BARBARA CARTLAND Biography - Writers

 
 

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BARBARA CARTLAND

Barbara Cartland has been called the world's best-known author of romantic               
fiction. To date she has published 623 books that have sold over 650 million             
copies worldwide. She is listed in the "Guinness Book of World Records" as the           
world's top-selling author.                                                               
                                                                                         
Barbara Cartland's parents are Bertram (Bertie) Cartland and Mary Hamilton (Polly)       
Scobell. She was born on July 9, 1901 and Christened Mary Barbara Hamilton               
Cartland.                                                                                 
                                                                                         
Her brother Ronald was born in 1907, and her brother Anthony was born in 1913.           
                                                                                         
Barbara Cartland's father was killed in May of 1918 during World War I. Barbara,         
her mother, and her two younger brothers moved to London.                                 
                                                                                         
In 1920 Barbara began writing society gossip pieces for The Daily Express.               
                                                                                         
Her first novel, Jig-Saw, was published in 1923.                                         
                                                                                         
Her first play, "Blood Money", was performed in 1925. This was later rewritten           
into the book "Sawdust." This same year she was presented at court.                       
                                                                                         
Barbara was married to Alexander (Sachie) McCorquodale on April 23, 1927. Her             
first daughter, Raine, was born in September, 1929.                                       
                                                                                         
In late 1928, she did a weekly radio show, "Make the Best of Oneself."                   
                                                                                         
She was divorced from Alexander McCorquodale in 1932. After her divorce, she             
became much closer to her brother Ronald.                                                 
                                                                                         
In 1933 she broke the "prisoner in the tower" story.                                     
                                                                                         
Barbara was married to Hugh McCorquodale (Alexander's cousin) on December 28,             
1936 at Guildhall, London, England. She had two sons, Ian, born October 11, 1937         
and Glen, born December 31, 1939.                                                         
                                                                                         
Anthony Cartland was killed on May 29, 1940, at Dunkirk. Ronald Cartland was             
killed on May 30, 1940 at Dunkirk. He was the first Member of Parliment killed           
in World War II.                                                                         
                                                                                         
Raine was presented at Court in April of 1947. In June Raine married Gerald               
Legge, eldest son of the heir presumptive to the Earl of Dartmouth.                       
                                                                                         
Barbara Cartland moved to Camfield Place in 1950. The house was built in 1867 by         
the grandfather of Beatrix Potter. "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" was written by             
Beatrix Potter in this house.                                                             
                                                                                         
Hugh McCorquodale died December 29, 1963 of heart failure.                               
                                                                                         
Barbara wrote her 100th novel in 1964, "The Flame of Love."                               
                                                                                         
In 1973 Barbara offered to write ten books for Pan Books. She made the same               
offer to Corgi.                                                                           
                                                                                         
In 1973 she started publishing with Bantom in the US.                                     
                                                                                         
Barbara Cartland passed away on Sunday, May 21, 2000, at age 98. She was just             
two months short of her 99th birthday. According to published reports, she died           
in her sleep after a short illness.