The Collection of Barbara Taylor Bradford

• Auction of The Collection of Barbara Taylor Bradford on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 at 10am

• Author of Forty Best-Selling Novels, Including A Woman of Substance

• Furniture, Decorations, Artwork, Jewelry, Books and Memorabilia from Her Manhattan Apartment
  
  

NEW YORK, NY -- Doyle is honored to auction the Collection of best-selling author Barbara Taylor Bradford on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 at 10am. Fans and collectors from around the world are invited to this landmark auction of furniture, decorations, artwork, jewelry, books and memorabilia from her elegant Manhattan apartment.

Barbara Taylor Bradford OBE (1933–2024): A Legacy of Strength, Storytelling, and Style

A trailblazer in both journalism and literature, Barbara Taylor Bradford’s journey from a Yorkshire newsroom to international literary acclaim is a testament to her determination, talent, and formidable work ethic. Born in Leeds, England, she began her career at 15 as a typist at the Yorkshire Evening Post, quickly rising to become the paper’s first Woman’s Page Editor at 18. After moving to London at 20, she became a prominent Fleet Street journalist, covering everything from fashion to crime, before transitioning to a syndicated column, Designing Woman, which ran in over 180 newspapers across the United States. Her passion for aesthetics also led her to author several interior design books, including The Complete Encyclopedia of Homemaking Ideas (1968) and Easy Steps to Successful Decorating (1971). Yet, it was fiction that would make her a household name.

In 1979, she published A Woman of Substance, a sweeping saga of ambition and resilience that remains one of the top ten bestselling works of fiction of all time, with over 30 million copies sold. The novel’s heroine, Emma Harte, mirrored Bradford’s own strength and independence—qualities that defined her throughout her career.

Often described as a storyteller of substance, Barbara Taylor Bradford wrote 40 novels, selling over 92 million copies worldwide, and many of her works were adapted into successful television miniseries by her Hollywood movie producer husband Robert Bradford. Her ability to craft compelling narratives of powerful women cemented her status as the “queen of family sagas” and the “grand dame of blockbusters.”

Bradford’s contributions to literature and journalism earned her numerous accolades, including the Lifetime Platinum Bestseller Award from HarperCollins and an OBE from Queen Elizabeth II for services to literature. She was also the first Ambassador for Women in Journalism and received honorary doctorates from five universities.

A lifelong devotee of the arts, Bradford’s connection to the creative world extended beyond her novels. Married for 55 years to her beloved Bob, she remained immersed in storytelling across mediums. Together, they brought ten of her books to the screen, sharing their love of powerful, compelling stories with audiences worldwide.

Even as she made New York her home, Bradford never lost her Yorkshire grit or her unwavering belief in perseverance. “I’ve always had a backbone of steel,” she once said—a sentiment that resonated in both her life and her legendary works. Her collection at DOYLE reflects a life of elegance, intellect, and artistry, offering a glimpse into the world of one of the most successful and glamorous writers of our time.