Barbara Cartland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Barbara Cartland
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Barbara Cartland (1987)
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| Born | Mary Barbara Hamilton Cartland 9 July 1901 Edgbaston, Birmingham, England |
| Died | 21 May 2000 (aged 98) Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England |
| Resting place | Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England |
| Occupation | Novelist |
| Period | 1925–2000 |
| Genre | Historical Romance, contemporary romance |
| Spouse |
Alexander McCorquodale
(m. 1927; div. 1933)Hugh McCorquodale
(m. 1936; d. 1963) |
| Children | Raine Spencer, Countess Spencer Ian Hamilton McCorquodale Glen McCorquodale |
| Relatives | Diana, Princess of Wales (step-granddaughter) |
Dame Mary Barbara Hamilton Cartland (July 9, 1901 – May 21, 2000) was a famous English writer. She was known as the Queen of Romance because she wrote many popular romance novels. These stories were often set in the past, like the Victorian era or Edwardian era.
Barbara Cartland is one of the best-selling authors of the 20th century. Many of her books were made into TV films, such as A Hazard of Hearts and A Ghost in Monte Carlo.
Her novels have been translated into many different languages. This makes her one of the most translated authors in the world. She wrote an amazing 723 novels in total. She even holds a record for publishing the most novels in one year (1977).
Besides romance, she also wrote non-fiction books. These included biographies, plays, and health and cook books. She also gave advice on TV and in newspaper articles.
She sold more than 750 million copies of her books. Some people even think she sold over two billion copies! Her book covers often showed beautiful portraits.
Barbara Cartland was also a businesswoman. She was known for her bright pink dresses, feathered hats, and blonde wig. She was a well-known person in London society.
Contents
Biography
Early Life and Education
Barbara Cartland was born in Edgbaston, Birmingham, England. Her father, Major James Bertram Falkner Cartland, was a British Army officer. Her mother was Mary Hamilton Scobell. Barbara was the only daughter and oldest child. She had two younger brothers, Ronald and James.
Even though she was born into a comfortable family, their money problems started soon after she was born. Her father sadly died in World War I. Later, both of her brothers were killed in battle in 1940.
To support her family, Barbara's mother opened a dry goods store in London. Barbara went to private schools for girls. These included The Alice Ottley School and Malvern Girls' College.
After 1922, she became a successful society reporter. She then started writing romantic stories. She said she was inspired by the novels of Edwardian author Elinor Glyn.
Marriage and Family
Barbara Cartland said she turned down 49 marriage proposals. She married Captain Alexander George McCorquodale in 1927. He was a British Army officer. They divorced in 1933.
Their daughter, Raine McCorquodale, was born in 1929. She became very popular in society in 1947.
After her divorce, Barbara married her first husband's cousin, Hugh McCorquodale, in 1936. They had two sons, Ian and Glen.
Barbara was good friends with Lord Mountbatten. He helped her with her charity work. He even helped her write a book called Love at the Helm.
Barbara Cartland was the step-grandmother of Diana, Princess of Wales. Barbara sent Diana early copies of her novels because Diana loved reading them. They remained close friends.
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Her Novels
After working as a gossip columnist, Barbara Cartland published her first novel, Jigsaw, in 1923. It was a thriller and became a bestseller. She also started writing and producing plays.
In the 1920s and 1930s, Barbara was a popular host in London society. She was known for her beauty and lively parties. She also had a great sense of fashion.
Barbara Cartland's later novels were very successful. By 1983, she was listed as the top-selling author in the world. In 1976, she wrote 23 novels in one year, which was a world record. The 1970s and 1980s were her busiest years. She also appeared on television often.
By the mid-1990s, she had sold over a billion books. Vogue magazine called her "the true Queen of Romance." She often talked about love, marriage, and health. She believed that prayer should stay in schools and was against divorce.
Contribution to Aviation
Barbara Cartland was interested in early gliding. In 1931, she helped plan a 200-mile glider flight that carried mail. In 1984, she received an award for this contribution.
She often visited the Brooklands aerodrome and motor-racing track in the 1920s and 30s. The Brooklands Museum has a room named after her from that time.
Nonfiction Books
Barbara Cartland wrote several biographies about important people. These included The Outrageous Queen: A Biography of Christina of Sweden (1956) and Josephine, Empress of France (1961).
Political Influence
After her brother Ronald, a Member of Parliament, died in World War II, Barbara wrote a book about him. The Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, wrote the introduction.
The war made Barbara interested in helping her community and in politics. She worked for the War Office and the St John Ambulance Brigade. In 1953, she received an award for her services.
In 1955, Barbara Cartland was elected as a councillor for Hertfordshire County Council. She served for nine years. During this time, she worked to improve nursing homes. She also helped increase the pay for midwives. She also worked to make sure children of Romani families could go to school.
Music
Barbara Cartland wrote the story and lyrics for a radio operetta called The Rose and the Violet. It was broadcast by the BBC in 1942.
In 1978, she recorded an album of love songs with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. It was called An Album of Love Songs. On the album, she sang popular songs like "I'll Follow My Secret Heart."
Honours and Awards
In January 1988, Barbara Cartland received a special award from the city of Paris. This was for selling 25 million books in France.
In 1991, Queen Elizabeth II made her a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. This was to honor her nearly 70 years of writing and her work in politics and society.
A wax figure of Barbara Cartland was displayed at Madame Tussauds. Her former home, River Cottage, will also have a special plaque. This plaque will honor her writing career.
Death and Legacy
Barbara Cartland passed away peacefully in her sleep on May 21, 2000. She was 98 years old. Both of her sons were with her when she died. She was buried on her private estate in Hatfield, Hertfordshire.
Books Published After Her Death
Barbara Cartland left behind 160 novels that had not been published yet. These are known as the Barbara Cartland Pink Collection. Her son, Ian McCorquodale, published them as e-books. A new novel was released each month until all 160 were out by 2018.
In 2010, her first novel, Jig-Saw, was reprinted to mark 10 years since her death.
To celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee, her publishers re-released many of her books. This collection is called "The Eternal Collection." Her e-books are also available in Spanish, Italian, German, and Dutch.
Feature Films
BBC Four aired a TV movie about Barbara Cartland in 2008. It was called In Love with Barbara. Anne Reid played Barbara Cartland in the film.
See also
In Spanish: Barbara Cartland para niños
