Mary Burchell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ida Cook
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| Born | 24 August 1904 Sunderland, England |
| Died | 22 December 1986 (aged 82) |
| Pen name | Mary Burchell |
| Occupation | Novelist |
| Nationality | British |
| Period | 1936–1985 |
| Genre | Romance |
| Notable works | The Warrender Saga |
| Relatives | Mary Louise Cook (sister) |
Ida Cook (born August 24, 1904 – died December 22, 1986) was a British writer. She was also a brave person who helped Jewish people escape danger during World War II.
Ida and her older sister, Mary Louise Cook, saved many Jewish people from the Nazis in the 1930s. They helped 29 people get to safety. Ida used money from her books to help them. In 1965, Israel honored them for their bravery. They were called Righteous among the Nations.
From 1936 to 1985, Ida wrote 112 romance novels. She used the pen name Mary Burchell. Her books were published by Mills & Boon and later by Harlequin. She also helped start the Romantic Novelists' Association. She was its second president from 1966 to 1986.
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About Ida Cook
Early Life and Interests
Ida Cook was born in Sunderland, England, on August 24, 1904. She had an older sister named Mary Louise Cook. Both sisters loved opera very much.
They went to The Duchess's Community High School. Later, they worked in London for the government. Their shared love for opera became very important in their lives.
Helping Others Escape Danger
In the 1930s, the Cook sisters traveled to Germany many times. They pretended their trips were only for opera. But they were actually helping Jewish people escape the Nazis.
They smuggled jewelry and other valuable items into England. This helped people meet the money rules for moving to Britain. They worked with an Austrian conductor, Clemens Krauss, and his wife, Viorica Ursuleac. These two had told the sisters about the terrible things happening to Jewish people.
Ida and Louise helped 29 people escape to safety. Ida used the money she earned from her writing to pay for these rescue efforts. In 1965, Yad Vashem in Israel honored the sisters. They were named British Heroes of the Holocaust in 2010.
Writing Career and Books
Ida Cook started writing romance novels in 1936. She used the name Mary Burchell. She wrote 112 books for Mills & Boon. Many of these books were later re-released by Harlequin.
One of her most famous series was The Warrender Saga. These books were about the world of opera and concerts. She often included famous operas like Otello and Carmen in her stories.
Ida believed that good romance novels could make people happy. She wrote that they could "lift the spirits" of those who were sad.
In 1950, she wrote her own story called We Followed Our Stars. This book was re-released in 2008 as Safe Passage. She also helped write the autobiography of opera singer Tito Gobbi.
Ida Cook's Legacy
In January 2017, a special memorial was put up in Sunderland. It was placed where Ida and Louise lived as children. This plaque honors their brave actions.
In 2022, a journalist named Isabel Vincent wrote a book about the Cook sisters. It was called Overture of Hope. There have also been talks about making a movie about their humanitarian work. This film would be based on Vincent's research.
The sisters' story was also shown on the TV show Mysteries at the Museum. This episode shared how they rescued Jewish people from Nazi Germany.
