’’We are each authors of our own lives. There is no way to shift the blame and no one else to accept the accolades.’’ How rightly said!! These are words of Paul Macgill in ’’Woman Of Substance’’.’’Woman of Substance’’ is written by Barbara Taylor Bradford. I did not know about her till media reported about the stalling of Rs 60 crore mega-serial of Sahara TV ’’Karaishma : A Miracle of Destiny’’. The serial was stalled because Barbara alleged that it was a plagiarized version of her novel. My curiosity got better of me and I picked up the book to read. And I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book.
Some history about the book: * The book was published in 1984. * Over 6 million copies were sold in print. * It made to the New York BestSellers List. * Denver Post declared it to be ’’wonderfully entertaining novel’’ * A miniseries was made on it which was highly rated. In 1980’s it attracted some 13.8 million viewers. Impressed, I sure was when I did some net searching. Brief outline: It is story about Emma Harte, an impoverished servant girl whose dreams of a better life lead her to become a successful business woman. She creates a millionaire departmental store and an international business empire ’’Harte enterprises’’. What stands out during reading the book and also after is , the strength of woman who dared to dream and was willing to pay price to make it come true. Every dream needs a sacrifice and Emma did sacrifice . It gives me courage to dream and to goafter it. The novel is divided into six parts. It starts with the present and then takes a trip down the memory lane. The six parts are: The Valley 1968 The Abyss 1904-1905 The Slope 1905-1910 The Plateau 1914-1917 The Pinnacle 1918-1950 The Valley 1968 The author has done credible job in capturing the the people, the emotions, the place, the environment beautifully. The descriptions are beautiful. Letme give flavor of it: ’’It was bitterly cold and a penetrating wind was blowing down from the moors, yet the sun was a golden rob in a clear cobalt sky and, under the sweep of the wind, the early March daffodils were rippling rafts of bright yellow against the clipped green lawns that rolled down to the lily pond far below the long flagged terrace. Emma drew in breath of air. It was pungent with the peaty brackenish smell of the moors, the damp earth, and budding greenness that heralded the spring after the a hard winter.’’ I could visualise the moors. I was also reminded of my English teacher who used to stress on the descriptions about the place. The feelings are captured so well. How do you feel when you see your loved one . ’’ Edwin’s face lit up when he saw her and he increased his pace. Then he was standing over her, smiling widely, his greyhish blue eyes reflecting his own obvious delight at being back again. Emma thought her heart would burst...’’ I feel the same when I see my daughter. ’’The Harte chain had been built on something as fundamental as honesty, spirited courage, patience, and sacrifice. Sacrifice. That word was held in her brain like a fly caught in amber. For indeed she had made tremendous sacrifices to achieve her unparalleled success, her great wealth, and her undeniable power in the world of international business. She had given up her youth, her family, her family life, much of her personal happiness, all ofher free time, and countless other small, frivolous yet necessary pleasure enjoyed by most women. WIth great comprehension she recognized the magnitude of her loss, as a woman, a wife and a mother. Emma let her tears flow unchecked.’’ Though the protagonist is Emma but book makes each character who comes in contact with Emma real and memeroable. Be it her father Jack Harte, her monther Elizabeth who dies, the maid , Laura, the Kallinskis, and ofcourse Blackie(Shane O Neill). Each of them contribute to the story irrespective of the length of their character. You can enjoy the beauty of Elizabeth, you can relish the brother sister relationship .You also realize how a woman has to manage different roles, that of mother, daughter, wife and a career woman. Hats off to my mother who managed them so well. The story is set in 1905 and continues till 1968. But even in 2003 it holds true and shall continue to be. The human nature does not change only situation changes. In 1910’s Jews were hated.
After 9/11 the Muslims are looked with suspicion. Why people hate..In words of Kallinski ’’ Because people are always afraid of what they do not know, what they do not understand, the unfamiliar or the different, and the fear invariably turns to hate. Unreasoned hatred that makes no sense. In these parts the Jews are hated and defiled’’. He shook his head ’’Ah, the human condition is strange , is it not? There are some people who hate for no reason at all. They just simply hate. They dp not realize that their unjustified hatred inevitably turns inward to destroy the, . Yes it is self destructive in the long run. His words spoken so sadly and without rancor, pierced Emma’s brain and touched her so profoundly she felt a sharp stab of pain near her heart’’ And so did I. I enjoyed the book so much that I read it sequels ’’Hold the Dream’’ and ’’To be the best’’ also. I am treasuring this book to pass on to my daughter.