Best known for her witty and wildly entertaining takes on Britain’s upper classes, the late dame Jilly Cooper is a beloved voice of contemporary fiction. Across a writing career spanning nearly half a century, Cooper became synonymous with the so-called “bonkbuster” genre of literature – glamorous, scandal-filled stories packed with romance, rivalry and outrageous characters in the English countryside.

A bona fide icon of eighties and nineties, interest in her work has surged once again thanks to Disney+’s TV adaptation of Rivals , the second novel of her hugely popular Rutshire Chronicles series. The glossy drama, featuring stars including David Tennant, Aidan Turner and Danny Dyer, introduced a new audience to Cooper’s world of privilege, passion and social warfare. Season two drops today – and it’s already garnering critical acclaim.

The Rutshire Chronicles began with Riders in 1985, immersing readers in the fiercely competitive world of elite showjumping.…