Dame Barbara Cartland, renowned for her prolific output of romance novels, dictated her works rather than writing them directly, completing a book every two weeks through lengthy sessions with a secretary. Over her lifetime, she produced 723 published novels, alongside an estimated 151 unpublished manuscripts discovered posthumously. Her distinctive writing process involved transcribing 7,000 words per session, with finished manuscripts delivered to publishers via Rolls-Royce and proofs reviewed during regular lunches at Claridge’s.
Cartland’s life, as detailed in a recent biography by Matthew Sweet, reveals a figure both industrious and theatrical. Known for her flamboyant public persona—often adorned in pink chiffon gowns and a cascade of pearls—she occupied a unique niche in British cultural life, blending elements of high camp with the traditional role of a romance novelist. Her style and public appearances aligned her with other flamboyant British personalities such as Dame Edna Everage and Jennifer Paterson.
Born in 1901 into a privileged but ultimately unstable family, Cartland's early life was marked by social and financial upheaval. The Cartland family originally hailed from Birmingham, where they owned a brass foundry, but financial losses and the suicide of her grandfather James Frank Howard Cartland deeply affected their circumstances. Despite this, Barbara’s upbringing remained comparatively genteel, with her father Bertie, who died in World War I, never embracing the notion of work. The family’s fortunes fluctuated, yet Barbara continued to lead a socially active life, attending clubs and dances even as the family’s wealth diminished.
Her personal life was marked by a series of colorful relationships. Cartland received numerous marriage proposals from men described in the biography as eccentrics and risk-takers, including Ernest Simpson—who shortly before his own high-profile marriage was nearly wed to Cartland. In 1927, she married Alexander “Sachie” McCorquodale, with whom she had a daughter, Raine. Raine would go on to marry twice into the aristocracy, becoming both the Countess of Dartmouth and later the Countess Spencer, making Cartland the step-grandmother of Princess Diana. Cartland’s marriage to McCorquodale ended in divorce after his infidelity; she later married his cousin Hugh McCorquodale in 1936.
During World War II, Cartland briefly relocated to Canada but returned to Britain to contribute to wartime efforts by organizing wedding dress loans for brides through the Auxiliary Territorial Service and St John Ambulance. Despite the upheavals of war, she maintained a robust literary output.
Cartland’s novels, characterized by their melodramatic, often formulaic depictions of love and power, included recurring themes of passionate, sometimes violent relationships. Her writings reflected conservative and controversial views, particularly regarding gender roles. She asserted that men preferred women to be less intelligent and dismissed feminism as the product of resentful and “sex-starved” women. Despite these opinions, Cartland herself was described as a strong-willed and savvy businesswoman who effectively controlled her literary brand.
Beyond literature, Cartland’s life was marked by an eccentric belief in astrology, spiritualism, and alternative medicine. She advocated for vitamin supplements and yeast extract as remedies for various ailments and credited such practices with enhancing well-being, despite suffering health issues linked to excessive vitamin intake.
Matthew Sweet’s biography underscores Cartland as a figure who occupied "the centre of her own universe," a woman of contradictions—both a kitsch cultural icon and a determined literary entrepreneur. The extensive use of archival materials, including personal correspondence and unpublished works, offers new insights into the complex persona behind one of the 20th century’s most prolific romance writers.