To Be the Best [Hardcover]

Barbara Taylor Bradford (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Grafton (1997)
• ISBN-10: 0246129832
• ISBN-13: 978-0246129833
• ASIN: B001KTVCMK
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)

More About the Author

BARBARA TAYLOR BRADFORD

Barbara Taylor Bradford, OBE is one of the world's best loved storytellers. Her 1979 debut novel, A Woman of Substance, ranks as one of the top-ten bestselling books of all-time, with more than 30 million copies in print. All 25 of her novels to date have been major worldwide bestsellers. Her 26th book, Playing The Game, will be published on October 12th by St. Martin's Press.

Bradford was born in Leeds, West Yorkshire (UK) as the only child of Freda and Winston Taylor. She grew up in the Leeds suburb of Armley and after Town Street Church of England School worked in the typing pool at the Yorkshire Evening Post before going into journalism. By the age of twenty she was the fashion editor of Woman's Own Magazine and an editor and columnist on Fleet Street for the London Evening News.

Bradford's books have sold more than eighty-two (82) million copies worldwide in more than ninety (90) countries and forty (40) languages. Ten (10) of her books have been made into miniseries and television movies, making her one of the best-selling authors over the last 30 years.

In April of 2003, Mrs. Bradford was inducted into the Writers Hall of Fame of America alongside Mark Twain, Langston Hughes and Dr. Seuss. She was awarded an OBE by Queen Elizabeth II in the Queen's 2007 Birthday Honours list for her contributions to literature. Her original manuscripts are archived at the Brotherton Library at Leeds University, alongside the works of the Bronte sisters. In 2009, Barbara's publishers began a worldwide 30th anniversary celebration of A Woman of Substance. The first annual Woman of Substance Awards took place on September 10th 2009 at the Dorchester Hotel in London. She lives in New York City with her husband, of 43 years, television producer Robert Bradford.

Her official website is: www.barbarataylorbradford.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great Harte family read, November 5, 2004

By 

K. Morgan (United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: To Be the Best (Mass Market Paperback)

To Be The Best is the third book in the Emma Harte saga. This book focuses on the grandchildren of the late Emma Harte. The grandchildren are all grown up and trying to live their lives the best way possible to please the memory of their beloved grandmother Emma. This book dedicates time to each of the more prominent grandchildren: Paula, Phillip, Emily, Alexander, Anthony, and Jonathan. This book doesn't have much about Emma's children in it except for her daughter Daisy.

I found this book very interesting and was glad I didn't pass it by due to the other two reviews that were written about it. This book does jump from place to place but that is because Emma's grandchildren live in different places and travel because of their careers. Some of the past is relived but this is so someone who hasn't read the two previous books will understand a little bit better what is going on and why it is happening. There is sadness in this book but life isn't always happy and this book is written to reflect the lives in a most true (if somewhat exaggerated) sense.

This book was a wonderful read for anyone that has read the two previous books in the trilogy. It updates you on the lives of the Hartes, O'Neill's, and Kallinski's. I think this was an easy book to read and was well written. It has all the characters I had grown to like and some I'd grown to dislike from the earlier books and also some new characters to keep the book fresh and interesting.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who has read A Woman of Substance and Hold the Dream. I would suggest that anyone wanting to read To Be The Best read the other books first to get a feeling for the characters and their lives. This is most definitely a five star read!

5.0 out of 5 stars To Be The Best by Barbara Taylor Bradford, October 17, 2011

By 

B. L. Patterson-Fritts (Payson, AZ) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: To Be the Best (Mass Market Paperback)

The book arrived in a timely manner, in good conditions and I got too busy to read it just yet. Barbara

5.0 out of 5 stars Great!!! Gives hope and courage!!!, April 15, 2010

By 

Elenizafiropoulou "Book worm" (Evia,Greece) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: To Be the Best (Mass Market Paperback)

I have read "Emma's stories" time and again and each time is equally enchanting. They always give me a renewed feeling of hope and courage!!!! I highly recommend them to all!!!! Well done!!!!