Dame Mary Barbara Hamilton Cartland was a English writer, during her long career, she wrote over 700 books, making her one of the most prolific authors of the 20th century. She sold over 1,000 million copies throughout the world, earning her a place in the Guinness Book of Records. The world's most famous romantic novelist, she also wrote autobiographies, biographies, health and cookery books, and stage plays and recorded an album of love songs. She was often billed as the Queen of Romance, and became one of the United Kingdom's most popular media personalities, appearing often at public events and on television, dressed in her trademark pink and discoursing on love, health and social issues.She started her writing career as a gossip columnist for the Daily Express. She published her first novel, Jigsaw, a society thriller, in 1923. It was a bestseller. She went on to write myriad novels and earn legions of fans, she also wrote under her married name Barbara McCorquodale. Some of her books were made into films. Ever the romantic, during WWII, she served as the Chief Lady Welfare Officer in Bedfordshire. She gathered as many wedding dresses as she could so that service brides would have a white gown to wear on their wedding day. She also campaigns for the rights of Gypsies, midwives and nurses.Barbara Cartland McCorquodale passed away on 21 May 2000, with 160 still unpublished manuscripts, that are being published posthumously.
She was awarded Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1991 Queens New Years Honours List for her services to literature.
Her second husband was her first husbands cousin.
Her daughter, Raine (9/9/1929-21/10/2016), was Princess Diana s stepmother. She was an elected member of the London County Council and later of the Greater London council.
She had two sons, Ian and Glen.
Died the same day as John Gielgud.
She was the most prolific and well-loved author of her time. She sold over 1,000 million books, giving her a place in the Guinness book of Records. Her 723 novels of romance and love have been enjoyed by generations in over 36 countries.
During the Second World War from 1939 to 1945, she was Chief Lady Welfare Officer in Bedfordshire looking after 20,000 service men and women. She had the idea of gathering as many wedding dresses as she could for hire, so that service brides would have a white dress to wear on their wedding day. She bought 1,000 second hand gowns without coupons for the A.T.S., the W.A.A.F.S. and the W.R.E.N.S. In 1945, she received the Certificate of Merit from Eastern Command.
In the early 1960s, she campaigned for the rights of gypsies to have a permanent place to live which resulted in an act of Parliament. One of the first gypsy camps was opened by her in 1964 and called Barbaraville and there are now 14 in Hertfordshire. This has meant thousands of gypsies and their families have a place to call home and their children can be educated in their local area.
She was an activist in fighting for better conditions and salaries for midwives and nurses. Through this cause, she was awarded Dame of Grace of the Order of St John of Jerusalem, Chairman of the St John Council in Hertfordshire and Deputy President of the St John Ambulance Brigade. Other books and recordings.
She wrote a number of biographies of famous characters from history, including the biography of her brother, Ronald Cartland, who was the first Member of Parliament to be killed in the Second World War. This book has a preface by Sir Winston Churchill.
In 1978, she sang an Album of Love Songs with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
In 1931, she and two Royal Air Force Officers devised and created the first airplane-towed glider airmail. In 1984, she received the Bishop Wright Air industry Award at Kennedy Airport in Queens, New York for her contribution to the development of aviation.
In 1964, she founded the National Association for Health in the United Kingdom, of which she was President, as a front for all the Health Stores and for any product made as alternative medicine. This health industry now enjoys a huge turnover each year, with one third going in export.
In January 1988, she was awarded "La Medaille De Vermeil De La Ville De Paris", (The Gold Medal of Paris). This is the highest award to be given by the City of Paris for the achievement of 25 million books sold in France.
The right diet directs sexual energy into the parts that matter. .
