Dame Jilly Cooper, renowned author of the beloved Rutshire Chronicles and acclaimed for her 'bonkbuster' novels, has left behind not only a rich literary legacy but also a trove of racy personal diaries that are now the subject of intense interest from major publishers. Following her death last week at the age of 88 after a fall, these diaries are expected to spark a fierce bidding war, with industry insiders predicting the sale could reach seven figures.
The Rivals author kept diaries throughout much of her life and was famously candid about their content, describing them as far more provocative than her published novels. She once humorously warned that they were so risqué they "probably ought to be burned." Sources close to the situation have indicated to The Mail on Sunday that these diaries are "completely unflinching," and there is palpable excitement about their potential publication.
It is understood that Dame Jilly’s children, Felix and Emily, will need to approve the publication, with her literary agents at Curtis Brown managing the auction for the rights. Before her death, Cooper spoke openly with her children about the diaries, jokingly presenting the choice between "rich and embarrassed" or "poor and safe," to which they reportedly replied, "Rich and embarrassed." This suggests a tacit family endorsement for revealing the private, and possibly controversial, details of her life.
Dame Jilly Cooper’s diaries may also offer fascinating insights into the inspirations behind some of her most iconic fictional characters. Rumours have long circulated that Rupert Campbell-Black, the dashing lothario central to many of the Rutshire Chronicles, was modelled in part on Andrew Parker Bowles, the ex-husband of Cooper’s friend Queen Camilla. Such revelations would undoubtedly add cultural and historical interest to the diaries beyond their intrinsic literary value.
Cooper had previously allowed some glimpses into her personal reflections through excerpts published in "The Common Years," a 1984 anthology of diary entries that chronicled her life near Putney Common from 1972 to 1982. The book was notable for its vivid portrayal of daily life, including her struggles and interactions with neighbours, and was regarded by Cooper herself as one of her favourite works. This earlier publication offers a more restrained but affectionate look into the writer’s life before the full diaries’ potentially far more daring contents come to light.
Dame Jilly Cooper’s recent resurgence in public attention was significantly boosted by the 2023 television adaptation of her novel "Rivals," which introduced her work to a new generation and reignited interest in her sharp wit and vibrant storytelling. The Queen herself acknowledged Cooper’s impact during the opening of the Cliveden Literary Festival, recalling with fondness a memorable party anecdote that captured Dame Jilly’s larger-than-life personality. After her passing, Her Majesty wished that Cooper’s afterlife be filled with "impossibly handsome men and devoted dogs," underscoring the affectionate regard in which she was held.
The forthcoming auction and likely publication of Dame Jilly Cooper’s diaries promise not only commercial success but also a deeper understanding of the woman behind the famously cheeky and glamorous novels that captured the imaginations of millions in the UK and beyond. As the literary world awaits the outcome of the bidding war, anticipation continues to build around what private revelations and intimate details her candid writings may reveal.
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Source: Noah Wire Services