In Memory of Mary Burchell

[reviews_and_ramblings]

Mary Burchell is the pseudonym of Ida Cook (1904-December 22, 1986). She may have also written under the name James Keene. As an author for the Harlequin Romance imprint, she published 73 romance novels. She wrote seven romance novels for the Harlequin Presents imprint.

Ida Cook was born at 37 Croft Avenue, Sunderland. Together with her sister (Mary) Louise Cook (1901-1991), she rescued Jews from the Nazis during the 1930s. They had a great courage before the war in seeking out Jewish people in danger in Germany and managing to get them out of the country. They also smuggled out refugees' jewelry often at risk to themselves. On one occasion, a diamond brooch of great size was brought out by Ida wearing it quite openly on an inexpensive Marks & Spencer Jumper, thereby creating the impression that it was of no value, although its subsequent sale maintained its rightful owner for a difficult period before re­establishment in a new life. In 1965 the sisters were honoured for their rescue work and named among the 'Righteous Gentiles' in Jerusalem, thus joining Oskar Schindler among others. They had no idea they were being heroines, and disclaimed being the James Bond type.

Ida helped to found and was for many years president of the Romantic Novelist's Association.

Most of her books had an operatic or musical background and were written with great authority and style, she was definitely a cut above the average Mills & Boon writer and was prolific and popular. It only emerged years later that she turned to writing these stories to make money as she and her sister, who lived together, used all their wealth during War World II to smuggle refugees out of Europe and under the nose of the German authorities. They continued their charitable work after the war was over, hence writing these successful romances.

To read more:

http://rosaromance.splinder.com/post/19388121/

Comments

[jgraeme2007.livejournal.com]

Fascinating. My mother had all of her novels at one time!

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

When I was young I really like her books, I bought all the translated novels on her opera series. At that time I didn't know about her life. Elisa