Emma Harte is the owner of retail empire and one of the richest woman in the world.

Rising from a humble beginning as a servant in rural Yorkshire, Emma's fate change when he falls in love with the son of the manor and fell pregnant and the said son (named Edwin) refused to take responsibility.

What starts as owning one shop as a mean of survival, soon develop into two, three and in few years expanding into an empire.

Though her business expanded beyond her wildest dream, her personal life is in the other end of the spectrum. She married three times, having children and grand children that keep bickering and waiting for her to die for her inheritance.

This is honestly one of the BEST books I have ever read, and I am an avid reader.
It tells the story of one woman's entire life, which might not sound all that entertaining but it was absolutely riveting. I loved the language at the beginning of the book and then watching that language develop with the main character's education and with the progression of time. The characters were the sort that you will not be able to shake, it is a powerful and impactful book that you will not soon forget. Take the time to read this, in my opinion it should be a classic.

I chose my daughter's name, Janessa, from a character in this book over 25 years ago. I still love this story.

Навремето много ме беше впечатлила - в разпадащо се издание и нескопосан превод, дано сега да е оправено. Edit: Бард са оставили стария превод, ужасно некомпетентно от тяхна страна!

Познатата история на красивото, но желязно и умно момиче от низините, превземащо с щурм бизнеса, обществото и мъжките сърца. Хареса ми, че героинята беше доста човешки представена, плати си цената за чуждите и своите грешки, както и за нравите на епохата, хареса ми и плавния ход на историческите събития от началото до късния 20 век, преплетени в сюжета. Успехът винаги идва с цена - пропусната любов, вечни битки, неспирен къртовски труд, неприятни компромиси, отчуждени близки. Както се казва, вече не пишат такива книги :)

Може да си я опресня за лятото. Имаше и хубав сериал по книгата. Продълженията не струват.

I can remember reading this book when I was a very young and impressionable girl. Emma Harte became my personal hero. I so admired her strength...how she climbed out of poverty and being wronged by a man. That she grew an empire with her wit and determination inspired me to become my own Woman of Substance. I never became as rich as Emma Harte, but this book has stuck in my memory. I think this story left a very deep impression on me. Emma Harte epitomizes a lot of my youth. I never grew as rich as she did, by any means. It was her determination and spirit that I admired. She's the kind of protagonist that I seek in any book that I read. In my own life, I would say I have a lot of perseverance, and very little patience with women who play the "victim". I admire women who have a positive "I can do this" attitude, and that is what I strive to be. Gosh, it's been 40 years since I've read this book, and it still sticks with me!

Livre des années 70, donc qui date un peu mais qui divertie quand même.

Another reread for me, and one that certainly stands the test of time - delightful!

I think this is the first grown up book I read. I recall reading it in bed when I was having a sleepover at my aunts and uncles house when my parents were away. If I needed babysitting perhaps I was too young to be reading this?! I do want to re-read this though. Those were the days of reading whenever and however. Nice to reminisce. I wonder if this is like Danielle Steele?! Which I do like of course!

I have given other books 5 stars in the past, but this one TRULY deserves it. My mother read this book when it first came out in the late 70's and she still says it was one of her favorite books. She has told me a few times over the years to read it and I always read something different - thinking that a book that was almost as old as I am couldn't possibly be worth the time. I was wrong. However, you aren't going to find a Kindle edition and you're not going to find it in the book section at BJ's, you'll have to get it out of the library - which I hadn't done in years. It's a wonderful book full of history and generations of family with money, power and revenge all mixed together. Head to your local library and find it! It's super long but reads fast and you'll find you can't put it down!

I flat out, wholeheartedly love this book. Both the plucky Emma Hart and the sweep of 50 years of history make this a leap-from-the-pages saga. Emma's battle from poverty to high-powered business woman is a dramatic, sensational story and Bradford's prose captures Yorkshire in gorgeously. Anyone who loves a big, breathtaking story will love this. (Also, it's the best of the bunch. Hold the Dream isn't nearly as good, nor are any if its other sequels)

Barbara Taylor Bradford, Author of "A Woman of Substance" has written a captivating, intriguing, intense, thought-provoking and memorable novel. The Genres for this novel are Historical Fiction, Fiction, and Romance.  The timeline for this story is mostly in the twentieth century, through two wars, and many relationships. The story takes place in Yorkshire, to America, Australia, and other countries. The author describes her characters as complex and complicated. Emma Harte is determined, courageous, intelligent and vengeful.

Around 1905, Emma Harte has reason to hate the wealthy Fairley family. Emma is a 16-year-old maid, who has to leave Fairley Hall, pregnant and single. She is determined to be powerful, and do what it takes in a predominantly all-male business to have the wealth and means to get ahead. Emma works hours sewing and doing many things biding her time.

Barbara Taylor Bradford has is an amazing storyteller and I love the way she vividly describes her characters, their actions, their landscape through her writing. I found that "A Woman of Substance " was so intoxicating and entertaining, that I had difficulty putting this down. 

Emma works against all odds to become a "Woman of Substance", and I enjoyed every moment that she accomplished her goals. I would highly recommend this amazing novel for those readers that enjoy a full-bodied, and thought-provoking novel.

This was a reread for me and I probably loved it as much as I did first time round, just with a reassessment of the lead character. Emma Harte, great at business, terrible mother! No surprise it started and ended as it did. However, great fun read with a few questionable comments which h are of the time that you will need to get past.