Romance novels go online

Barbara Cartland was made a Dame in 1991

The novels of prolific romantic writer Dame Barbara Cartland are to be made available for download from the internet.

A download subscription club will launch on Wednesday, giving access to audio volumes of her work.

Cartland: Translated into 36 languages

The club will feature all of Dame Barbara's works including 160 previously unpublished manuscripts.

Dame Barbara, who died in May 2000, wrote about 23 books a year, championing romantic love, virginity before marriage and supporting women staying in the home.

Members will get permission to download up to 12 audio books a year for an annual fee of £100.

The service will be available from the writer's official website.

Sentimental

The daughter of an Army officer, Barbara Cartland published her first novel, Jigsaw, when she was 21, and it ran into five editions.

Her books were mainly straightforward love stories, often sentimental and without literary pretension, but with huge followings.

She wrote more than 720 books during her 78-year career.

Her novels have been translated into 36 languages, selling more than one billion copies.

In 1991 she became a Dame of the Order of the British Empire for her contribution to literature and her work for humanitarian and charitable causes.

Dame Barbara was active in many spheres - she was a Conservative county councillor, organised exhibitions and did work for the St John Ambulance and the Royal College of Midwives.

She also carried on a vigorous campaign on behalf of gypsies.

The child of her first marriage became the Countess of Dartmouth, and later Lady Spencer - stepmother to the Princess of Wales.