Barbara Cartland dies

An eye for romance: Dame Barbara with Douglas Fairbank Jnr

British romantic novelist Barbara Cartland has died just two months away from her 99th birthday.

She passed away peacefully in her sleep after a short illness, said her son Ian McCorquodale.

She was a profilic writer

"She had a wonderful life," he said. "I think that she will be remembered as a writer of wonderful romance books that brought so much joy to so many people.

"She lived a full and fulfilling life, which touched many people around the world."

Dame Barbara, whose daughter, Raine was the stepmother of Diana, Princess of Wales, was one of the world's most successful authors.

She was known as the Queen of Romance, writing 723 books with estimated worldwide sales of one billion copies in 36 languages.

A novel a fortnight

On average, she wrote a novel each fortnight and appeared in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's most prolific novelist.

It was only the onset of illness in October which forced her to reduce her workload.

Dressed in pink chiffon and adorned with enormous false eyelashes, she dictated her stories to a secretary.

She was a character who was larger than life and a legend in her own time

Ian McCorquodale
Son

She wrote about pure love with no sex and a happy ending where the beautiful, innocent heroine and the tall handsome hero got married and lived happily ever after.

Dame Barbara had two sons and a daughter, six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Mr McCorquodale said: "She was always available for love and counsel for them all.

"She was a character who was larger than life and a legend in her own time.

"Her style, glamour and vitality can never be repeated and she will always be remembered for her love of pink.

"She will be sadly missed by those who knew and loved her and by her millions of fans and readers around the world."

Lord St John of Fawsley, Dame Barbara's friend for 40 years, said: "I think she added to the gaiety of the nation.

"She was scribbling away right up to the end."

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.