34 women have donated cherished pieces from their wardrobes to raise funds for the inspiring UK charity Smart Works, who help unemployed women in need to succeed at interview and transform their lives.

I have donated my Hermès Kelly bag which Bob bought for me in 1992. It was a limited edition. I’ve worn it in London, New York and Paris at the many events I’ve spoken at as part of my global book tours.

The auction will run online until 15th September; you can see all lots available for bidding at this link

LOT 21

Barbara Taylor Bradford’s limited edition Rouge H, Vert Foncé & bleu saphir calf box leather Sellier Kelly 32 with gold hardware.

Hermés, 1992

They open up a truly amazing world to visitors with their impressive architecture, amazing art, and their offer of peace and tranquillity compared to more modern attractions.

On entering a stately home, I immediately feel I enter in to a whole new world full of interest and intrigue and I’m always curious to explore.

The stately homes we have in Britain are not just for history lovers. They are great for all the family. I’d encourage young people to visit as many as they can so they can learn about social history, how people lived in certain eras, and how the owners of these aristocratic homes supported their neighbouring villages.

It was my mother who introduced me to stately homes when I was still a child. She came from Ripon and had grown up in the shadows of Fountains Hall at and Fountains Abbey nearby. She went back to her beloved Ripon frequently and she always took me with her.

I liked those trips, and was always happy when we visited the deer park at Fountains Hall. There were so many deers roaming freely, and I was fascinated by the little bambis huddled with their mothers in the herd. A lovely sight.

Two other things intrigued me there. The ruins of the great Cistercian Abbey, and the water gardens which had been planned and landscaped in an earlier century.

I have come to understand that my imagination was formed when I wandered through the ruins with my mother. Looking back I’ve realised that I had been filled with curiosity about the monks who had lived there so long ago, and the kind of lives they had lived, what they had done and thought.

As for the water gardens, I thought they were beautiful, but I was also taken by the unusual names of some of them. For instance, there was the Moon Pond, which intrigued me. It had a stone statue of Neptune at its centre, and there were a series of Crescent Ponds, yet another unique name. A statue of Baccheus guarded one of the ponds. Then there was the lovey Temple of Piety which had been built in front of a stand of leafy trees, and this faced Neptune in the water.

I truly believe the sights I saw there helped to set my mind working, and story telling ,must have started bubbling inside me even then. I think my love of stately homes began at that particular time. No wonder I have written so many novels featuring such grand houses, and their fictional occupants behind those ancient walls.

I was about 10-years-old when my mother led me farther afield to see other great houses. Temple Newsam, just outside Leeds, which had 365 windows, one for each day of the year; the elegant Newby Hall near Ripon, and Castle Howard, where Brideshead Revisited was filmed.

It was around then that my mother took me to Harewood House for the first time. It was a stately home of enormous grandeur and beauty standing in a glorious park, and located in Harewood village, just outside Harrogate.

The house made a deep impression on me as a child, so much so that when I had to create a home for fictional characters in the Ingham family in a recent book collection called the Cavendon series, Harewood was my inspiration.

On that first visit long ago, I was captivated by the 77 foot-long gallery, and its beauty still takes my breathe away today. And so do the magnificent rooms designed by Robert Adam. I believe him to be the greatest interior designed of all time. In fact, he was the father of interior design as we know it today. He stands alone in his magnificent talents, a true genius. Even now, his traditional style is as popular as it ever was. His rooms have a timeless beauty, luxury, and a most striking opulence.

I know now, looking back, that I always fell under the spell of houses designed and decorated by the young Scottish architect who put his singular stamp on so many Georgian houses. The architect of Harewood House was John Carr of York, Adam, of course, designed the interiors, and the furniture was made by the great Thomas Chippendale, of Otley, who had recently made a name for himself in London. The gardens were landscaped by `Capability’ Brown. No wonder the house was a dazzling stately home and much admired when it was finished. An extraordinary team of genuinely talented men had created it with flair, imagination and skill for Edwin Lascelles, the owner of Harewood.

Aside form the long gallery, I am always impressed by John Carr’s grand entrance hall, perhaps because of Adam’s decoration. It has bold plaster work, by Joseph Rose, cream plaques set against soft misty green walls, and soaring mahogany columns. Robert Adam paid great attention to detail, and that is apparent in the long gallery where some of the finest furniture ever made is on display. It was by Thomas Chippendale, who also made the pelmets, the picture farmes and the pier glasses. This brilliant craftsman was also responsible for the marquetry and guilding. Harewood House is indeed a feast for the eyes, and so in Syon House in Middlesex.

It was a friend who led me there when I was a young journalist in Fleet Street, a reporter on the London Evening News. Her name was Dorothy Davies, and she was the mother of the famous child star, John Howard Davies, who enchanted everyone in Oliver Twist, in the original film. His mother was an interior designer.

Dorothy took me to Syon House, `for a big surprise’ was the way she put it. Little did I know when I saw the crenelated roof line atop a solid square building, with a stone lion guarding the roof, that I was about to enter a treasure trove.

I remember Dorothy saying, `That’s the Percy lion, and Syon House is the home of the Duke of Northumberland. Wait until you see what’s inside…’ Although I pestered her to tell me more, she wouldn’t. And I understood why, when we walked into the Great Hall. I was awestruck, and after only a moment I knew it was by Robert Adam.

There it was, a huge white hall, with an extraordinary plaster-work ceiling, and black-and-white marble floor laid out in an intricate design, life-sized Roman figures in togas standing on square pedestals covered in plaster-work. A unique atrium. When I looked at Dorothy,she just smiled, knowing that she had surprised me whilst giving me pleasure. As we moved through the gorgeous rooms of that house, Dorothy explained that the house ranked as one of the most illustrious in England because of the superb interiors created by Robert Adam in the 1760s. His patrons were the Earl and Countess of Northumberland (before becoming the Duke and Duchess). They undoubtedly knew what they were doing because Robert Ada had worked for them at Alnwick Castle in Northumberland.

Naturally, I fell in love with the red drawing room with its magnificent painted ceiling, crimson Spitalfields silk walls, and a carpet designed buy Robert Adam in 1769. Every room was a feast for the eyes. I thought of my mother that day, and what she said to me as a child. `Keep you eyes open always, so that you see all the beauty.’ A year later, when she came to stay with me in London, I took her to Syon House, and reminded her of her words to me as a child. Like me, she was a fan of Robert Adam rooms.

It is obvious that the designer/architect had many fans in Georgian England. Everyone was after him to design their great houses. It was perhaps his attention to details that was a key part of his success. His eye for colour, form, and textures also played a role. He designed literally every part of a room: the ceiling, the walls, the floor, the window draperies, the artefacts. After a classical education in Italy, he understood paintings, tapestries, the use of marble, statues, and other objects of art. He designed the carpets and had them made at Moorfields; all of his designs for silks came from Spitafields; he designed every inch of plaster-work, later executed by Angelica Kauffman and Joseph Rose. He was a true master of his craft…many crafts, actually.

In fact, many of the original owners of Britain’s stately homes provided amazing opportunities for the best craftsmen in the country to showcase their work, ranging from landscape architects like Capability Brown to artists Joshua Reynolds and Peter Lely.

The riches that they contain promise plenty of delight, as soon as we can visit once again.

1. Harewood House, Harewood, near Harrogate (open to the public)
2. Syon House, Middlesex
3. Newby Hall, near Ripon (open to the public)
4. Alnwick Castle, Northumberland (open to the public)

Barbara Taylor Bradford’s In The Lion’s Den is out in paperback August 6th £7.99 (HarperCollins).

As an Ambassador of the National Literacy Trust in the UK and one of the founding members of Literacy Partners in the US I am often asked the question what do I like to read so I thought I’d share some of my most favourite reads:

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. I first read it when I was 10-years-old and like many people thought it was a romantic story. Only later when I was an adult did I recognise that it was all about Heathcliff seeking revenge and destroying Catherine Earnshaw’s family. It’s unique in that it has two narrators, Mr Lockwood and Nelly Dean, the housekeeper who witnessed the dramas at Wuthering Heights. I consider Emily Brontë to be one of the great geniuses in English literature.

Churchill: Walking With Destiny by Andrew Roberts whom I consider to be the best historian writing today. He brings to this book many new aspects about Winston Churchill with details of his life we never knew about. It’s a masterful piece of work about one of my own great heroes and it is impossible to put down.

I’ve just ordered the new Hilary Mantel book The Mirror and the Light because I loved the first two books, Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies.

I also never miss a new Daniel Silva thriller and have just finished The New Girl. Gabriel Allon is also the protogonist and is one of the greatest fictional spies.

I would like to recommend my own A Woman of Substance, which recently celebrated its 40th anniversary and actually still selling. At 827-pages, it is a smashing read. I’m currently writing the prequel and companion book to this.

Celebrated Leeds-born novelist, Barbara Taylor Bradford OBE, has received one of the city’s highest civic honours.

In recognition of her nationally and internationally acclaimed work, Barbara has been recognised with a prestigious Leeds Award.

The Leeds Award formally recognises those who have made an enormous contribution to the city, with their names proudly displayed on the wall in the antechamber of Leeds Civic Hall.

Barbara was presented with her award by the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Eileen Taylor, as part of a special event in London.

Born in Leeds in 1933, Barbara attended nursery school in Upper Armley along with Alan Bennett. She began work as a typist on the Yorkshire Evening Post and quickly progressed to a reporter.

Barbara is now a multi-million-copy bestselling author and wrote one of the biggest selling novels of the 20th century, A Woman of Substance. This year fittingly marks the book’s 40th anniversary.

A Yorkshire woman through and through, Barbara has woven Leeds into many of her novels, including A Woman of Substance, and often champions her home city on an international stage.

Collectively, Barbara’s books have sold more than 92 million copies worldwide in more than 90 countries and 40 languages, with ten of her books being made into television mini-series and television movies.

The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Eileen Taylor, said:

“I have been an avid fan of Barbara’s for many years and have read all of her books. Her novels have been a true inspiration to me throughout my life and it was an absolute honour and privilege to present her, who is undoubtedly one of our city’s greatest writers, with a Leeds Award.”

“It is extremely fitting that Barbara is being presented the award in the year that marks the 40th anniversary of her first novel, A Woman of Substance, which puts Leeds at its very heart.”

“The Leeds Award was designed to honour those people that have made an enormous contribution and achieved so much in their respective fields, and there is no better recipient than Barbara, who has worked tirelessly to champion our city.”

Barbara Taylor Bradford OBE said:

“I was surprised but truly thrilled when I was informed that I would receive the Leeds Award and that my name would be written on the wall of fame in the Civic Hall.”

“What a wonderful honour. I have always loved Leeds and actually did start my working career on the Yorkshire Evening Post. I remember those days with great affection and Leeds will always have a special place in my heart.” 

About the Leeds Award

The Leeds Award is a prestigious honour that recognises that there are many people, groups, organisations and teams that bring great credit to the City through their exceptional hard work and dedication.

It has been established by Leeds City Council to formally recognise those whose outstanding contributions are a credit to the City and its people.

It is viewed as a lasting tribute to those contributions that make a real difference to the city.

Recipients of the Leeds Award will have their name inscribed on the ‘wall of fame’ located in the Ante Chamber of the Civic Hall.

A panel comprising of one Member from each Group is responsible for assessing nominations for the award and making recommendations to Full Council.

• Awarded to those who change the life or lives of the people of Leeds.
• For those who perform an exceptional service to their community.
• Normally precluded from the Leeds Award if previously recognised for the same service by a national award, within the last 15 years.
• A person/team/group/organisation may not nominate themselves and, where appropriate, letters of support in addition to the nomination may be required.
• If an individual is nominated by a family member, another independent nomination or letter of support must be received.

• Councillors.
• Services that have their own recognition system.
• Person who is in a leadership/chairing role by deed of appointment or election, e.g. Chair of a local Leeds in Bloom group who also have to be able to demonstrate a significant environmental improvement.

Unsuccessful nominations may be re-submitted after a period of two years.

The UK’s most senior female editors and high profile writers came together last night (26 November 2019) to honour the former Fleet Street journalist and international bestselling novelist Barbara Taylor Bradford OBE at a special Woman in Journalism (WIJ) dinner held at the Corinthia London.

Twenty-eight of the leading female editors and writers working in the British media attended the dinner which was hosted by Chair of Women in Journalism Eleanor Mills, Editorial Director of The Sunday Times and Editor of The Sunday Times Magazine, and WIJ founder, Eve Pollard, the author and former editor of the Sunday Mirror and Sunday Express.

Barbara, 86, was celebrated by the organisation, given she has been working as a journalist and author for 70 years, and continues to do so as she publishes her 34th book, In the Lion’s Den this week (28 November 2019).

She was made Women in Journalism’s first ever Ambassador and will raise the profile of the organisation and promote it on both sides of the Atlantic.

Chair of Women in Journalism Eleanor Mills said: “We are truly honoured to have the warrior woman that is Barbara Taylor Bradford as our Ambassador.”

Eve Pollard, founder of Women in Journalism, added ”WIJ is delighted to honour Barbara Taylor Bradford for her indomitable spirit and her devotion to work.  Like many pioneering journalists she started out on her local paper, The Yorkshire Evening Post, and then made the huge jump to London, aged 20, to work on Woman’s Own, a magazine then selling millions of copies each week.”

Barbara Taylor Bradford said: “I was surprised but truly thrilled to be recognised by my peers.  It is wonderful to be made an important part of Women in Journalism, an organisation I have admired for a long time and one that I fully support.

“I started off in the reporters’ room at the Yorkshire Evening Post in 1948 and I was the only girl working in it.  Luckily, I was able to be the journalist that I’d always dreamed of becoming as I had the support of the editor Barry Horniblow, journalist Keith Waterhouse, my sharp-witted mentor, along with other writers like Willis Hall.

“A few years later, I made it to Fleet Street but I remember I was still the only woman working in the newsroom at the time and it would have been amazing to have an organisation like Women in Journalism to support me as a female writer who wanted to go places. 

“I’m a journalist down to the very bottom of my toes and like nothing better than being in a room with my peers so being honoured by Women in Journalism is actually really my honour.” 

The dinner also celebrated 40 years since Barbara Taylor Bradford’s iconic novel  A Woman of Substance was first published.  It became a number one bestseller in the UK and US, staying on the New York Times’ list for 43 week. It is ranked in the top ten bestselling works of fiction of all time with more than 32 million copies sold.  In 1985, it was adapted as an Emmy-nominated television mini-series starring Jenny Seagrove and Liam Neeson and was aired by Channel 4 over three nights. The broadcast drew 13.8 million viewers, which remains the channel’s highest ever audience.  Last week (22 November 2019) Barbara Taylor Bradford announced she is currently planning to write the prequel to A Woman of Substance which will be published by HarperCollins in 2020.

For the first time ever, Barbara Taylor Bradford is returning to the very beginning of the story of A Woman of Substance, with a prequel, Blackie and Emma, to be published in 2020.

The world first met Blackie O’Neill, lifelong friend of Emma Harte, forty years ago. He was played by Liam Neeson in the Emmy-nominated TV series.

‘I am that, to be sure. Shane O’Neill’s the name, but the whole world calls me Blackie.’

Opening five years before the start of A Woman of Substance, Blackie and Emma sees a 13-year-old Blackie O’Neill facing an uncertain future in rural County Kerry. Orphaned and alone, he has just buried his sister, Bronagh, and must leave his home to set sail for England, in search of a better life with his mother’s brother in Leeds. There, he learns his trade as a navvy, amid the grand buildings and engineering triumphs of one of England’s most prosperous cities, and starts to dream of greater things… And then, high on the Yorkshire moors, in the mists of a winter morning he meets a kitchen maid called Emma Harte.

In Blackie and Emma, the true Blackie O’Neill is revealed. For the first time, readers discover his story: his tumultuous life, the obstacles facing him, the desire he has to throw off the impotence of poverty and move up in the world. Like his friend Emma, he is ambitious, driven, disciplined, and determined to make it to the top. And like Emma Harte, he is an unforgettable character for the millions who loved the book.

A Woman of Substance was first published in 1979, and has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide. It tells the story of Emma Harte and her lifelong quest to take revenge on the wealthy Fairley family. In 1905 Emma leaves Fairley Hall aged only sixteen, single and pregnant. By 1968 she is one of the richest women in the world, ruler of a business empire stretching from Yorkshire to the glittering cities of America and the rugged vastness of Australia. But what is the price she has paid? Her retail empire comes to span the world – but she never forgets her betrayal by the Fairleys. It is the first of seven novels following the trials and tribulations of the Harte family.

The original manuscript took two years to write, weighed 16.5 lbs and ran to 1,520 pages. It spent over a year on the New York Times bestseller list, simultaneously becoming a number 1 bestseller in the UK. It was adapted as an Emmy-nominated television mini-series starring Jenny Seagrove and Liam Neeson.

The loss of this fabulous man is overwhelming. I am devastated but I will be strong, as he always expected me to be, and he will be in my heart forever.

[See image gallery at barbarataylorbradford.com]

1. “Target Alex Cross”

by James Patterson (Little, Brown, fiction, on sale Nov. 19)

What it’s about: Alex Cross and his wife, Bree Stone, now chief of D.C. detectives, are both called in as six assassins descend on the nation’s capital.

The buzz: Patterson’s “The People vs. Alex Cross” hit No. 3 on USA TODAY’s Best-Selling Books list last November.

2. “His Royal Dogness, Guy the Beagle”

by Camille March and Michael Brumm (Simon & Schuster, fiction, on sale Nov. 20)

What it’s about: This is a picture book that cheekily tells the story of Duchess Meghan’s American-born Beagle and his new royal life.

The buzz: Guy has gone from Kentucky rescue dog to catching rides with the queen of England.

3. “Tony’s Wife”

by Adriana Trigiani (Harper, fiction, on sale Nov. 20)

What it’s about: The story of a couple who become big-band stars in the 1940s while dealing with pressures on their marriage.

The buzz: “A heartfelt tale of love,” says Kirkus Reviews.

4. “Fire & Blood”

by George R.R. Martin (Bantam, fiction, on sale Nov. 20)

What it’s about: Martin gives fans the history of the Targaryens in this illustrated volume.

The buzz: This is an offshoot of the best-selling “A Song of Fire and Ice” series, inspiration for HBO’s “Game of Thrones.”

5. “Master of His Fate”

by Barbara Taylor Bradford (St. Martin’s Press, fiction, on sale Nov. 20)

What it’s about: In Victorian England, James Lionel Falconer is determined to overcome his humble beginnings to rise through the merchant ranks.

The buzz: “This series opener nicely sets the groundwork for future installments,” says Publishers Weekly.