Bestselling author Barbara Taylor Bradford dies aged 91

The author died peacefully at her home on Sunday, November 24 following a short illness, “and was surrounded by loved ones to the very end”, a spokeswoman said.

She wrote a total of 40 novels during her career, with her most recent, The Wonder of It All, published last year.

She was often labelled “the grand dame of blockbusters”, with her books selling more than 91 million copies to date, and having been published in more than 40 languages and in 90 countries.

Barbara started her career as a journalist. (Image: PA)

Barbara Taylor Bradford dies aged 91

Barbara Taylor Bradford was born in Leeds in May 1933, the only child of Winston and Freda Taylor.

She began work as a typist for the Yorkshire Evening Post before she was promoted to reporter and then went on to become the paper’s first woman’s editor.

At the age of 20, she moved to London and worked in Fleet Street for Woman’s Own and the London Evening News.

Taylor Bradford met her husband, American film producer Robert Bradford, in 1961 and they fell in love at first sight, marrying in London on Christmas Eve in 1963.

In 1964, she moved to New York to live with him.

The couple were married for 55 years until he died from a major stroke in 2019.

Barbara was married to Robert who died in 2019. (Image: PA)

Taylor Bradford had started and ditched several novels while pursuing her journalistic career – until she hit the big time when A Woman Of Substance was published in 1979, making her an overnight success.

The story followed Emma Harte’s journey from life as a servant in rural Yorkshire to heading a business empire, despite numerous personal tragedies along the way.

It became a huge bestseller and was followed by many other successful books.

A TV adaptation of A Woman Of Substance followed in 1985 and starred Liam Neeson with Jenny Seagrove playing Emma Harte.

Sharing a tribute to Taylor Bradford, Seagrove said: "She never changed. Success never diluted her warmth and humour or her ability to relate to everyone she met, whether a cleaner or a princess.

"She never, ever forgot that she was just a girl from Yorkshire who worked hard and made good. RIP dear friend."

Tributes have been made to Barbara. (Image: PA)

Charlie Redmayne, chief executive of publisher HarperCollins, said: “Barbara Taylor Bradford was a truly exceptional writer whose first book, the international bestseller A Woman Of Substance, changed the lives of so many who read it – and still does to this day.

“She was a natural storyteller, deeply proud of her Yorkshire roots – she would regale us of her time working on the Yorkshire Evening Post with fellow reporter Keith Waterhouse and trainee photographer Peter O’Toole, the dawn of the Soho cafe society, and the many happy years shared with the love of her life, her husband, Bob.

“For 45 years, she was a huge part of our company and a great, great friend – we will miss her so much – but there is some solace in the knowledge that she is now, once again, alongside her beloved Bob. A life well-lived…”

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She was awarded several honorary doctorates of letters in the US and UK, such as the University of Leeds, the University of Bradford, Connecticut’s Post University, and New York institutions Siena College and Mount Saint Mary College.

Taylor Bradford was made an OBE in 2007 for services to literature.

Following a private funeral in New York, the author will be buried alongside her late husband at the city’s Westchester Hills Cemetery.