Famous Friends and Guinness World Record Winner: Here Are 6 Things You Didn’t Know About Author Barbara Cartland
Despite her public persona, many intriguing aspects of the famous English writer Barbara Cartland’s life remain less explored. From her musical activities and speed of writing to her high-profile friendships, here are some lesser-known aspects to explore about this beloved and influential novelist.
Not familiar with Barbara Cartland’s books yet? Dive into Cartland’s diverse catalogue here.
1. Barbara Cartland : a Guinness World Record Winner
Cartland’s extraordinary writing speed is the stuff of legend. She’s achieved the Guinness World Record for the most novels published in a single year – an astounding average of 23 per year – and a record she held for 19 years. Within her lifetime Cartland published more than 700 books, producing a vast and diverse catalogue with a story for every reader.
2. Compassionate Civic Advocate
As well as writing a staggering number of books, she was also involved in many diverse fields from aviation to activism. She helped many groups who she perceived as being unfairly treated, she fought for better salaries and conditions for nurses and midwives and evoked an inquiry into the government’s treatment of the elderly.
She produced political writing, including a biography of her brother Ronald – featuring a preface by Winston Churchill – and a political novel, ‘Sleeping Swords’, the first work of fiction to be accepted by the House of Commons library.
3. Musical Adventure
While being most famous for her accomplishments as an author, writing was not the only creative outlet for Barbara Cartland. She released an album recorded with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra called Album of Love Songs with 11 tracks. Strings and wind instruments created the perfect ambience and combined with Cartland’s lyrics the listener can experience a classic romantic musical atmosphere. Check it out for yourself.
4. Famous Friends
By her early twenties, Cartland became well-known on the London social scene as one of the ‘Bright Young People’. Cartland’s social circle was as grand as her lifestyle. She was friends with numerous influential figures across different domains. Lord Louis Mountbatten considered her a close friend and Princess Diana, an avid Barbara Cartland reader, was Cartland’s step-granddaughter. Cartlands daughter, Raine, married Princess Diana’s father Earl Spencer, in 1967, becoming Diana’s step-mother.
5. Advocate for Alternative Medicine
Barbara became more and more interested in the development and promotion of alternative medicine and became president of the National Association for Health, which she herself founded, in 1964. She became vice-president of the St. John Ambulance Brigade Nursing Division in Hertfordshire, helped thousands of correspondents with their health issues and her 1970 book ‘The Magic of Honey’ caused many health shops to experience honey shortages, so respected was her advice on health and on alternative medicine.
6. Well-travelled Woman
Egypt, India, Canada, Mexico. Barbara Cartland was well-travelled and made many visits to exciting destinations throughout her lifetime. She made her way across Europe – especially Paris was a favored target of hers – but also to far-off destinations such as America, Hong Kong, Penang, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Tunisia, Senegal and Ivory Coast, South America, Philippines, Ceylon, Taiwan, Japan, Caribbean, Morocco, and Monaco. She mainly travelled with her sons, Ian and Glen – and on top of all the globetrotting made time to visit Scotland every year.
– Maybe Cartlands travels are the reason for the many exciting settings, readers can experience in her novels?
As we celebrate 100 years of Barbara Cartland’s remarkable literary career, it’s evident that her influence transcends her novels. Her status in society, advocacy for alternative medicine, and political commitment, attest to a life as captivating as her tales.
Reflecting on these aspects around Cartlands person allows us to further understand the diverse woman behind the popular stories – adding a new dimension to the novels that still captivate readers globally today.
Continue here, if you want to dive into the grand catalogue of Barbara Cartland.
And to know more about why readers still love Barbara Cartland even after a century, click here.
Read here about Barbara Cartland’s Subgenres.
And to know more about barbara Cartland’s 100 year anniversary, you can visit this article.
