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Famed author Barbara Taylor Bradford made a splash in the literary world before her death at age 91.

“With great sadness, we announce the death of Barbara Taylor Bradford OBE. The international bestselling author of A Woman of Substance leaves behind a phenomenal literary legacy, with 40 novels and 91 million books sold worldwide,” a statement posted to Bradford’s Instagram on Monday, November 25, read. “Barbara, a proud Yorkshire woman, inspired millions with her incredible stories. She pᴀssed away peacefully yesterday, surrounded by loved ones. Her storytelling brilliance and warm heart will be dearly missed by all.”

Born in Leeds, England, Bradford became one of the most successful fictional writers across the globe. To date, more than 91 million copies of her novels have been sold and published in more than 40 languages and 90 countries, per a statement posted via the HarperCollins UK social media account on Monday.

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Bradford Began Writing at 7 Years Old

Bradford started writing fiction when she was 7 years old. Three years later, she sold her first story to a magazine for seven shillings and sixpence, HarperCollins UK wrote.

At the age of 15, Bradford left school for the typing pool at the Yorkshire Evening Post. She became a reporter for the paper one year later and was the first woman’s editor at age 18. Two years later, she moved to London and became a columnist and editor on Fleet Street.

Bradford Published 40 Novels During Her Career

Bradford penned a total of 40 books throughout her career. Her most recent novel, The Wonder of It All, was published in 2023.

Bradford Was Married to a Producer

Bradford met her husband, Robert, in 1961. The pair tied the knot two years later and moved to New York, where they were located until he died in 2019, per HarperCollins UK.

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Bradford and Her Husband Adapted 10 of Her Books for TV

Bradford worked with her husband, who was a film and television producer, to adapt 10 of her books. One of her adaptations, A Woman of Substance, starred Jenny Seagrove and Liam Neeson. The miniseries received two Emmy award nominations. Per HarperCollins UK, the movie premiere in 1985 garnered 13.8 million viewers, setting a record for the UK’s Channel 4 highest-ever audience.

Following the news of Bradford’s death, Seagrove paid tribute to the late author. “It’s 1984 and I am about to meet the world-famous legend that is Barbara Taylor Bradford. I have starred in a mini-series made of her bestselling novel A Woman of Substance and it really matters to me that she is pleased. I am a young actress and very nervous,” Seagrove said in a statement to HarperCollins UK. “The door opens and all I can say is that a powerhouse of glamour and warmth heads towards me, grabs me, hugs me, and says … ‘You are my Emma Harte’. And that was the start of a long friendship with the force of nature that I am proud to call my friend — Barbara Taylor Bradford.”

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“We saw each other whenever she and her beloved Bob were in London. I did Hold the Dream for them as another miniseries. We shared dog stories — we are both besotted — and talked about everything under the sun,” Seagrove continued. “She never changed. Success never diluted her warmth and humour or her ability to relate to everyone she met, whether a cleaner or a princess. She never, ever forgot that she was just a girl from Yorkshire that worked hard and made good. RIP dear friend.”

Bradford Received Numerous Accolades

Bradford earned five Honorary Doctorates of Letters from the University of Leeds, Yorkshire; the University of Bradford, Yorkshire; Teikyo Post University, Connecticut; Siena College, Loudonville, New York; and Mount Saint Mary College, Newburgh, New York, per HarperCollins UK.

The author was an ambᴀssador for the National Literacy Trust in the UK. She also served on the Board of Literacy Partners for six years. Bradford was the recipient of an OBE for her services to literature by the late Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in 2007.