A generation of readers fell under the spell of Rupert Campbell-Black, the scandalous, charming and devilishly handsome character from Jilly Cooper’s Rutshire Chronicles, the best-selling collection of novels that started with 1985’s Riders.
Decades later a whole new generation have fallen for the charms of the suave, upper-class character thanks to the 2024 TV adaptation of Rivals that aired on Hulu. While many might be familiar with Jilly Cooper’s books - which have sold over 11 million copies in the UK alone, per her website - it might come as a surprise to find out who inspired the lothario at the center of her best-selling series.
