Bestselling British writer Joanna Trollope dies at 82

British author Joanna Trollope, best-selling books about romantic adventures in rural England, has died at the age of 82.

LONDON — British author Joanna Trollope, whose bestselling books depicted the struggles of family and romance in wealthy rural England, has died, her family said Friday. She was 82.

Trollope's daughters, Antonia and Louisa, said the writer died peacefully at his home in Oxfordshire, southern England, on Thursday.

Trollope wrote nearly two dozen contemporary novels, including The Principal's Wife, Marriage to a Mistress and Next of Kin. They were often called “aga-sagi” after the old-fashioned aga stoves that could be found in wealthy country houses.

Trollope disliked the term, noting that her books dealt with uncomfortable topics including infidelity, marriage breakdowns and child-rearing issues.

“It was a very unfortunate phrase, and I think it did me a lot of harm,” she once said. “It was so patronizing to the readers too.”

Trollope also published 10 historical novels under the pseudonym Caroline Harvey.

In 2019, Queen Elizabeth II awarded her the title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).

Her literary agent James Gill called Trollope “one of our best-loved, best-known and most popular novelists.

“Joanne will be mourned by her children, grandchildren, family, her countless friends and, of course, her readers,” Gill said.