min read · October 6, 2025 · Entertainment

The Enduring Legacy of 'Queen of the Bonkbuster': Remembering Dame Jilly Cooper

The Queen of the Bonkbuster: Dame Jilly Cooper's Scandalous Life and Times

In a shocking turn of events, beloved author Dame Jilly Cooper has passed away at the age of 88 following a fall. The news sent shockwaves through the literary world, with tributes pouring in from fans, fellow authors, and even royalty.

Dame Jilly, the undisputed "Queen of the Bonkbuster," left an indelible mark on the literary landscape with her raunchy romance novels, which sold over 12 million copies worldwide. Her writing was not for the faint of heart, but it captivated readers with its frank depictions of sex, marriage, and relationships.

The author's children, Felix and Emily, described their mother's death as a "complete shock," saying she was the "shining light" of their lives. They praised her boundless love and generosity, which knew no bounds.

But Dame Jilly's life was not without its scandals. Her husband, Leo, had a six-year affair in the 1990s, which he later described as "cataclysmic." Despite this, the couple remained together until his death from Parkinson's disease in 2013.

Dame Jilly's writing often reflected her own experiences, including her tumultuous marriage. In an interview with The Scholarly Note earlier this year, she confessed to having enjoyed a clinch with none other than Sean Connery, the legendary James Bond star. "He was gorgeous," she gushed. "We had a lovely kiss, but we both knew it was wrong, and we didn't want to hurt our wives."

The author's most famous creation, Rupert Campbell-Black, was allegedly inspired by Queen Camilla's first husband, Andrew Parker Bowles. In a statement, the Queen described Dame Jilly as a "legend" and a "wonderfully witty and compassionate friend." She added: "I'm so proud of you, for all you've done."

Fellow author Gyles Brandreth called Dame Jilly "simply adorable," praising her brilliance, beauty, and wicked sense of humor. Victoria Smurfit, who starred in the recent TV adaptation of Rivals, described her as a "divine queen." Even the famously naughty Andrew Parker Bowles was spotted attending one of Dame Jilly's parties last August.

Dame Jilly's writing career spanned over five decades, and she became a household name with her Rutshire Chronicles series. The books were known for their explicit sex scenes and their portrayal of the polo-playing classes. Her most famous novel, Riders, was published in 1985 and made it onto the BBC list of 100 important English language novels in the love, sex, and romance selection.

In a remarkable display of loyalty and devotion, Dame Jilly refused to send her husband into a care home when his condition worsened. She continued to write novels to pay for his medical bills, including her latest book, How To Survive Christmas, which is due to be published in November.

The author's personal life was not without its challenges, however. In 2024, she revealed in a documentary that she had been almost raped by a fellow author when working in publishing. The incident left her shaken and inspired her to write about the darker side of relationships.

Dame Jilly's funeral will be private, but a public service of thanksgiving will be held in Southwark Cathedral to celebrate her life. As one tributes put it: "A publishing world without a new Jilly Cooper novel on the horizon is a drabber, less gorgeous place."

The Scandalous Life and Times of Dame Jilly Cooper

Born in 1937 in Hornchurch, Essex, Dame Jilly grew up in Yorkshire and attended the private Godolphin School in Salisbury. Her father was a brigadier, and her family moved to London in the 1950s, where she began her career as a reporter on The Middlesex Independent at just 20 years old.

But it wasn't until her marriage to Leo that Dame Jilly's writing career really took off. She wrote about their relationship, including his six-year affair, and used her own experiences to create some of the most scandalous romance novels of all time.

In an interview with The Scholarly Note earlier this year, Dame Jilly revealed: "My first book, How To Stay Married, was a disaster. It was full of advice on how to keep your marriage intact, but it was also full of lies. I knew my husband was having an affair, and I told him to be careful, but he just laughed and said, 'Don't worry, dear, we'll get through this together.'"

Dame Jilly's writing often reflected her own experiences with sex, marriage, and relationships. In one infamous article for The Middlesex Independent in the 1960s, she rated famous men by how they would be in bed. Her list included British actor David Niven and former Labour chancellor Roy Jenkins.

But not everyone was a fan of Dame Jilly's writing. In 2024, she revealed in a documentary that she had been almost raped by a fellow author when working in publishing. The incident left her shaken and inspired her to write about the darker side of relationships.

Despite the challenges she faced, Dame Jilly remained a trailblazer throughout her career. She was a survivor of the 1999 Paddington rail crash and even crawled through a window to escape. Her love of animals was evident in her charity work, including her patronage of the Animals In War Memorial Fund, which led to a memorial being unveiled in Park Lane in 2004.

As one tributes put it: "A publishing world without a new Jilly Cooper novel on the horizon is a drabber, less gorgeous place." Dame Jilly's legacy will live on through her writing, and her fans will continue to devour her books for years to come.