Barbara Taylor Bradford: A Woman of Substance author dies at 91
Best-Selling Author Barbara Taylor Bradford Passes Away
Picture credit: Getty Images
Barbara Taylor Bradford authored 40 novels throughout a span of over 40 years.
Author Barbara Taylor Bradford, renowned for her popular novels such as A Woman of Substance, has passed away at the age of 91.
Released in 1979, A Woman of Substance has sold 30 million copies and led to seven sequels as well as a television adaptation. This adaptation remains the highest-rated show in the history of Channel 4.
This was the first of Taylor Bradford's 40 novels, with other works including the Ravenscar series, the Cavendon series, and the House of Falconer series.
Honoring her legacy, her publisher and editor Lynne Drew remarked: "She topped the bestseller lists and ventured into uncharted territory with her expansive epic novels that covered multiple generations. These works were firmly not romances, and she truly embodied the strong, accomplished woman she depicted, especially with her unwavering dedication to her craft."
Drew remarked that the author was always eager to learn, fascinated by people, and incredibly motivated. They have served as a source of inspiration for millions of readers and many writers.
Charlie Redmayne, the CEO of HarperCollins, expressed, "Barbara Taylor Bradford was an extraordinary author. Her debut novel, the internationally renowned A Woman of Substance, transformed the lives of countless readers and continues to have an impact even now."
He remarked that she had a gift for storytelling and was also an incredibly wonderful friend.
"A Woman of Substance" tells the inspiring story of Emma Harte, a young woman who transforms her life from working as a maid to establishing and managing a successful department store.
The mini-series drew nearly 14 million viewers on Channel 4 in 1985 and received nominations for two Emmy Awards.
Photo credit: Caroll Taveras/Bradford Enterprises
Emma was portrayed by Jenny Seagrove, who honored the author as a "beloved friend."
In an interview with BBC Radio 4's World at One, Seagrove shared her memories of being a young and anxious actress during her first encounter with Taylor Bradford.
I encountered Barbara at a showing of A Woman of Substance. She approached me, embraced me, and exclaimed, "Oh, you’re my Emma!"
"That was everything I required. I suddenly broke down in tears."
She mentioned that the book had elements of her own life and that it had a sense of authenticity to it.
Seagrove noted that Taylor Bradford greatly influenced women.
"We would travel for promotional events, and women would approach me out of the blue, expressing how much I had impacted their lives. They would tell me, 'You changed my life,' referring to how Emma Harte inspired them to start their own businesses. It truly made a difference in the lives of many women."
The actress mentioned that she traveled to the United States to celebrate Taylor Bradford's 90th birthday last year.
Despite her illness, she dressed up beautifully and made her entrance to the sound of a bagpiper. She remained true to herself throughout her life. Her curiosity never faded, her kindness was unwavering, and she consistently supported women, always ready to give and share with others.
"She advocated for women's rights long before it became a trend, and that is a remarkable legacy," Seagrove remarked.
On Monday, a spokesperson for Taylor Bradford announced that she "passed away quietly at her residence on November 24, 2024, after a brief illness, surrounded by her loved ones until the very end."
Picture credit: Getty Images
Taylor Bradford grew up in Leeds, where her mother insisted on filling her life with books. Interestingly, she was in the same elementary school class as Alan Bennett.
At the age of 10, a young Barbara saw her first story go live in a children's magazine. By the time she turned 15, she decided to leave school and took a job as a typist and copytaker at the Yorkshire Evening Post.
She managed to get her initial stories published in the newspaper by discreetly placing them in the sub-editor's inbox. It took a while for the editors to catch on to her actions, but once they did, they recognized her talent and promoted her to a journalist position. At that time, she was the only female reporter at the paper.
She continued by crafting an interior design column that was published in 183 different newspapers, and her initial books focused on home décor.
In 1968, they published the Comprehensive Guide to Home Management, and she contributed several articles to the How to be the Ideal Wife series.
Author Milly Johnson shares her thoughts with BBC Radio Leeds on the influence Barbara Taylor has had on her writing.
She ventured into writing fiction for the first time in her mid-40s, and it turned out to be a tremendous success that defied expectations.
In a 2017 interview with the Guardian, she explained, “When I created A Woman of Substance, I didn't actually plan to portray a female warrior who triumphs over challenges and breaks through barriers. However, my intention was to represent women in a positive light."
Back then, many enticing novels were available, but they didn’t portray women in a positive light.
Her other works feature the Ravenscar trilogy, which tells the story of a 20th-century family dynasty culminating with a 25-year-old named Elizabeth. This character, who is inspired by Elizabeth I, finds herself leading a vast business empire.
The Cavendon series, which consists of four books, tells the story of two families — one noble and the other their staff — set against the backdrop of the 1920s through the 1940s.
The standalone novels are A Sudden Change of Heart, The Women in His Life, and A Secret Affair.
Her latest book, The Wonder of it All, came out last year.
"I believe people are starting to grasp my perspective; I focus on female warriors—those women who boldly take on the world and refuse to rely on anyone else," the author shared during an interview with BBC Radio 3's Private Passions in 2022.
They're on the path to building a career, destined for success, fueled by motivation, ambition, discipline, and a strong sense of determination.
“I suppose I continue to draw from my own resources because that’s simply part of who I am.”
Photo credit: PA Media
Barbara Taylor Bradford was married to Robert Bradford for over five decades.
Several of her novels were adapted into television shows or movies. "A Woman of Substance" featured Liam Neeson alongside Seagrove, while Elizabeth Hurley had a role in the 1989 film "Act of Will," and Anthony Hopkins appeared in "To Be The Best," which was released in 1991.
The film adaptations were created by the author's spouse, Robert Bradford, a producer in Hollywood.
They tied the knot on Christmas Eve in 1963, and shortly after that, she relocated to the United States. He passed away in 2019.
The spokesperson for Taylor Bradford announced that she will be laid to rest next to her deceased husband in New York.
In 2007, Queen Elizabeth honored Taylor Bradford with an OBE for her contributions to literature. She also served as an ambassador for the National Literacy Trust.
In its tribute, the organization praised her as "a dedicated supporter of enhancing reading and writing abilities over the course of her life," adding that she "made a difference in the lives of individuals in some of the UK's most underprivileged neighborhoods."
