Blue plaque honouring Leeds 'literary powerhouse' Barbara Taylor Bradford unveiled at Armley Library

The blue plaque paying tribute to the bestselling novelist and former Yorkshire Evening Post journalist will be placed at Armley Library, where she spent countless hours in her younger years nurturing her love of literature.

The blue plaque was unveiled this afternoon (February 26) by H.E. Vicki Downey and W. Randall Jones, trustees of The Barbara Taylor Bradford Trust, and award-winning actress Brenda Blethyn OBE.

Guests included The Lord Mayor of Leeds Dan Cohen, local dignitaries, Channel 4 executives, and the writers of the new adaptation of Barbara Taylor Bradford’s 32 million-selling debut novel A Woman of Substance, which is due to be broadcast next month and starring Ms Blethyn.

The plaque itself will be placed outside of the library and reads: “This international bestselling author nurtured her love of books in this library. From her beginnings as a Yorkshire Evening Post reporter, she rose to become a literary powerhouse. Her debut novel, A Woman Of Substance, was her greatest success with over 30 million copies sold worldwide. 1933 - 2024.”

Among those who paid tribute were the Lord Mayor of Leeds Dan Cohen, who described the event as an “absolutely momentous occasion for the city”.

He described her as a “true daughter of Leeds” and said that his mother was a “Barbara Taylor Bradford fanatic”, adding: “There was no way I was not going to come today.”

Barbara Taylor Bradford’s connection to Armley Library is deeply personal. As a young reader, she spent countless hours there, so devoted that she famously held two library cards to double her borrowing limit. It was within these walls that her gift for storytelling was nurtured, laying the foundation for her remarkable career.

Born and raised in Leeds, Barbara Taylor left school at 15 for the typing pool at the YEP. At 16, she became a reporter on the paper and, at 18, its first Woman’s Editor.

‘A real pioneer’

Laura Collins, editor of the Yorkshire Evening Post, said: "We are incredibly proud of our association with Barbara Taylor Bradford. She was a real pioneer in inspiring generations of women through her tales of empowerment.

"She joined our newspaper in the typing pool and went on to become the first women's editor. She really blazed a trail for many female journalists - including myself - with her determination and tenacity.

"And yet after her international stardom she never forgot her roots right here in the city that shaped her."

Aged 20, she moved to London and became a columnist and editor on Fleet Street. She later met and married Robert Bradford, a Hollywood film producer. The couple made their home in Manhattan, while she maintained close ties to the UK, returning frequently throughout her life.

Her first novel, A Woman of Substance, was published in 1979 and tells the story of Emma Harte and the machinations and intrigue of a family retail empire. It took the world by storm, rising from bestseller to super-seller within its first year and remaining on the New York Times list for 43 weeks. It is ranked among the top ten bestselling works of fiction of all time, with more than 32 million copies sold to date.

Described as the “grand dame of blockbusters” and “Queen of the family saga genre”, Barbara wrote 40 novels during her lifetime, all international bestsellers. Ninety-two million copies of her books have been sold to date, published in 40 languages and in more than 90 countries.

She died aged 91 in November 2024, peacefully at home and “surrounded by her loved ones”.

Today’s event coincides with Channel 4’s Yorkshire premiere of the new television adaptation of A Woman of Substance, which stars Brenda Blethyn OBE and Jessica Reynolds in the title role. On TV screens in March, the drama series is set to bring Barbara’s compelling story of ambition, love and resilience to a new generation of viewers.

The premiere underscores her lasting impact on literature and popular culture, highlighting the continued relevance of her work and the enduring appeal of her characters, whose stories have captured hearts around the world for decades.