Jilly Cooper: On Failure, Love, and Literature
How To Fail With Elizabeth Day
On Not Calling Herself Literary
Do you actually think you don't write literature or have you been made to feel that you don't? — Jilly reflects on being labeled a popular author versus a literary one.
Today, we remember and celebrate the extraordinary life of Jilly Cooper, who has sadly passed away at the age of 88. A literary icon, Jilly captured hearts and imaginations with her wit, warmth, and unmistakable voice. Her novels, especially beloved titles like Riders and Rivals, sold over 11 million copies in the UK alone and most recently inspired the hit Disney+ adaptation that introduced her work to a whole new generation.
I had the immense privilege of speaking with Jilly just last October. She was everything I’d hoped she would be - funny, sharp, generous and inspiring. Today, in tribute to her legacy and the joy she brought to so many, I’m honoured to share the conversation with you again.
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Dame Jilly Cooper. What a legend. For the uninitiated (where have you been?) she’s a journalist and author most famous for her bestselling Rutshire Chronicle series which includes Riders, Polo and Rivals - the latter of which has now made into a hugely popular TV series starring David Tennant, Danny Dyer and Katherine Parkinson. In the past, Dame Jilly’s books have been unfairly dismissed as mere ‘bonkbusters’, charting the sex lives of the upper classes. But, as I discover, there’s much more to both her writing - and to her. We talk about her failures with technology, why she wishes she could throw more things away, as well as the terrifying time she lost an entire manuscript on the number 28 bus and had to rewrite it. Plus her experiences of interviewing Margaret Thatcher, her friendship with the Queen, her obsession with beautiful people and ‘macho men’ - and why she’d wholeheartedly recommend adoption to others.
Thank you Dame Jilly. A total sport (but we knew that).
✨ IN THIS EPISODE:
00:00 Remembering Dame Gili Cooper
03:43 Personal Reflections and Literary Success
07:37 Exploring Themes of Masculinity and Beauty
10:15 Family, Loss, and Resilience
11:28 Failures and Fertility Challenges
21:18 Dieting and Body Image
25:12 Interviewing Margaret Thatcher
26:46 Technical Challenges and Writing Process
30:27 Friendship and Social Media
🔗 LINKS:
Elizabeth’s Substack: https://theelizabethday.substack.com/
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