Barbara Cartland

British author of hundreds of books on philosophy, history, sociology, cooking, drama, verse and autobiographies - but primarily, romance novels. She was given credit by Guinness as the most prolific author alive whose output came to an amazing 723 books, selling more than a billion copies worldwide. Cartland put out a novel a week, often dictating to secretaries while reclining on a chaise lounge. In 1991, Queen Elizabeth II made her a Dame.

Cartland was the daughter of an army major, raised as a pampered darling along with her two brothers. After finishing school, she wrote newspaper gossip columns before publishing her first novel, "Jigsaw," in 1922. Since then she gained the title of "the queen of romance novels," creating virginal heroines in swashbuckling adventure plots.

Always pictured in a cloud of pink with big hair or fanciful hats, often with pearls, Cartland was an image of post-Victorian glamour. She married wealthy Scotsman Alexander McCorquodale in 1927; (their one daughter, Raine, later became the step-mother of Princess Diana.) Six years later she had a wrenching divorce but recovered remarkably to marry her ex's cousin, Hugh McCorquodale in 1936. They had two sons and remained wed as happily as her heroines until his death in 1963. The two boys, Ian and Glen, ran the business and researched Cartland's books.

Cartland was outspoken in her support of various charities. An ardent fan of healthy living, she was well-known for her belief in vitamins and various health foods, as well as fitness for senior citizens. Her regimen worked well for her, keeping her fit to the age of 98. She died in her sleep at her 400-acre-estate in Hertfordshire, England on 21 May 2000.