A Woman of Substance [Mass Market Paperback]

Barbara Taylor Bradford (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 27, 2004

From New York Times bestselling author Barbara Taylor Bradford comes a triumphant novel of an unforgettable woman

Determined to rise above all that she has ever known, a young and impoverished Emma Harte embarks on a journey first of survival, then of unimaginable achievement. Driven to succeed, the iron-willed Emma parlays a small shop into the world's greatest department store and an international business empire: Harte Enterprises.

Unhappily married twice, loving only the one man she can never marry, personal happiness eludes her. Harte Enterprises, the realization of her grand dreams, is her all: her heart, her soul, her life. When those closest to her threaten to destroy her empire through their greed and envy, Emma brilliantly outwits her enemies. She wreaks her devastating revenge on those who would betray her in a way only she knows how.

Drawing us into the mesmerizing life of a remarkable woman who dared to seize a dream and was willing to pay any price to make it come true, Barbara Taylor Bradford's deeply involving novel is a celebration of an indomitable spirit.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A wonderfully entertaining novel." -- The Denver Post

"A wonderfully entertaining novel."

-- -- The Denver Post

From the Back Cover

A celebration of an indomitable spirit, here is New York Times bestselling author Barbara Taylor Bradford's dazzling saga of a woman who dared to dream-and to triumph against all odds...

A WOMAN'S AMBITION...
In the brooding moors above a humble Yorkshire village stood Fairley Hall. There, Emma Harte, its oppressed but resourceful servant girl, acquired a shrewd determination. There, she honed her skills, discovered the meaning of treachery, learned to survive, to become a woman,
and vowed to make her mark on the world.

A JOURNEY OF A LIFETIME...
In the wake of tragedy she rose from poverty to magnificent wealth as the iron-willed force behind a thriving international enterprise. As one of the richest women in the world Emma Harte
has almost everything she fought so hard to achieve-save for the dream of love,
and for the passion of the one man she could never have.

A DREAM FULFILLED-AND AVENGED.
Through two marriages, two devastating wars, and generations of secrets, Emma's unparalleled success has come with a price. As greed, envy, and revenge consume those closest to her, the brilliant matriarch now finds herself poised to outwit her enemies, and to face the
betrayals of the past with the same ingenious resolve that forged her empire.

"A long, satisfying novel of money, power, passion and revenge, set against the sweep of 20th century history."
--Los Angeles Times

"A wonderfully entertaining novel."
--Denver Post

--This text refers to an alternate Mass Market Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 928 pages
• Publisher: HarperTorch (July 27, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061008079
• ISBN-13: 978-0061008078
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (60 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #365,251 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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

46 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why Did I Wait So Long?, January 5, 2005

By 

Nancy R. Katz "NancyK18" (NJ) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Woman of Substance (Mass Market Paperback)

For whatever the reason, A Woman of Substance by Barbara Taylor Bradford, was one of those books which always eluded me. Trying to read it on three separate occasions I never got any further than 200 pages. But this year when my online a book list decided to read this, I was determined to persevere or as Emma Harte, the heroine of the book said at the end, "To endure" till I finished the last page. And finish it I did and found myself falling in love with not only the characters portrayed in this book but with the areas of England Ms. Bradford describes as well.

There are books we all read who give us characters we will never forget. Scarlett O'Hara from Gone With the Wind, Father Ralph and Meggie from The Thorn Birds, Ari Ben Canaan and Kitty from Exodus. And to this list I now add the name Emma Harte.

A Woman of Substance is a grand book told over close to six decades and also introduces us to the Yorkshire area of England as well as the cities of Leeds and London. And as if that wasn't enough we come to know dear friends of Emma's like Blackie and the Kallinski family as well as enemies and rivals from the Fairley family. We also come to know Emmas brothers Frank and Winston and her children and grandchildren.

Emma, through great business acumen and the will to succeed, rises from a maid in a wealthy home to own a multimillion dollar enterprise. She does this to reap revenge on her former employer and his son, two men who have little understanding of their actions and the consequences. As Emma becomes more and more successful she finds herself marrying several men but only one does she love with all her heart.

If you enjoyed books like The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly and As the Crow Flies by Jeffrey Archer, I highly suggest you read this oldie and keeper of a book. I now look forward to read the next book in this series Hold That Dream and the rest including the newest one, Unexpected Blessing, which was just published.
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'm a non-reader and couldn't put this book down., September 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A Woman of Substance (Mass Market Paperback)

I watch more TV than I read, but Barbara Taylor Bradford has changed my thinking. I specifically am searching for her books now, because "A Woman of Substance" really grabbed me.

I laughed and I cried and I was really shocked. When I got near the end of the book, I did not want the story to end.

I could really feel the friendships with Emma and Blackie. They were always there for eachother through everything. They're relationship moved me.

And the book was very inspiring for me as a woman. She didn't wimp out and kept fighting for what she wanted and what she earned.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Very Finely Told Story by Bradford-Her Best Work!, July 11, 2002

By 

J. Kirkman "book jen" (St. Petersburg, FL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Woman of Substance (Mass Market Paperback)

The "Woman of Substance," and the other sequels following it are wonderful works! The story is based upon the poor Emma, who is a poverty-stricken child, living in rags, and yet comes out of it a wonderful young adult, working her way to empireship with her store business across the country. She works her fingers to the bone to achieve her goals, is a formidable woman, and always gets what she sets out to accomplish through her relentless perserverance. A worthwhile read, and VERY HARD to put it down once you get into the story!