Barbara Taylor Bradford, the renowned British journalist turned bestselling novelist, has passed away at the age of 91. She died on Sunday at her home in New York City, as confirmed by a spokesperson. Bradford gained global fame in her 40s with the iconic saga 'A Woman of Substance,' published in 1979. She maintained a prolific writing pace, averaging nearly a book a year, making her one of the world's most popular and wealthiest writers. Her net worth was estimated at over $200 million, and her fame was such that her image graced a postage stamp in 1999.
Her books were translated into 40 languages and sold more than 90 million copies worldwide. In recognition of her contributions, Queen Elizabeth II awarded her an OBE (The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in 2007. Bradford specialized in stories of women striving for love and power in a male-dominated world, with titles like 'Breaking the Rules' and 'Act of Will.' Her favorite among her works was 'The Women In His Life,' inspired by her husband's escape from the Nazis. Bradford was married to German-born film producer Robert Bradford for 56 years until his death in 2019.
Born in Leeds, West Yorkshire, Bradford was the only child of a working-class family and developed a passion for books early in life. At 16, she defied her parents to become a reporter at the Yorkshire Evening Post. Later, she worked as a fashion editor for Woman's Own Magazine, covered various beats for the London Evening News, and wrote a syndicated column on interior design in the United States. However, her true aspiration was to write novels. 'A Woman of Substance,' a multi-generational tale of retail magnate Emma Harte, became a global phenomenon, selling over 30 million copies and inspiring a 1984 TV miniseries starring Jenny Seagrove and Deborah Kerr.
Bradford's life often mirrored the lives of her characters, including family secrets. Through her biographer, she discovered that her mother was born out of wedlock, and it is believed that her maternal grandfather was the second Marquess of Ripon, owner of the Studley Royal estate. Known for her disciplined writing routine, Bradford worked from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. behind her IBM Lexmark typewriter. She enjoyed the rewards of her success with an apartment overlooking Manhattan's East River, a collection of Impressionist art, and a luxurious lifestyle. When the Bradfords listed their apartment for sale in 2010, the asking price was nearly $19 million (it was eventually sold to Uma Thurman in 2013 for $10 million).
Throughout her life, Bradford met and befriended many celebrities. She was particularly close to Sean Connery before his debut as James Bond, and she recalled advising him, thankfully to no avail, to lose his Scottish accent if he wanted to succeed in Hollywood.
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