Barbara Cartland's Enduring Legacy and Controversial Views

Barbara Cartland, the prolific romance novelist who penned 723 books and set a Guinness World Record for the most novels published in a single year, continues to captivate public imagination decades after her death. Her former home, Camfield Place, near Hatfield, remains a testament to her unique personality, preserved as she left it following her passing in 2000 at the age of 98. Her granddaughters, Tara and Iona McCorquodale, now manage the estate, hosting guided tours, weddings, and social events.

A new biography by Matthew Sweet delves into the life of Cartland, examining her distinctive approach to writing and her often-controversial personal philosophies. Sweet's initial pitch to Cartland's son, Ian McCorquodale, was notably unusual, referencing a Doctor Who spin-off he had written featuring alien bookworms who communicated through Cartland's quotes. This unconventional introduction highlights the eccentric yet compelling nature of Cartland herself.

Cartland's writing process was as distinctive as her public persona. She would dictate up to 8,000 words a day from a reclining position on a sofa, dressed in chiffon and pearls, while her five secretaries, hidden from view to avoid distraction, took shorthand. Her manuscripts, finished with pink ribbons, were then dispatched in her white Rolls Royce to her editor, who made no changes before sending proofs to Claridge's Hotel, where Cartland famously dined every Wednesday for 50 years.

Her public image was carefully cultivated, marked by flamboyant dresses, hats, false eyelashes, and a unique beauty regimen that included using shoe polish for mascara. Humorist Arthur Marshall described her as having 'the white and creamy look of an animated meringue,' a sentiment that captured the public's often-amused fascination with her appearance. Despite criticism of her novels' formulaic plots, Cartland's fans remained devoted, with many writing to her for advice and support.

Cartland's views on marriage and relationships were notably unconventional. She believed women should not have sex before marriage but famously stated, 'a man should certainly not be a virgin on his wedding night, you want one person who knows what he is doing.' This perspective, coupled with her own tumultuous romantic life, including a divorce from Alexander McCorquodale and a subsequent marriage to his cousin Hugh McCorquodale, offers a complex portrait of the author.

Her influence extended beyond her writing. Cartland was the step-grandmother of Diana, Princess of Wales, and held strong opinions on Diana's marriage to Prince Charles, advocating for their reconciliation. She also expressed concerns about the rise of Nazi Germany, channeling her impressions into her 1936 book, Dangerous Experiment. Cartland was also active in local politics, serving as a Tory on Hertfordshire County Council for nine years, and founded the National Association of Health and co-founded the Romantic Novelists' Association.

She was a proponent of vitamins and supplements, believing they could impact temperament. Furthermore, Cartland was a vocal advocate for improved care homes, better pay for midwives, and championed the cause of the Romany people, opening the country's first Romany camp, named Barbaraville. Her views on feminism, detailed in her 1965 book Woman - The Enigma, were assertive, characterizing the movement's passion as stemming from 'man-hating, embittered, sex-starved spinsters.'

Even in death, Cartland exerted control over her life's narrative. She left detailed instructions for her burial in the garden under an oak tree, complete with a Perry Como tape recording. Her granddaughter Tara recalled that even on her deathbed, Cartland seemed to be dictating a new novel, her mind still immersed in stories.

The biography, 'The Great Dictator: A Life of Barbara Cartland,' is published by Hodder & Stoughton. Tours of Camfield Place are also available for those wishing to experience the enduring charm of her former home.