November 25th 2024.
Barbara Taylor Bradford, a renowned British journalist who captured the hearts of millions with her best-selling novel, A Woman of Substance, has passed away at the age of 91. On Sunday, she peacefully left this world in her home in New York City, as confirmed by her spokesperson on Monday.
Throughout her prolific career, Bradford published over a dozen novels, selling millions of copies and amassing a net worth of more than $200 million. Her fame was so immense that she even had her image featured on a postage stamp in 1999, and in 2007, she received the prestigious Order of the British Empire from Queen Elizabeth II.
Her books were translated into 40 languages and sold more than 90 million copies worldwide. With titles like Breaking the Rules and Act of Will, Bradford specialized in captivating stories of strong women navigating their way through a male-dominated world. Her personal favorite among her novels was The Women In His Life, which was inspired by her husband's escape from the Nazis.
Bradford was married to German-born film producer Robert Bradford for 56 years until his passing in 2019. Despite her immense success and wealth, she remained grounded and true to her roots. Born and raised in Leeds, West Yorkshire, she was an only child from a working-class family who developed a love for books at a young age. She even had a story published in a local magazine as a girl and went on to become a reporter for the Yorkshire Evening Post at just 16 years old, much to her parents' disapproval.
Over the next three decades, Bradford's career flourished as she became the fashion editor of Woman's Own Magazine, covered various news beats for the London Evening News, and even wrote a syndicated column on interior design in the United States. However, her ultimate dream was to become a novelist, and she achieved that with the release of A Woman of Substance in 1979.
The epic tale of retail magnate Emma Harte, which spanned several generations, sold over 30 million copies and was adapted into a television miniseries in 1984. Speaking about the protagonist of her book, Bradford once said, "And if you want to meet the real Emma, meet me. Emma had to be tough and ruthless at times, but then so am I. I have to be, as a businesswoman. And I'm a bloody good businesswoman."
Aside from their shared strength and determination, Bradford and Emma Harte also had another connection – both had family secrets. After becoming pregnant at a young age, Emma gave birth to a daughter, and years later, Bradford discovered that her own mother was born out of wedlock. It was later revealed that her maternal grandfather was Frederick Oliver Robinson, the second Marquess of Ripon and owner of Studley Royal estate.
Jenny Seagrove, who played the role of young Emma in the miniseries and became friends with Bradford, described her as a "powerhouse of glamour and warmth" and a "force of nature." She also praised her for always staying true to her roots, saying, "Success never diluted her warmth and humor or her ability to relate to everyone she met, whether a cleaner or a princess."
Bradford had a strict writing routine, starting at 6 am and taking a break at 1 pm before returning to her writing until 6 pm. As revealed in an authorized biography, she fully embraced her success in her later years, living in a luxurious apartment in New York City with a view of the East River, collecting Impressionist art, and being served pink champagne by her Moroccan butler. In 2010, she put her apartment up for sale for almost $19 million and later sold it to Uma Thurman in 2013 for $10 million.
Throughout her career, Bradford had the opportunity to meet and befriend many celebrities. She even advised Sean Connery, before he became James Bond, to drop his Scottish accent if he wanted to succeed. She also shared a funny encounter with fellow journalist Peter O'Toole, who persistently asked her out on a date, but she turned him down. Years later, she saw him at an event, and he was transformed into the handsome star of Lawrence of Arabia. Reflecting on the encounter, she jokingly said, "I never got over Peter's transformation."
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