Barbara Cartland (1901–2000,) fully Dame Mary Barbara Hamilton Cartland, married name Barbara McCorquodale, was an English novelist who wrote romance novels designed for female readers. This “Queen of Romance” is one of the best-selling authors and commercially successful authors of the 20th century; her 723 books were translated into 38 languages. Cartland was the stepgrandmother of Diana, Princess of Wales.
Born in Edgbaston, Birmingham, Cartland started working as a gossip columnist for the Daily Express, became a society belle, and then started publishing romance novels. She published her first novel, Jigsaw, in 1925; it was a popular success. She produced over 600 bestselling books, mostly formulaic novels of chaste romantic love set in the 19th century. Her popular romances include Bride to a Brigand (1983) and A Secret Passage to Love (1992.)
Cartland also wrote biographies and books on food, health, and beauty, and five volumes of autobiography. She also wrote film scripts for several of her novels and some 30 plays.
Cartland earned a place in the Guinness Book of Records for writing 26 books in the year 1983. A passionate campaigner of health foods and fitness for the elderly, she advocated causes like the St John’s Ambulance Brigade and the provision of campsites for Romany Gypsies.
Cartland’s best-known autobiography is The Years of Opportunity, 1939–45 (1948.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Barbara Cartland
A historical romance is the only kind of book where chastity really counts.
—Barbara Cartland
Topics: Romance
A woman should say: “Have I made him happy? Is he satisfied? Does he love me more than he loved me before? Is he likely to go to bed with another woman?” If he does, then it’s the wife’s fault because she is not trying to make him happy.
—Barbara Cartland
Topics: Men & Women, Men and Women
Every man has been brought up with the idea that decent women don’t pop in and out of bed; he has always been told by his mother that “nice girls don’t.” He finds, of course, when he gets older that this may be untrue—but only in a certain section of society.
—Barbara Cartland
Topics: Sex
A woman asking “Am I good? Am I satisfied?” is extremely selfish. The less women fuss about themselves, the less they talk to other women, the more they try to please their husbands, the happier the marriage is going to be.
—Barbara Cartland
Topics: Wives, Marriage
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