Notorious British creator Dame Jilly Cooper has handed away at the age of 88 after suffering a tumble, her agent confirmed on Monday.

Cooper died on Sunday morning, and her household described her loss of life as a “complete shock.”  Her children, Felix and Emily, paid tribute to their mom as “the shimmering light in all of our lives.”

Simplest identified for her courageous and witty novels exploring class, romance, and scandal, Cooper’s Rutshire Chronicles sequence—initiating with Riders (1985)—grew to change into a literary phenomenon. Her guide Rivals turned into as soon as tailored into a tv sequence on Disney+ in 2024, bringing renewed attention to her work.

Her writing, most regularly labeled in smartly-liked culture as “bonkbuster” fiction for its frank portrayal of sexuality and better-class intrigue, turned into as soon as underpinned by difficult social observation and humor.

Over her five-decade profession, Cooper published bigger than 18 novels and grew to change into a renowned opt in British smartly-liked literature.

Tributes poured in from across the UK, including from High Minister Keir Starmer, Queen Camilla, and broken-down High Minister Rishi Sunak, all praising Cooper’s cultural impact and her reward for storytelling. Queen Camilla described her as “a sage” and a “wonderfully witty and compassionate friend.”

The creator started her professional life in journalism sooner than transitioning into fiction. Her first guide, The model to Hang Married, turned into as soon as published in 1969, adopted by novels and nonfiction exploring relationships, society, and the human condition.