Emily Tarrant, daughter of the late author Dame Jilly Cooper, recently shared heartfelt memories of her mother, recalling the joy and warmth that characterized their time together. Speaking a year after Cooper’s passing at age 88, Tarrant reflected on the author’s distinctive laughter, her kindness, and the intimate moments they shared, particularly their late-night sloe gin sessions.

Tarrant described the relaxed tradition of staying up after others had gone to bed, sitting around the kitchen table to share drinks and conversation. These moments, she said, were opportunities for the two of them to “put the world to rights,” creating a special bond in the quiet of the night. She also recalled small but vivid details of Cooper’s daily life, such as feeding the family dogs fresh chicken, with evidence of her care evident in chicken fat on her hands by the kitchen stove.

Jilly Cooper, renowned for her Rutshire Chronicles series, was married to the late Leo Cooper and had two children, Emily and Felix, both adopted at a young age. Emily spoke candidly about the author’s parenting style during an appearance at the Cheltenham Literature Festival, describing her mother as loving rather than strict and emphasizing the strong affection Cooper expressed regularly. “We were enveloped in love,” she said, noting that Cooper often reminded them they were “chosen” and how fortunate the family felt to have them.

Joining the tribute event was Cooper’s agent, Felicity Blunt, who also reminisced about Cooper’s hospitality and the convivial atmosphere of her Gloucestershire home in Bisley. Blunt highlighted the role of Cooper’s famous fruit salads macerated in sloe gin, which she served as a dessert after meals. According to Blunt, the fruit was soaked in high-proof sloe gin for several days, enhancing the effects of the evening’s drinks which often began early and included champagne and wine. This combination, Blunt said, acted almost like a “truth serum,” encouraging open and candid conversations around Cooper’s kitchen table.

Both Tarrant and Blunt’s recollections paint a picture of Jilly Cooper as a generous and vibrant presence, whose warmth extended beyond her literary success into her personal relationships and the home she shared with family and friends.