Novelist (91) and distinguished author remembered for their remarkable legacies
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The million-selling novelist, whose tales of ambitious women resonated with readers worldwide, passed away at 91.
Her journey from a working-class family in Leeds to becoming one of the world's most successful authors is a story of substance, mirroring the tenacity of her characters.
The Australian literary and academic community is also mourning the sudden loss of a distinguished author and advocate for social justice.
She passed away after a prolonged battle with chronic health issues, including the debilitating effects of 'long COVID'.
Barbara Taylor Bradford's literary career began in 1979 with the publication of her debut novel, A Woman of Substance.
This book set the stage for Bradford's prolific writing life.
Bradford produced nearly a book a year, captivating audiences with her narratives of women striving for success against the odds.
Her novels, translated into 40 languages and sold over 90 million copies globally, often explore love, power, and resilience themes in a male-dominated society.
Her favourite among her works was The Women In His Life, a story inspired by her husband's escape from the Nazis.
Bradford's life was as rich and full as her novels; she was married for 56 years to German-born film producer Robert Bradford, who passed away in 2019.
Born in Leeds, West Yorkshire, Bradford's passion for storytelling was evident from an early age.
At just 16, she left school to pursue journalism, a decision that went against her parents' wishes but set her on the path to literary stardom.
Her career spanned various roles, including fashion editor of Woman's Own Magazine and columnist for the London Evening News. However, her dream was always to write novels.
A Woman of Substance became a bestseller. It tells the multi-generational saga of Emma Harte, a retail baron whose life and struggles Bradford felt closely mirrored her own.
The book's success led to several sequels and a 1984 television miniseries, further cementing Bradford's place in the pantheon of great storytellers.
Bradford's writing routine was a testament to her discipline and dedication to her craft.
She would start at 6 am on her IBM Lexmark typewriter, break at 1 pm, and continue until 6 pm.
Bradford adapted well to her midlife fortune, living in a luxurious Manhattan apartment, collecting Impressionist art, and enjoying the finer things in life, such as pink champagne served by her Moroccan butler.
Her home, which she eventually sold to actress Uma Thurman.
In 2007, Queen Elizabeth II awarded her an OBE (The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) for her contributions to literature.
Her fame was such that in 1999, her image graced a postage stamp, a rare honour for a living author.
Her legacy is also marked by the fascinating people she encountered.
Bradford befriended Sean Connery before his rise to fame as James Bond and had a memorable encounter with a young Peter O'Toole, who would later become a celebrated actor.
Jenny Seagrove, who starred as the young Emma Harte in the television adaptation of A Woman of Substance, remembered Bradford as a 'powerhouse of glamour and warmth' and a 'force of nature.'
She noted that Bradford's success always supported her ability to connect with people from all walks of life, from cleaners to royalty.
Credit: YouTube
Meanwhile, the circumstances of Gemma Carrey’s death are not suspicious, but a coroner's report is expected to provide further details.
It has been reported that Professor Carey had explored the option of voluntary assisted dying (VAD) after being informed that she might be suffering from long COVID-19.
She had previously shared her journey of overcoming trauma in her memoir, No Matter Our Wreckage.
She detailed her experiences with Guillain-Barre Syndrome—an autoimmune disorder that attacks the nervous system—and the harrowing sexual abuse she endured as a child.
Her courage in confronting these challenges head-on was evident when, at the age of 17, she took her abuser to court, resulting in their placement on the child sex offenders register.
Despite her health challenges, Professor Carey returned to work in mid-2024.
In 2021, Professor Carey reported sustaining a serious injury from the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, which she described as causing 'functional stroke' symptoms.
'Every fine nerve fibre in my body became inflamed,' she recounted.
The resulting injuries were significant, necessitating extensive rehabilitation for her to regain essential functions such as reading, writing, and speaking.
As she grappled with the long-term effects of her condition, Professor Carey became an outspoken advocate for a vaccine injury compensation scheme.
Unfortunately, her advocacy also made her the target of online harassment, which became so severe that she took a leave of absence from both social media and her professional duties.
The loss of Professor Gemma Carey is a stark reminder of the unpredictable and often cruel nature of chronic illnesses like COVID-19.
Her legacy, however, is one of resilience and determination to make the world more just and compassionate.
She leaves behind her husband and a community that admired her for her tenacity and her contributions to social impact research.
Reflecting on Professor Carey's life and the battles she fought so bravely, we are reminded of the importance of supporting one another through life's most challenging moments.
We remember their extraordinary legacies as we bid farewell to Barbara Taylor Bradford and Professor Gemma Carey.
May they both rest in peace.
Her journey from a working-class family in Leeds to becoming one of the world's most successful authors is a story of substance, mirroring the tenacity of her characters.
The Australian literary and academic community is also mourning the sudden loss of a distinguished author and advocate for social justice.
She passed away after a prolonged battle with chronic health issues, including the debilitating effects of 'long COVID'.
Barbara Taylor Bradford's literary career began in 1979 with the publication of her debut novel, A Woman of Substance.
This book set the stage for Bradford's prolific writing life.
Bradford produced nearly a book a year, captivating audiences with her narratives of women striving for success against the odds.
Renowned novelist Barbara Taylor Bradford, known for her bestseller A Woman of Substance, was lost at age 91. Credit: Facebook
Her novels, translated into 40 languages and sold over 90 million copies globally, often explore love, power, and resilience themes in a male-dominated society.
Her favourite among her works was The Women In His Life, a story inspired by her husband's escape from the Nazis.
Bradford's life was as rich and full as her novels; she was married for 56 years to German-born film producer Robert Bradford, who passed away in 2019.
Born in Leeds, West Yorkshire, Bradford's passion for storytelling was evident from an early age.
At just 16, she left school to pursue journalism, a decision that went against her parents' wishes but set her on the path to literary stardom.
Her career spanned various roles, including fashion editor of Woman's Own Magazine and columnist for the London Evening News. However, her dream was always to write novels.
A Woman of Substance became a bestseller. It tells the multi-generational saga of Emma Harte, a retail baron whose life and struggles Bradford felt closely mirrored her own.
The book's success led to several sequels and a 1984 television miniseries, further cementing Bradford's place in the pantheon of great storytellers.
Bradford's writing routine was a testament to her discipline and dedication to her craft.
She would start at 6 am on her IBM Lexmark typewriter, break at 1 pm, and continue until 6 pm.
Bradford adapted well to her midlife fortune, living in a luxurious Manhattan apartment, collecting Impressionist art, and enjoying the finer things in life, such as pink champagne served by her Moroccan butler.
Her home, which she eventually sold to actress Uma Thurman.
In 2007, Queen Elizabeth II awarded her an OBE (The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) for her contributions to literature.
Her fame was such that in 1999, her image graced a postage stamp, a rare honour for a living author.
Her legacy is also marked by the fascinating people she encountered.
Bradford befriended Sean Connery before his rise to fame as James Bond and had a memorable encounter with a young Peter O'Toole, who would later become a celebrated actor.
Jenny Seagrove, who starred as the young Emma Harte in the television adaptation of A Woman of Substance, remembered Bradford as a 'powerhouse of glamour and warmth' and a 'force of nature.'
She noted that Bradford's success always supported her ability to connect with people from all walks of life, from cleaners to royalty.
Credit: YouTube
Meanwhile, the circumstances of Gemma Carrey’s death are not suspicious, but a coroner's report is expected to provide further details.
It has been reported that Professor Carey had explored the option of voluntary assisted dying (VAD) after being informed that she might be suffering from long COVID-19.
She had previously shared her journey of overcoming trauma in her memoir, No Matter Our Wreckage.
Professor Gemma Carey, an Australian author and academic, has been lost after a long battle with COVID and other health issues. Credit: Facebook
She detailed her experiences with Guillain-Barre Syndrome—an autoimmune disorder that attacks the nervous system—and the harrowing sexual abuse she endured as a child.
Her courage in confronting these challenges head-on was evident when, at the age of 17, she took her abuser to court, resulting in their placement on the child sex offenders register.
Despite her health challenges, Professor Carey returned to work in mid-2024.
In 2021, Professor Carey reported sustaining a serious injury from the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, which she described as causing 'functional stroke' symptoms.
'Every fine nerve fibre in my body became inflamed,' she recounted.
The resulting injuries were significant, necessitating extensive rehabilitation for her to regain essential functions such as reading, writing, and speaking.
As she grappled with the long-term effects of her condition, Professor Carey became an outspoken advocate for a vaccine injury compensation scheme.
Unfortunately, her advocacy also made her the target of online harassment, which became so severe that she took a leave of absence from both social media and her professional duties.
The loss of Professor Gemma Carey is a stark reminder of the unpredictable and often cruel nature of chronic illnesses like COVID-19.
Her legacy, however, is one of resilience and determination to make the world more just and compassionate.
She leaves behind her husband and a community that admired her for her tenacity and her contributions to social impact research.
Reflecting on Professor Carey's life and the battles she fought so bravely, we are reminded of the importance of supporting one another through life's most challenging moments.
May they both rest in peace.
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