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Emma Harte was born into poverty and like the generations before her, was expected to stay there. She was determined to rise above her station in life in order to prove to all those who doubted her, that she could become one of the richest women in the world.
Her vast empire of textiles and the world’s largest department store chain, Harte Enterprises, is under attack by those she least expected. Her children are secretly plotting against her, to wrest control of Harte Enterprises from her, as well as other aspects of her vast empire. Thanks to her faithful secretary, Emma learns of her children’s deceit and devises a plan to prove once and for all, that she is indeed a woman not to be reckoned with. Yet even as she plots against her own, she reflects on her struggle from gutter snipe to tycoon, and ponders if all her sacrifices were the right ones or if her choices in life led her to this point.
A WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE embodies the human struggle to better our station in life. Emma is a strong and determined character yet I found it hard to sympathize with her. She’s obviously made great strides in her life and found great wealth, but I couldn’t help and think of the phrase “It’s lonely at the top”. The shear size of the book in paperback is daunting and I thought I would have to be a woman of substance to read the 900 plus pages. Barbara Taylor Bradford is a wonderful author and writes descriptions and background information so that the reader almost feels like your there in the book. There are places in the book where constant background information overpowers any dialogue and I found myself quickly loosing interest. A WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE is a worth-while read as it showcases why Ms. Bradford is a best-selling author, and even though it takes time to get through it, it’s still one you don’t want to miss.
Reviewed by Tina Burns for The Road to Romance
December 6, 2004
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