Author of global successes, the British novelist Barbara Taylor Bradford went out “peacefully” at his home, Sunday November 24, “surrounded by loved ones” clarified its publisher HarperCollins on social networks. A private funeral will be held in New York, in the United States where she had lived since the 1960s.
A prolific writer, Barbara Bradford has written around forty novels, selling more than 91 million copies. The latest, The Wonder of It All, not translated into French, was published in 2023. In France, his last book published in large format is The House of Falconer, Master of its Destiny (Presses de la Cité, 2019).
A best-selling author
“Barbara Taylor Bradford was a truly exceptional writer whose first book, the international bestseller A Woman Of Substance (The space of a life) changed the lives of so many people who read it”said Charlie RedmayneCEO of HarperCollins. Translated into French by Belfond in 1979 under the name The space of a lifethe title launched its career with more than 30 million copies sold. Integrated into the family saga Emma Hartemade up of seven titles, this first work was also the subject of a television adaptation. He also received two nominations for the Emmy Award, the equivalent of the Oscars for American television.
Other global bestsellers followed this first triumph. Among them, Emma Harte's secret (Presses de la Cité, 2004) or Letter from a stranger (Presses de la Cité, 2012). Whether they are special editions or not, Barbara T. Bradford's novels almost always follow a similar narrative structure, based on the accomplishment of a heroine, despite the pitfalls and difficulties encountered.
From journalist to writer
Born in 1933 in Leeds, central England, the novelist first worked as a typist at the local newspaper Yorkshire Evening Postbefore being promoted to reporter. At the age of 20, she moved to London where she worked as a journalist at London Evening News. In 2007, she received the distinction of Officer of the British Empire (OBE). In her latest writings, she gives free rein to her passion for interior design and publishes three dedicated encyclopedias.
