Jack Holland (writer) facts for kids

Jack Holland (born June 4, 1947 – died May 14, 2004) was an Irish writer. He was a journalist, novelist, and poet. He became well-known for writing about "The Troubles". This was a period of conflict in his home country, Northern Ireland.

Jack Holland wrote many articles and short stories. He also published four novels and seven non-fiction books. Most of his work focused on the politics and culture of Northern Ireland. His last book was called Misogyny: The World's Oldest Prejudice. It was published after he passed away.

Early Life and Education

Jack Holland was born in Belfast after World War II. His family was working-class. For his first five years, he lived with his relatives. Their home was above Dougall's Yard on May Street. His grandfather, William Henry Holland, worked there. He was a veteran who was hurt in the Battle of the Somme.

Jack's family had both Catholic and Protestant members. His grandmother, Mary Murphy Holland, was Catholic. His grandfather was Protestant. So, Jack grew up in a "mixed" household.

He went to St. Thomas' Secondary Intermediate School. The famous writer Michael McLaverty was his headmaster. His English teacher was the poet Seamus Heaney. Jack was the first person in his family to go to university. He studied at the University of Ulster's Magee College. He also attended Trinity College, Dublin. Later, he earned a master's degree in theoretical linguistics from Essex University in England.

Jack Holland's Career

Jack Holland started his journalism career in Dublin. He worked for a weekly newspaper called Hibernia. In 1976, he worked briefly for the BBC Northern Ireland. He was a researcher for a news show called Spotlight. There, he worked with other journalists like Jeremy Paxman.

Moving to New York

In 1977, Jack moved to New York City. He moved with his American wife, Mary Hudson. She was a teacher and translator. Their daughter, Jenny Holland, also moved with them. In New York, Jack worked as a freelance journalist. He wrote for many different newspapers and magazines. His weekly column "A View North" in The Irish Echo was very popular.

In the 1990s, he taught at the New York University School of Journalism. He also worked for Channel 4 in London. He helped write a documentary called Daughters of the Troubles. This film was produced by Marcia Rock.

Impact and Influence

Jack Holland knew a lot about the political situation in Northern Ireland. His reports on the conflict were highly respected. Important leaders in Washington, London, and Dublin valued his insights. These included statesmen like Ted Kennedy and Hillary Clinton. The President of Ireland and Prime Minister of Ireland also respected his work.

Throughout his life, Jack traveled with his wife. He wrote four novels and many non-fiction books. He also published two books of poetry. His short stories appeared in magazines like Story and Glimmertrain. His writings were published in major newspapers. These included The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Boston Globe in the US. They also appeared in British and Irish publications.

He co-wrote a book about the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA). It was called INLA – Deadly Divisions. He wrote it with his cousin, Henry McDonald. This book was first published in 1994 and has been reprinted since.

Personal Life

In 1974, Jack Holland married Mary Hudson. She was an American language teacher and translator. Their daughter, Jenny Holland, was born in Dublin in 1975. In the 1980s, they lived in Brooklyn, New York. Later, they moved to Trevignano Romano in Italy, near Rome.

In the early 1990s, they returned to Belfast for a few years. Finally, they settled back in Brooklyn. They lived there until Jack passed away in 2004.

In 1997, his wife Mary earned her PhD in French. In 2004, she won an award for her translation of a book. It was Louis-Ferdinand Céline's Fable for Another Time.

Jack Holland spent his last years exploring New York with his wife. He also worked on his final book. He died from cancer at 56 years old.

Books by Jack Holland

• Too Long a Sacrifice, 1981
• The Prisoner's Wife, 1981
• Druid Time, 1986
• The American Connection, 1987
• The Fire Queen, 1992
• Walking Corpses, 1994
• INLA: Deadly Divisions, (with Henry McDonald) 1994
• Phoenix: Policing the Shadows, (with Susan Phoenix) 1996 and 2004. This book was about the Chinook helicopter crash in June 1994 in Scotland.
• Hope Against History, 1999
• Misogyny, the World's Oldest Prejudice, 2006 (published after his death)