Dame Barbara Cartland, the prolific author known for her 723 romance novels, led a life as dramatic and unconventional as the stories she dictated to her secretaries. A new biography by Matthew Sweet explores the "outrageous life and lines" of Cartland, who, from her opulent home in Hertfordshire, churned out novels at a remarkable pace, completing a book every fortnight.
Sweet's biographical work, undertaken with "admiration, regard and respect," examines Cartland's extensive personal archives, including correspondence, photographs, and 151 previously unpublished typescripts. These materials shed light on a woman who cultivated a distinctive public persona, often appearing in theatrical attire and embracing a flamboyant style that placed her alongside figures like Dame Edna Everage and Fanny Cradock.
Cartland was born in 1901 into a world of privilege, but her family's fortunes took a severe downturn when her grandfather, James Frank Howard Cartland, lost his wealth and died by suicide. Despite periods of financial instability, the family maintained a semblance of their former lifestyle. Cartland's father, Bertie, was killed in World War I, and she received little formal education, attending boarding and finishing schools. In the post-war era, with a significant deficit of eligible men, Cartland encountered a cast of characters who would later populate her novels, including aristocrats and adventurers, some of whom proposed marriage and led tumultuous lives.
In 1927, Cartland married Alexander "Sachie" McCorquodale, heir to a printing business. The marriage ended in divorce after Sachie's affair with another admirer's sister. Their daughter, Raine, later became stepmother to Princess Diana after marrying Earl Spencer. Cartland remarried Hugh McCorquodale in 1936, and she famously attributed his ardor to his wartime experiences, stating, "Men with amputated legs make the best lovers."
During World War II, Cartland contributed to the war effort by organizing a scheme for brides to borrow wedding dresses. Throughout her prolific career, her novels promised readers "transcendental ecstasies" and often depicted themes that are considered shocking by contemporary standards, including elements of sadomasochism and rape. Cartland herself held unconventional views on gender roles, famously stating, "No man wants a clever woman," and characterizing feminists as "man-hating, embittered, sex-starved spinsters."
Despite her public persona and unconventional beliefs, Cartland was a shrewd businesswoman and a central figure in her own life, consulting astrologers and promoting vitamin supplements for various ailments, including marital issues and driving test success. Her unwavering snobbery was evident even in her later years, as she noted to a reporter, "Of course they have [class relationships] altered, or I wouldn't be talking to you." The biography, praised for its wit and verve, portrays Cartland as a woman who lived a life far more extraordinary than the romantic fantasies she penned.