British author Jilly Cooper, known for her many bestselling novels including 'Rivals' and 'Riders,' has died at age 88, her agent said on Monday.
A statement from her family said that the author's 'unexpected death has come as a complete shock.'
'The privilege of my career has been working with a woman who has defined culture, writing and conversation since she was first published over fifty years ago,' her agent, Felicity Blunt, said in a statement.
'Jilly will undoubtedly be best remembered for her chart-topping series The Rutshire Chronicles and its havoc-making and handsome show-jumping hero Rupert Campbell-Black.'
Cooper's many fans included former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who said the books offered 'escapism.'

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