by Louise Male
A BOOK on the life and work of Barbara Taylor Bradford has uncovered family truths that even the author herself was unaware of.
The life behind the public face of the iconic writer is revealed for the first time documenting her child
hood, inspirations, successes and her loves. It also looks at the history of all those who really mattered and influenced the talented novelist.
A Woman of Substance: The Life and Work of Barbara Taylor Bradford, by Piers Dudgeon, also reveals buried family secrets and an intimate look at the influential relationships with the women who shaped her childhood and the challenges they faced.
With the blessing of Barbara Taylor Bradford herself, Piers Dudgeon began researching the book from his home in Sawdon, North Yorkshire.
He explored her roots and relationships and stumbled across a startling revelation. Barbara has always claimed Emma Harte, the lead character in A Woman of Substance, was entirely fictional.
In the novel, Emma has an affair with the Lord of the house where she works as a servant and gives birth to an illegitimate child.
Shocked
Piers discovered a similar thing happened with Barbara's own grandmother, and in fact three illegitimate children where born. Edith, Barbara's grandma, was the original woman of substance.
She didn't make it (because like Emma Harte, her lover betrayed her), but she aimed high and clearly she had all the character-substance that Barbara inherited and built her own writing success around.
Barbara, unaware of the similarities, was shocked when Piers revealed his research to her.
Piers's book also explores how Barbara's mother and grandmother had to work in a workhouse to survive, the story of her success, the famous people she's met and the fairytale relationship with her husband.
The biography tracks the glittering career of Barbara, who began as a typist on the Yorkshire Evening Post.
Piers visited Barbara at her luxury Manhattan apartment overlooking the Hudson River to research his subject.
Later, thousands of miles away from the opulent surroundings of her New York home, he took Barbara back to her roots when they visited Armley, Leeds, where she grew up.
Piers said: "She walked along Tower Lane, Town Street and Greenock Terrace, all roads in Armley where she lived. She could not believe how things had changed.
She went to see the head teacher at Christchurch School and visited the church opposite. She hardly recognised some of the places."
l A Woman of Substance: The Life and Work of Barbara Taylor Bradford by Piers Dudgeon will be available from February 21.
louise.male@ypn.co.uk
FACTFILE
did you know...
l She has been ranked as the highest earning British woman with the exception of the queen, three times.
l She has sold more than 75 million copies of her novels in 90 countries and more than 40 languages.
l A Woman of Substance ranks among the top 10 bestselling novels ever published. It has sold more than 24 million copies around the world.
l In 2000 she was the first ever living female novelist to be pictured on a postal stamp.
l In 2003 she was honoured by the Writer's Hall of Fame.
l Film adaptations of her books have starred Liam Neeson, Anthony Hopkins, Jenny Seagrove and Deborah Kerr.
