Veteran author Jilly Cooper, 88, died after suffering a fatal head injury in a fall at her Gloucestershire home, an inquest has revealed. The renowned author's body was found by her family members at around 5pm on October 4th, with initial reports suggesting she was alert and conscious. However, paramedics soon transferred her to Gloucestershire Royal hospital, where her condition rapidly deteriorated.
Coroners court heard that Cooper died from a traumatic subdural haematoma, a type of head injury, at 8:30am on October 5th, with her family present. Senior coroner Katy Skerrett concluded the cause of death was accidental and stated there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the fall.
Cooper's literary legacy spans over five decades, and she is best known for the Rutshire Chronicles series, which exposed the scandals of the upper classes in a fictional Cotswolds county. Her novels often fell under the "bonkbuster" label but Cooper herself described them as having an eclectic mix of elements. One of her novels, Rivals, was recently adapted for Disney+, further cementing her status as a literary legend.
The news of Cooper's passing has sparked tributes from high-profile figures, including Queen Camilla and former prime minister Rishi Sunak, who expressed their condolences to her family and fellow readers. The 88-year-old author received a damehood in the 2024 New Year Honours list for her services to literature and charity.
Coroners court heard that Cooper died from a traumatic subdural haematoma, a type of head injury, at 8:30am on October 5th, with her family present. Senior coroner Katy Skerrett concluded the cause of death was accidental and stated there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the fall.
Cooper's literary legacy spans over five decades, and she is best known for the Rutshire Chronicles series, which exposed the scandals of the upper classes in a fictional Cotswolds county. Her novels often fell under the "bonkbuster" label but Cooper herself described them as having an eclectic mix of elements. One of her novels, Rivals, was recently adapted for Disney+, further cementing her status as a literary legend.
The news of Cooper's passing has sparked tributes from high-profile figures, including Queen Camilla and former prime minister Rishi Sunak, who expressed their condolences to her family and fellow readers. The 88-year-old author received a damehood in the 2024 New Year Honours list for her services to literature and charity.
it's sad to hear about Jilly Cooper's passing... she was an iconic figure in the literary world, and I'm sure her books will continue to be enjoyed by many for years to come 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to read about all the scandals and drama of the upper classes? 
But at the same time, it's hard not to think about what could have been if she was still with us... 88 is definitely a ripe age to go, and accidents can happen to anyone, no matter how careful they are 
. I guess all we can do is celebrate her life and legacy, and hope that her family finds some comfort in the outpouring of tributes from people who loved her work 
.
sad news about Jilly Cooper 
... so underrated as an author in my opinion, people always talk about Ian McEwan & co but she was the one who paved way for many authors with her bold writing style & scandalous stories 
I mean, Rivals being adapted to Disney+ is a big deal! She was more than just a "bonkbuster" author, she had so much depth & talent 
, it's such a shock she passed away at 88! I remember reading her books as a teenager, and while they were often described as "bonkbusters", I thought they were so much more than that - witty, clever, and just plain fun to read. The fact that one of her novels was recently adapted for Disney+ is no surprise, those stories are timeless! It's lovely to see all the high-profile figures paying tribute to her, she truly left a mark on literature. 
she was an icon, especially for all us who grew up reading her novels back in the day 
anyway, I'm glad there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the fall... just an honest accident 
she deserved it 
! Jilly Cooper was like my fave author growing up, I devoured all her novels especially the Rutshire Chronicles series 
. I remember reading Rivals on holiday in 2008 and being obsessed with the scandalous drama 
. Her passing is such a sad loss, I feel like we're losing a piece of literary history 
, especially that Disney+ adaptation last year 
. RIP Jilly Cooper, you'll always be remembered for your sassy and scandalous stories 
and i was thinking about how much i love how nature has its own little dramas, like when you find a hidden waterfall or stumble upon a secret meadow... it's like the earth is putting on a show for you! anyway, Jilly Cooper's life story sounds so fascinating, especially with her writing being all about revealing secrets and scandals 
. i wonder what inspired her to write those novels in the first place? was she always passionate about exposing the truth?
always writing about those juicy scandals & romance novel stuff, I used to devour her books in one sitting 
now she's gone & it feels so unreal 
anyway, Rivals on Disney+ was a huge hit right? 
and that damehood award in 2024 was like, the ultimate recognition of her genius 
I mean, Jilly Cooper lived an epic life - from writing bonkbuster novels to receiving a damehood 
, she definitely left her mark on the literary world. Her legacy will live on through her books, but it's also super sad to see her go... 
meanwhile, what about all those self-driving cars and autonomous drones that are supposed to revolutionize our lives? still waiting for that innovation to make a real difference in the world 
at least Cooper lived a long life, 88 years is no joke 
her legacy lives on through her books especially the Rutshire Chronicles, those were so good! and can you believe disney+ just adapted one of her novels? 
that's like a dream come true for any book lover. RIP jilly cooper 
r.i.p jilly cooper 
Just heard about Jilly Cooper's passing 
. At least Queen Camilla and Rishi Sunak paid their respects to her legacy 
I'm sure it'll be amazing! Anyway, let's take a moment to remember this incredible woman who left us far too soon 
. Condolences to her family and fans worldwide - she may be gone, but her books will always be with us 
and her books will live on long after we're gone