33 Facts About Barbara Cartland

Dame Mary Barbara Hamilton Cartland was an English writer who published both contemporary and historical romance novels, the latter set primarily during the Victorian or Edwardian period.

Barbara Cartland's novels have been translated from English into numerous languages, making Cartland the fifth most translated author worldwide, excluding biblical works.

Barbara Cartland contributed advice to TV audiences and newspaper magazine articles.

Barbara Cartland sold more than 750 million copies of her books, though other sources estimate her total sales at more than two billion.

Barbara Cartland was a businesswoman who was head of Barbara Cartland Promotions.

Barbara Cartland was a London society figure, often dressed in a pink chiffon gown, a plumed hat, blonde wig, and heavy make-up.

Barbara Cartland had two brothers: Ronald, a Member of Parliament who served as an army major in World War II, and James Anthony "Tony" Hamilton Barbara Cartland.

Barbara Cartland would later attribute this downturn to the suicide of her paternal grandfather, James Barbara Cartland, who, she stated, was a financier who shot himself in the wake of bankruptcy.

Barbara Cartland was educated at private girls' schools: The Alice Ottley School, Malvern Girls' College, and Abbey House, an educational institution in Hampshire.

Barbara Cartland became a successful society reporter after 1922, and a writer of romantic fiction; she stated she was inspired in her early work by the novels of the Edwardian author Elinor Glyn, whom she idolised and eventually befriended.

Barbara Cartland claimed to have declined 49 marriage proposals before marrying Captain Alexander "Sachie" George McCorquodale, on 23 April 1927, a British Army officer from Scotland and heir to a printing fortune.

Barbara Cartland maintained a long friendship with Lord Mountbatten of Burma, whose death in 1979 she said was the "greatest sadness of my life".

When Barbara Cartland learned that young Diana Spencer loved reading her novels, Barbara Cartland began to send early copies.

Barbara Cartland was later openly critical of Diana's divorce, though the rift between them was mended shortly before Diana's fatal car crash in Paris, in 1997.

Barbara Cartland began writing and producing somewhat racy plays, one of which, Blood Money, was banned by the Lord Chamberlain's Office.

Barbara Cartland made her presentation and wedding dresses; the latter was made to her own design against Hartnell's wishes, and she admitted it was a failure.

In 1950, Barbara Cartland was accused of plagiarism by author Georgette Heyer, after a reader drew attention to the apparent borrowing of Heyer's character names, character traits, dialogue and plot points in Barbara Cartland's early historical romances.

Additionally, in 1976, Barbara Cartland wrote 23 novels, earning her the Guinness World Record for the most novels written in a single year.

In 2000, her publishers estimated that since her writing career began in 1923, Barbara Cartland had produced a total of 723 titles.

Privately, Barbara Cartland took an interest in the early gliding movement and in 1931, with two RAF officers "designed the first aircraft-towed airmail delivery glider"; she arranged the first long-distance tow.

Barbara Cartland regularly attended Brooklands aerodrome and motor-racing circuit during the 1920s and 30s, and the Brooklands Museum has preserved a sitting-room from that era and named it after her.

Barbara Cartland wrote several biographies of major figures, including Metternich: The Passionate Diplomat in 1964, The Outrageous Queen: A Biography of Christina of Sweden in 1956, The Private Life of Charles II: The Women He Loved in 1958, and Josephine, Empress of France in 1961.

The war marked the beginning of a lifelong interest in civic welfare and politics for Barbara Cartland, who served the War Office in various charitable capacities as well as the St John Ambulance Brigade.

In 1955, Barbara Cartland was elected a councillor on Hertfordshire County Council as a Conservative and served for nine years.

Barbara Cartland recorded an EP vinyl in conjunction with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 1978, titled An Album of Love Songs released through State Records, and produced by Norman Newell.

The album featured Barbara Cartland performing covers of a series of popular standards including "I'll Follow My Secret Heart" and "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square".

In January 1988, Barbara Cartland received the Medaille de Vermeil de la Ville de Paris, the highest honour of the city of Paris, for publishing 25 million books in France.

In 1991, Barbara Cartland was invested by Queen Elizabeth II as a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in honour of the author's almost 70 years of literary, political, and social contributions.

Barbara Cartland was the subject of This Is Your Life on two occasions, in March 1958 when she was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at the BBC Television Theatre, and in December 1989, when Michael Aspel surprised her at Elstree Studios.

The former residence of Barbara Cartland, named River Cottage, and located in Great Barford, Bedfordshire in which she resided between 1941 until 1949, will be honoured with a heritage Blue Plaque which is a monument honouring her literary career.

Barbara Cartland died in her sleep on 21 May 2000, at her residence, Camfield Place, near Hatfield, Hertfordshire at the age of 98.

Barbara Cartland had been suffering from ill health and dementia for six months beforehand, and was bedridden and sequestered.

The documentary, Virgins and Heroes, includes early home cine footage and Dame Barbara Cartland launching her website with pink computers, in early 2000.