Barbara Cartland Biography Explores Prolific Novelist's Life

Matthew Sweet's biography, "The Great Dictator," provides an in-depth and compassionate examination of the life of Barbara Cartland, the exceptionally prolific romantic novelist. Cartland was renowned for her unique writing process, which involved dictating her novels. She would recline on a library couch, often with her Pekingese dog nearby, and verbally narrate stories featuring themes of virginal girls and noblemen like dukes, airmen, or surgeons. A dedicated scribe, chosen for their ability to remain still and quiet, would meticulously transcribe her words using Pitman shorthand. Cartland estimated her daily output at 8,000 words, enabling her to complete the typescript for an 80,000-word novel in just two weeks. During her most productive periods, she published an astounding 23 books annually, accumulating a total of 723 novels over her career. Her lifetime sales reached an impressive 750 million copies, a figure surpassed only by Agatha Christie and William Shakespeare.

Beyond her literary output, Cartland exerted a powerful influence over her personal life and surroundings. The biography highlights her dictatorial nature, extending to her husbands, pets, residences, and interactions with the local council, all of whom were expected to comply with her unyielding will. Sweet suggests that any form of resistance or opposition was deemed futile. In one notable anecdote, the managing director of her publishing company, who also declared himself deeply in love with her, recommended she read Nietzsche, perceiving commonalities in their ideas. This portrayal contrasts with her public persona, which was characterized by a "marshmallowy exterior"—described as being adorned with pink chiffon, candyfloss-colored hair, and soft, indistinct features—revealing an underlying strength and determination, likened to "sinews of high-tensile steel."

The biography delves into the multifaceted personality of Barbara Cartland, exploring the dichotomy between her gentle, romantic literary creations and her formidable personal demeanor. Sweet's work aims to capture the essence of a woman who, despite her seemingly delicate appearance and the nature of her romantic tales, possessed an iron will and an extraordinary capacity for work. The book examines how she navigated the literary world and her personal relationships, maintaining control and influence throughout her life. The narrative likely explores the societal context in which Cartland operated, her impact on popular culture, and the enduring legacy of her vast body of work. The title, "The Great Dictator," serves as a provocative yet fitting descriptor for a figure who commanded such authority in both her professional and personal spheres, challenging conventional perceptions of romantic novelists.