjoyed a remarkable career spanning journalism, non-fiction, and romance novels. Her works, especially the Rutshire Chronicles, have captivated readers with their blend of humor, romance, and social commentary. Cooper's life is as colorful as her characters, filled with personal triumphs, challenges, and a deep love for animals. From her early days as a junior reporter to becoming a bestselling author, Jilly Cooper's journey is nothing short of inspiring.
Key Takeaways:
- Jilly Cooper, a prolific writer, overcame challenges to create captivating romance novels and the iconic Rutshire Chronicles, leaving a lasting impact on popular literature.
- Despite facing personal and professional challenges, Jilly Cooper's traditional values, humor, and resilience shine through in her engaging narratives, earning her recognition as a significant figure in literature.
Early Life and Family Background
Jilly Cooper's journey began in a quaint town in Essex, England. Her early life and family background played a significant role in shaping her career.
- Early Life: Born Jill Sallitt on February 21, 1937, in Hornchurch, Essex, England, she grew up in Ilkley and Surrey.
- Family Background: Her great, great grandfather founded the Leeds Mercury, a precursor to the Yorkshire Post, indicating a long-standing family connection to journalism.
Career Beginnings
Jilly Cooper's career started in journalism, where she quickly made a name for herself with her distinctive voice and engaging writing style.
- Career Beginnings: Cooper started her career as a junior reporter for The Middlesex Independent in Brentford from 1957 to 1959.
- Break into Journalism: Her big break came through a chance meeting at a dinner party where she was asked to write a feature about her experiences for The Sunday Times Magazine.
Transition to Writing
From journalism, Cooper transitioned into writing books, both non-fiction and fiction, which brought her immense popularity.
- First Book: Cooper's first book, How to Stay Married, was published in 1969, shortly after her column began.
- Non-Fiction Works: Her non-fiction writings often explored themes of class and social relationships. Notable works include Class and Jolly Super.
Romance Novels and Rutshire Chronicles
Jilly Cooper is perhaps best known for her romance novels and the Rutshire Chronicles, which captivated readers worldwide.
- Romance Novels: In the 1970s, Cooper started writing romantic novels named after heroines like Bella, Imogen, and Prudence.
- Rutshire Chronicles: Cooper's most famous works are the Rutshire Chronicles, which began with Riders in 1985.
Personal Life
Jilly Cooper's personal life has been as eventful as her professional one, filled with love, challenges, and resilience.
- Personal Life: In 1961, Cooper married Leo Cooper, a publisher of military history books.
- Residence: The Coopers lived in Putney, southwest London, before moving to The Chantry, an old manor house in Gloucestershire in the 1980s.
Challenges and Triumphs
Despite facing numerous challenges, Cooper's resilience and passion for writing never waned.
- Ladbroke Grove Rail Crash: In 1999, Cooper was a passenger in one of the derailed carriages in the Ladbroke Grove rail crash.
- Health Issues: In 2010, Cooper suffered a minor stroke. Her husband, Leo, was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2002 and passed away on November 29, 2013.
Love for Animals and Football
Jilly Cooper's love for animals and football is well-known, adding another layer to her vibrant personality.
- Animal Lover: Cooper is an animal lover and has owned many dogs, particularly retired greyhounds.
- Football Fan: Cooper is a football fan and supported Leeds United when she lived in Yorkshire.
Writing Style and Influence
Cooper's unique writing style and influence on literature have left an indelible mark on readers and writers alike.
- Writing Style: Her writing style is characterized by a blend of extravagance, romance, humor, whimsy, and social commentary.
- Influence on Literature: Despite not being much studied in universities, Cooper's work has had a significant impact on popular literature.
TV Adaptations and Personal Enthusiasm
Cooper's works have been adapted for television, and her personal enthusiasm for life shines through in everything she does.
- TV Adaptations: The second installment of the Rutshire Chronicles, Rivals, was adapted into an eight-part series for Disney+.
- Personal Enthusiasm: Cooper is known for her enthusiasm and keen interest in all facets of life.
Views on Contemporary Issues
Jilly Cooper has strong views on contemporary issues, reflecting her traditional values and perspectives.
- Disapproval of Online Dating: Cooper does not favor the concept of online dating, describing it as "awful."
- No More Rutshire Chronicles: Cooper has stated that she is old enough to stop writing more Rutshire Chronicles.
Inspirations and Memorabilia
Cooper's inspirations often come from her surroundings, and her home is filled with memorabilia that reflects her interests and passions.
- Gardening Inspiration: The view over a valley in her garden inspired the fictional setting of one of her novels.
- Signed Memorabilia: Cooper's home is filled with artwork, family snapshots, framed cartoons, and sporting memorabilia.
Traditional Values and Columnist Career
Jilly Cooper's traditional values and long career as a columnist have shaped her writing and public persona.
- Traditional Hospitality: She champions traditional hospitality at her home, which was once a 14th-century monks' dormitory.
- Columnist Career: Cooper's column in The Sunday Times ran for 13 years, exploring themes of sex, marriage, and domestic life.
High Profile Interviews and TV Series
Cooper's career includes high-profile interviews and a successful TV series, showcasing her versatility.
- High Profile Interviews: During her time as a columnist, Cooper conducted serious interviews with high-profile personalities including Margaret Thatcher and George Best.
- TV Series: In 1970, Cooper wrote a TV series titled It's Awfully Bad for Your Eyes Darling, which featured Joanna Lumley in a starring role.
Books Sold and Essex Roots
Jilly Cooper's books have sold millions of copies, and she retains a strong connection to her Essex roots.
- Books Sold: Cooper's books have sold over 11 million copies in the UK alone and have been translated into many languages.
- Essex Roots: Despite living in the Cotswolds since 1982, Cooper retains a great fondness for her Essex roots.
Family Influence and Social Commentary
Cooper's family influence and her keen social commentary are evident in her writings.
- Family Influence: Cooper attributes her talent to her family, stating that "there has always been ink in the family blood."
- Class and Social Commentary: Much of Cooper's writing explores themes of class and social relationships.
Crafting Engaging Narratives
Jilly Cooper's ability to craft engaging narratives, especially in her sex scenes and character portrayals, is a hallmark of her writing.
- Sex Scenes: Cooper believes that the key to crafting engaging sex scenes is to keep them fun.
- Dominant Male Characters: The best-known figure in her novels is the dominant male character, created from a mixture of Mr Rochester, Clark Gable, Casanova, and various dashing English aristocrats.
Humor and Social Pretension
Cooper's novels often blend humor with social commentary, making them both entertaining and insightful.
- Social Pretension: Cooper's novels often mock social pretension gently but overtly mock only the most unpleasant characters.
- Thatcher Portrayal: Cooper wrote a particularly deft portrait of Thatcher, contrasting the leader's authority with the horticultural detail of her front garden.
Column Set-Pieces and Romantic Narratives
Many of Cooper's set-pieces and romantic narratives have become iconic, reflecting her unique storytelling style.
- Column Set-Pieces: Many of the set-pieces or casual asides in her columns provide material for the later novels.
- Romantic Narratives: Cooper's early romantic novels were tightly structured and provided wish-fulfillment narratives named for their heroines.
Impact of Rutshire Chronicles
The Rutshire Chronicles have had a lasting impact on readers, introducing memorable characters and settings.
- Rutshire Chronicles Impact: The Rutshire Chronicles introduced readers to the charming Rupert Campbell-Black and became international bestsellers.
Contemporary Life Frustrations
Jilly Cooper has expressed frustrations with certain aspects of contemporary life, reflecting her traditional views.
- Contemporary Life Frustrations: One aspect of contemporary life that frustrates Cooper the most is inheritance tax.
Legacy and Recognition
Jilly Cooper's legacy and recognition in literature are well-deserved, marking her as a significant figure in popular literature.
- Legacy and Recognition: Despite not being much studied in universities, Cooper's work has had a significant impact on popular literature.
- Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire: She has been recognized for her contributions to literature and journalism, earning her the title of Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 2001.
Jilly Cooper's Lasting Impact
Jilly Cooper's life and work have left an indelible mark on literature and journalism. From her early days as a junior reporter to becoming a best-selling author, her journey is nothing short of inspiring. Her Rutshire Chronicles series, especially Riders, captivated readers with its blend of romance, humor, and social commentary. Cooper's ability to weave engaging narratives with relatable characters has earned her a diverse fanbase and significant literary recognition.
Despite facing personal challenges, including a stroke and her husband's illness, Cooper's resilience and passion for writing never waned. Her love for animals, traditional hospitality, and disdain for online dating add layers to her intriguing personality. With over 11 million books sold in the UK alone, Cooper's legacy in popular literature is undeniable. Her contributions continue to inspire readers and writers, making her a lasting figure in the literary world.
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