'One of our most enjoyed novelists, she'll be mourned by her readers'

NOVELIST Joanna Trollope, who delighted droves of readers by holding up a magnifying glass to domestic life in rural England, has died at the age of 82.

- LAUREN DEL FABBRO

The bestselling author died on Thursday, her daughters Antonia and Louise said, and her literary agent gave an emotional tribute.

James Gill said: "It is with great sadness that we learn of the passing of Joanna Trollope, one of our most cherished, acclaimed and widely enjoyed novelists.

"Joanna will be mourned by her children, grandchildren, family, her countless friends and - of course her readers." Trollope studied English language and literature at the University of Oxford thanks to winning a scholarship, then joined the Foreign Office on graduating.

She later trained as a teacher and in 1980 turned to writing fulltime. It was not until 1991 that she became a household name though, with her novel The Rector's Wife.