Mary Burchell

Ida Cook ( * 1904 in Sunderland, United Kingdom, † 22 December 1986 ) was a novelist and continued during the period of National Socialism for a Jewish refugees. Under the pseudonym Mary Burchell, she published more than 125 romance novels.

Together with her sister Mary Louise Cook helped Ida Cook in the 1930s when Jews fleeing the Nazis. The sisters thus saved 29 people, mainly financed by Ida's literary activity. The Cook sisters were honored for it as a " Righteous Among the Nations " by the Israeli Yad Vashem Martyrs and Heroes Remembrance Authority.

Ida Cook was born in 1904 in Sunderland, England, United Kingdom. Together with her older sister Mary Louise (1901-1991), she attended the Duchess ' School in Alnwick and later worked in public service. The two sisters have developed a passionate interest in the opera. In the 1930s, she went to visit Germany, where she traveled around as a fanatical opera fans everywhere to see their favorite singer. When they returned to England, she smuggled valuables into the country, it is Jews who wanted to escape from Germany made ​​it possible to demonstrate financial securities, so that they could meet the UK immigration conditions. Mary- Louise and Ida Cook worked there with the Austrian conductor Clemens Krauss and his wife, the soprano Viorica Ursuleac, together, they met on their trip to Germany and they had informed about the persecution of Jews in Germany. Powered by Ida's literary activity, the sisters were able to rescue 29 people in this way. In 1964 she was honored by Israel as Righteous Among the Nations.

Writing career

1936 published Ida Cook as Mary Burchell her first romance novels. Throughout her career, more than 125 of her novels have been published by Mills & Boon (new they appear at Harlequin Books ), including the famous Warrender Saga, a series of novels, set in the world of opera. Under the pseudonym James Keene Cook wrote (also known as Will Cook and Frank Peace ) several Western together with the author William Everett Cook. Ida Cook was co-founder and long years and President of the Romantic Novelists ' Association ( trade association for the writer of romance novels ). 1950 Ida Cook wrote her autobiography We Followed Our Stars, which was reissued under the title Safe Passage 2008.