Renowned author Barbara Taylor Bradford, famed for her best-selling book A Woman of Substance, has passed away at the age of 91. Bradford authored 40 novels throughout her lifetime, which spanned over 40 years. A Woman of Substance, released in 1979, sold 30 million copies and resulted in seven sequels, in addition to a television adaptation that still holds the record for Channel 4’s most-watched programme. Bradford’s writing career also included the Ravenscar, Cavendon, and House of Falconer series.
Lynne Drew, Bradford’s publisher and editor, pointed out that Bradford was “perennially curious, interested in everyone and extraordinarily driven.” Drew went on to describe her as “an inspiration for millions of readers and countless writers.” Charlie Redmayne, chief executive of publisher HarperCollins, credited Bradford with being “a natural storyteller.” Bradford’s rags-to-riches tale of Emma Harte, a young woman who goes from being a maid to running a major department store, was a success across mediums, attracting nearly 14 million viewers to the television adaptation in 1985, which earned the show two Emmy award nominations.
Jenny Seagrove, who played the part of Emma Harte in the television adaptation, was a personal friend of Bradford’s. Seagrove fondly recalled meeting Bradford when she was a young, nervous actress and described the author as a “powerhouse of glamour and warmth.” Despite her success, Seagrove emphasized that Bradford never forgot her Yorkshire roots or her ability to connect with people from all backgrounds.
Bradford passed away peacefully at home after a brief illness. Her representative released a statement announcing her death on 24 November 2024. Born in Leeds, Bradford’s passion for writing began early, with her mother introducing her to books from a young age. After leaving school at 15, Bradford worked as a typist and copytaker for the Yorkshire Evening Post, where her first stories were published. She eventually worked her way up to becoming the paper’s only female journalist at the time.
Bradford initially wrote books about home design, but experienced enormous success when she turned to fiction in her mid-40s. Her work broke the mold for women’s literature, portraying complex women in a positive light at a time when many other books offered a one-dimensional view of female characters. Film and television adaptations of many of her tales followed, all produced by her husband, Hollywood producer Robert Bradford. He passed away in 2019
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