Riders (novel)
Riders is a 1985 bestselling novel by British author Jilly Cooper .
action
The story takes place in the late 70s and early 80s in the region Cotswolds in England and focuses on the lives of a group of Glory and money-hungry world-class show jumpers .
The novel deals with the rivalry between Rupert Campbell-Black and Jake Lovell and offers insights into the life of this community of world-class riders, their horses, grooms and families and shows the reader the ups and downs of life in the horse world.
The final showdown is the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
characters
- Rupert Campbell-Black has a high social position due to his aristocratic origins. He is arrogant, violent, has money and fame in the equestrian scene, and women are at his feet. He trains his horses with dubious training methods.
- Jake Lovell is a gypsy, world-class rider and the hero of the novel. He is brooding and mysterious. Because of the bullying during his school days, he wants to take revenge on Rupert, both privately and professionally.
- Billy Lloyd Foxe is Rupert's best friend.
criticism
Press
- "Blockbusting fiction at its best" - Mail on Sunday
- "Sex and horses: who could ask for more?" - Sunday Telegraph
- "I defy anyone not to enjoy her book. It is a delight from start to finish "- Daily Mail
- “It's all here: swooning romance, skulduggery in the stables and, yes, bonking; all set in the Cotswold countryside. Tally ho! ”- Elle
Fans
- “It is amazing how well Jilly Cooper portrays the world of top jumping. Love, hate, cheating, winning and losing (both in sport and in life) are described by her in a gripping way. By accompanying her characters in the novel for several years, the reader is drawn into the story, so much so that one does not want to put the book down. Also recommended for non-riders! ”- A. Schramm
- "Riders is a feast of a book - one that I have read and re-read more times than I can remember and I still come back for more. It will make you laugh and cry but, above all, it will keep you riveted from beginning to end. Riders deserves to be deemed a modern classic - my favorite book of all time. ”- Penny Rayner
filming
In 1993 the novel was made into a film under the direction of Gabrielle Beaumont . In Germany the film is known as Driven by Hatred .