Barbara Taylor Bradford is a British author known for her bestselling novels, many of which focus on strong female characters and themes of resilience and ambition. She was born on May 10, 1933, in Leeds, England, and began her career as a journalist before transitioning to fiction writing. Her debut novel, A Woman of Substance, published in 1979, became an international success and established her as a prominent writer. Over the years, Bradford has published numerous novels, many of which have been adapted into television miniseries, further solidifying her reputation in popular literature.