Author Barbara Taylor Bradford, Bestselling Novel A Woman of Subtance, Dies at 91

Trigger warning: This article mentions death

Bestselling novelist Barbara Taylor Bradford passed away “peacefully at home” on Sunday, November 24, People magazine confirmed. The author’s representative shared a statement with the publication confirming Bradford’s death, explaining that the unfortunate incident occurred after a short illness.

The statement expressed “deepest and heartfelt” sadness over the news and said the author was “surrounded by his loved ones until the very end.” Bradford wrote the best-selling novel A Woman of Substance and left a remarkable legacy with her works, including Three Weeks in Paris (2002), Being the Best (1988), and her last book, The Wonder of It All (November). . 2023).

Bradford can be considered a child prodigy as he sold his first story to a magazine when he was 10 and left school at 15 to pursue writing as a career. He joined UK newspaper The Yorkshire Evening Post.

At the age of 18, she became a reporter and the first female editor of a regional news channel. Two years later, he moved to London to work as a columnist and editor for British national newspapers. Her first novel, A Woman of Substance, published in 1979, was a huge success and made her a household name.

In 1985, the novel was adapted into a TV series of the same name, starring Jenny Seagrove and Liam Neeson. Her husband, Robert Bradford, who produced the Emmy-nominated series, also adapted nine of her other books into shows until his death in July 2019.

Seagrove, star of A Woman of Substance series, paid a heartfelt tribute to Bradford. The actress recalled meeting the author and her “beloved Bob” every time they came to London. During long conversations in the sun, Seagrove realized that fame had never “diluted” Bradford’s generous nature.

“Success never diminished her warmth, her sense of humor, or her ability to relate to everyone she met,” the actress wrote. “She never, ever forgot that she was a Yorkshire girl who worked hard and was successful. RIP dear friend,” Seagrove added.

The author also wrote to Queen Elizabeth II in 2007. He was awarded an OBE by Elizabeth II for his contributions to literature.