Barbara Taylor Bradford: Renowned Author of A Woman of Substance Dies at 91
Barbara Taylor Bradford, the renowned British journalist turned literary sensation, died at the age of 91. She was globally renowned for the iconic debut novel-A Woman of Substance-brilliantly catapulted into fame when she was in her 40s, an author with a writing reign unmatched in contemporary times. She spent Sunday peacefully at her apartment in New York City and died there.
Barbara Taylor Bradford, born in Leeds, England, began by working as a journalist: she had talent and flair for telling stories as well as a deep insight into human emotions. It wasn’t until the publication of her first novel, A Woman of Substance, in 1979 that made her more of a household name. The saga of love, ambition, and resilience wonderfully narrated touched the hearts of millions of people and catapulted her to stardom status in the world of literature.
Its success was nothing short of phenomenal. Millions of copies were sold worldwide, the book became a defining text within contemporary literature, and was later cast into a very popular television miniseries. The Emma Harte saga beautifully depicted a woman who begins by modest means to rise and build an imperium, and has achieved success across generations of readers.
Barbara Taylor Bradford : Following the success of her novel debut, Bradford wrote more than a dozen novels, averaging nearly one book per year. Her works, often characterized by strong female protagonists and richly woven narratives, sold tens of millions of copies worldwide. Titles like Hold the Dream, Act of Will, and The Women in His Life helped to cement her reputation as a masterful storyteller.
Her work at creating interesting epics made her a faithful following in the world and incredibly rich. At her death, the net worth of the author, Bradford, was estimated to be over $200 million USD or around $307 million AUD.
More than literary fame came Barbara Taylor Bradford’s way. An important place in literature was acknowledged in 1999 by her being on the postage stamp; more than a few authors have never been on it. Eight years later, in 2007, Barbara Taylor Bradford was appointed an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for her outstanding influence and service to literature.
Barbara Taylor Bradford : Her novels, often characterized around themes of perseverance, love, and ambition, have found translations into numerous languages so that her stories have reached readers across the globe. Bradford’s work not only entertained but also inspired countless aspiring writers and readers alike.
Her international fame notwithstanding, Bradford was a ‘grounded’ person, often ascribing her views to her Leeds upbringing and early days in journalism. Her personal life was equally inspirational; she had been married to her husband, Robert Bradford, for more than half a century, a relationship she often described as the biggest strength of her life.
Her passing marks the end of an era, but her legacy will endure through her stories, which continue to captivate readers around the world. Bradford’s journey from a journalist to one of the wealthiest and most beloved writers in history is a testament to her exceptional talent and determination.
Barbara Taylor Bradford will be remembered not only for her literary brilliance but also for the indomitable spirit in which she touched lives through her words. Her stories remained tribute to the power of ambition, resilience, and love, and so she ensured that her name would live for generations to come.
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Barbara Taylor Bradford was a writer with an extraordinary reach that seemed to be beyond par. Her book works were translated into 40 languages and sold over 90 million copies worldwide, cutting across cultures and generations. From her earliest work to her latest ones, she showed an unmatched ability to pen a readable story that struck deep within readers’ hearts.
Known for titles like Breaking the Rules and Act of Will, Bradford specialized in creating narratives that centered around women finding their places within love, power, and ambition in male chauvinist worlds. Her characters were often fierce and resilient, symbols of strength and empowerment. Among her many novels, she considered The Women in His Life her favorite-a poignant story inspired by her husband’s remarkable escape from the Nazis during World War II.
The author shared a rich and lifelong marriage with her husband, German-born film producer Robert Bradford. Barbara Taylor Bradford was married to him for 56 years until his death in 2019. Her relationship formed the bedrock of her life, inspiring and supporting her luminous career both intimately and enormously.
Barbara Taylor Bradford, a native of Leeds, West Yorkshire, grew up as the only child in a working-class family with a deep love for books. Her passion for storytelling emerged early; as a young girl, she had a story published in a local magazine. By the age of 16, despite her parents’ objections, she left school to pursue a career in journalism, joining the Yorkshire Evening Post as a reporter.
Over the next three decades, Bradford’s career flourished. She became the fashion editor for Woman’s Own Magazine, covered diverse topics for the London Evening News, and eventually wrote a syndicated column on interior design after moving to the United States. These experiences shaped her voice as a writer and fueled her dream of penning novels.
Although she initially dabbled in writing children’s stories and advice books, Bradford’s ultimate ambition was fiction. That dream was realized with her debut novel, A Woman of Substance. A sweeping, multi-generational saga, it chronicled the life of Emma Harte, a determined retail magnate who rose from humble beginnings to extraordinary success.
The novel was a massive success, selling over 30 million copies worldwide. It became the foundation for several other Bradford books featuring Emma Harte and her family. In 1984, the story was brought to life in a beloved television miniseries, with Jenny Seagrove portraying a young Emma and Deborah Kerr as the older, formidable matriarch.
Barbara Taylor Bradford’s journey from a young journalist to a celebrated novelist exemplifies her determination and talent, leaving an indelible mark on the literary world.
“‘If you want to meet the real Emma, meet me,’ Barbara Taylor Bradford confidently told The Telegraph in 2009. ‘Emma had to be tough and ruthless at times, and so am I. I have to be, as a businesswoman—and I’m a bloody good businesswoman.'”
Bradford often revealed the similarities that stood between her and the heroine in Elizabeth, Emma Harte. Their connection, however, went beyond ambition and financial success; both women bore deep family secrets. In the case of Emma, her story was defined by a young romance that left her pregnant and betrayed by a man unwilling to marry her. The birth of her daughter turned out to be the climax in the story of resisting and overcoming.
Later in life, Barbara Taylor Bradford discovered a stunning parallel with her own experience. She only knew through her biographer that she was born illegitimately. It has been subsequently established that Bradford’s maternal grandfather is in fact Frederick Oliver Robinson, the second Marquess of Ripon and owner of the Studley Royal estate. That gives an unexpected dimension to her family secrets and endurance stories.
Actress Jenny Seagrove, who played the role of Emma Harte in the A Woman of Substance miniseries, remained a close friend to Bradford all the years that followed. She described her as a “powerhouse of glamour and warmth” and a “force of nature” who remained deeply grounded despite her immense success.
“Success never diluted her warmth and humour, or her ability to connect with anyone she met – cleaner or princess,” Seagrove added. “She never, ever forgot she was just a girl from Yorkshire who worked hard and made good. RIP, dear friend.”
Bradford’s enduring humility and grace were as remarkable as her literary achievements, leaving an indelible mark on all who knew her.
Barbara Taylor Bradford was always a writer who worked very hard, hewing to a disciplined writing schedule that fueled her prolific career. She would begin her day at her IBM Lexmark typewriter by 6 a.m., take a break around 1 p.m., and return to work until finishing no later than 6 p.m. This allowed her to be producing nearly a book a year for decades.
She lived and truly reveled in her midlife success. As Piers Dudgeon pointed out in his 2006 authorized biography, The Woman of Substance, she resided in a magnificent 500 square meters apartment overlooking the East River in Manhattan. All around her was elegance- collecting Impressionist art, sipping pink champagne-as waited on her by a Moroccan butler.
Barbara Taylor Bradford: The Bradfords marketed their opulent apartment for just under $19 million USD in 2010. Three years later, they sold it to actress Uma Thurman for $10 million USD (approximately $15.4 million AUD).
Bradford met many celebrities and characters throughout her lifetime. In fact, she was even friends with Sean Connery before he became a global icon as James Bond. She remembered that she once warned him to drop his Scottish accent if he wants to make it big in Hollywood-a thing that made her laugh today, knowing that he never listened to her.
Bradford’s life was an extraordinary mix of discipline, creativity, and glamour infused with her experiences of art, luxury, and extraordinary people.
Barbara Taylor Bradford early years as a journalist brought her into contact with many interesting personalities. One of these was the very young Peter O’Toole, whom at the time, worked alongside her at the Yorkshire Evening Post and was described as “lanky and disheveled with acne.” Though O’Toole did his best to get her to enter a conversation—and even ask her to a movie—she said no.
Barbara Taylor Bradford : Years later, she had an encounter that changed her perspective on everything. There was an evening with Evening Post editor Keith Waterhouse that set up a dinner for the cast of Sam Spiegel’s new film, and to her astonishment, out walked a remarkably handsome Peter O’Toole, dressed as Lawrence of Arabia.
Keith turned to me and said, ‘Don’t you wish you’d gone to the pictures with him now?’ she recalled in an interview with The Guardian in 2021. “I never got over Peter’s transformation.”
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