But then, there weren't many like the late, great Dame Jilly Cooper. As Ms Blunt said in her eulogy, Dame Jilly was, for those who came of age in the early 1990s, the Taylor Swift of the literary world. Through the Rutshire Chronicles, Dame Jilly introduced many to sex, horses and the upper classes – and words such as 'heavenly', 'orgasmic' and 'ravishing'. Four–legged fans also joined the congregation, including two of the dogs from Rivals, a labrador and a terrier cross. Some may say such an act would have raised a wry smile from Dame Jilly herself.

Source: Daily Mail January 31, 2026 10:49 UTC