Ida Cook, also writing as Mary Burchell, was an author who delved into the complexities of human relationships and character psychology. Her works are characterized by a profound insight into emotions and motivations. With a keen eye for detail and a narrative flair, Cook immersed her readers in worlds rich with love, loss, and personal growth. Her writing style is often noted for its sensitivity and perceptiveness, leaving a lasting impression on those who engage with her stories.
Focusing on the courage of two sisters, this memoir offers a poignant historical narrative set against the backdrop of World War II. It captures their resilience and determination as they navigate the challenges of a tumultuous time, providing a unique perspective on a pivotal moment in history. The account not only highlights personal bravery but also sheds light on the broader human experience during one of the darkest periods.
'A breathtaking story' Daily Mail 'Extraordinary' The Telegraph on the Cook sisters Desperate circumstances can cause ordinary women to achieve extraordinary things.
Gala opera evenings. Sudden wealth and fame. Dangerous undercover missions into the heart of Nazi Germany. Standing up to the perils of the Blitz. No one would have predicted such glamorous and daring lives for Ida and Louise Cook—two decidedly ordinary Englishwomen who came of age between the wars and seemed destined never to stray from their quiet London suburb and comfortable civil service jobs. But in 1923 a chance hearing of an aria from Madame Butterfly sparked a passion in the sisters that became a vehicle for both their greatest happiness and the rescue of dozens of Jews facing persecution and death. Safe Passage is one of the most unusual and inspiring accounts to come out of the cataclysm of World War II. First published in 1950, Ida's memoir of the adventures she and Louise shared remains as fresh, vital and entertaining as the woman who wrote it. The Cook sisters' zest for life and genuine "goodness" shines through every page and explains why the leading opera singers of their day befriended and loved them. Even when Ida began to earn thousands as a successful romance novelist, the sisters never departed from their homespun virtues of thrift, hard work, self-sacrifice and unwavering moral conviction. They sewed their own clothes, traveled third class, bought the cheapest tickets during opera season and directed every spare resource, as well as their own considerable courage and ingenuity, toward saving as many people as they could from Hitler's death camps. Uplifting and utterly charming, Safe Passage is moving testimony to all that can be achieved when conscience and compassion are applied to a collapsing world.