Ida Pollock
Encyclopedia
Ida Pollock, née Crowe is a British writer of several short-stories and over a hundred romance novel
s under her married name, Ida Pollock, and under her numerous pseudonyms: Susan Barrie, Pamela Kent, Averil Ives, Anita Charles, Barbara Rowan, Jane Beaufort, Rose Burghley, Mary Whistler and Marguerite Bell. She is also an oil painter, who has been selected for inclusion in a national exhibition in 2004.
Ida and her husband Lt-Colonel Hugh Alexander Pollock DSO (1888–1971), a veteran of war, Winston Churchill
's collaborator and editor, had a daughter Rosemary Pollock
, also a romance writer. Ida's autobiography, Starlight, published on 15 November 2009, tells the story of the start of her career, her marriage, and the relation of her husband with his ex-wife Enid Blyton
.
Pollock has lived in Lanreath
, Cornwall
since 1986.
, Kent
, England, United Kingdom, she was a illegitimate daughter. Her mother began an affair with a supposed Russian Duke but, after her parents death, her mother married Arthur Crowe, an old widower. A year or so later she resumed her affair with Russian and became pregnant. The couple lived apart when Ida born, and she narrowly escaped being smothered with a pillow by the nurse who attended her birth. Her mother had a difficult time raising her and she was almost adopted by a rich uncle.
As a teenager, she travelled alone to Morocco
, after suffering a mental breakdown. Encouraged by her mother, she began to write while still at school, setting her first publication, Palanquins and coloured lanterns, in 1920's Shanghai.
At age 20, she was living with her mother in Hastings
and already had several stories in major magazines and short novels in print. She visited the George Newnes
's office in London, to sell her first full-length manuscript; and, three months later, she discovered they had lost it. After they found it, she returned to London to meet one of its editors, the 39-year-old Hugh Alexander Pollock (1888–1971), a distinguished veteran of World War I. Hugh had been married since 1924 to his second wife, the popular children's writer Enid Blyton
, with whom he had two daughters Gillian Mary
(1931–2007) and Imogen Mary (born 1935). Hugh was divorced from his first wife, Marion Atkinson, with whom he had two sons, William Cecil Alexander (1914–16) and Edward Alistair (1915–69). George Newnes bought her manuscript and contracted with her to write two more novels.
, Ida worked in London at a hostel for girls. Hugh, who had left publishing to join the Army, was Commandant of a school for Home Guard officers; and his marriage was in difficulties. He offered Ida a post as civilian secretary at the Army Training Centre in the Surrey Hills
. During a bungled firearms training session on a firing range, Hugh was hit by shrapnel; and Ida contacted Enid, who declined to visit her husband because she was busy and hated hospitals.
In May 1942, during a visit to her mother's home in Hastings, a bomb destroyed the house. She escaped unhurt, but her mother was in hospital for two weeks. Hugh paid for Ida to stay at Claridges and decided to divorce his wife. The year before, Enid had met Kenneth Fraser Darrell Waters and begun a relationship with him. To get a quick divorce, Hugh blamed himself for adultery at divorce petition.
On 26 October 1943, Ida and Hugh were married at London's Guildhall
Register Office
, six days after Enid's marriage to Darrell Waters. In 1944, they had a daughter Rosemary Pollock
, also a romance writer. Enid changed the name of their daughters; and Hugh did not see them again, although Enid had promised access as part of his taking the blame for the divorce.
Ida decided to write popular contemporary romances and sold her first novel to Mills & Boon
in 1952. Being in print with several major international publishers at the same time, she decided to use multiple pseudonyms. In the 1950s she wrote as Susan Barrie, Pamela Kent, Rose Burghley, and Mary Whistler to Mills & Boon, as Averil Ives and Barbara Rowan to Ward Lock, as Anita Charles to Wright & Brown, as Jane Beaufort to Collins
. In 1964, she published under her married name, Ida Pollock, her first historical novel, The Gentle Masquerade, and after the success of it, Mills and Boon's "Masquerade" series of historical romances was launched. Under her last pseudonym, Marguerite Bell, she also wrote historical romances. Most of her novels have been reprinted by Mill & Boon (or Harlequin in the United States).
In the 1970s she slowed the rhythm of publication, but continues to write. Besides romances she published as Barbara Rowan a suspense novel and two Children/Young Adults Fiction books. Her most recent novel, A Distant Drum (2005), is based around the Battle of Waterloo. Her autobiography, Starlight, published on 15 November 2009, tells the story of the start of her career, her marriage, and the relation of her husband with her ex-wife Enid Blyton
.
She was a founder member of the Romantic Novelists' Association
, and in 2010 she helped in its 50th anniversary.
Hugh died at 8 November 1971 in Malta, where he is buried in the British military cemetery. After her husband's death, Pollock returned with her daughter to England; and they lived for several years in Wiltshire
, before moving to Lanreath
in 1986.
Pollock is a recognised oil painter, who was selected for inclusion in a national exhibition in 2004. She also makes model houses, usually scale miniatures of Georgian or Tudor buildings.
Romance novel
The romance novel is a literary genre developed in Western culture, mainly in English-speaking countries. Novels in this genre place their primary focus on the relationship and romantic love between two people, and must have an "emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending." Through the late...
s under her married name, Ida Pollock, and under her numerous pseudonyms: Susan Barrie, Pamela Kent, Averil Ives, Anita Charles, Barbara Rowan, Jane Beaufort, Rose Burghley, Mary Whistler and Marguerite Bell. She is also an oil painter, who has been selected for inclusion in a national exhibition in 2004.
Ida and her husband Lt-Colonel Hugh Alexander Pollock DSO (1888–1971), a veteran of war, Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
's collaborator and editor, had a daughter Rosemary Pollock
Rosemary Pollock
Rosemary Pollock is a British writer of romance novels. She is the daughter of romance writer and painter Ida Pollock and Lieut Colonel Hugh Alexander Pollock D.S.O. Royal Scots Fusilers .-Biography:...
, also a romance writer. Ida's autobiography, Starlight, published on 15 November 2009, tells the story of the start of her career, her marriage, and the relation of her husband with his ex-wife Enid Blyton
Enid Blyton
Enid Blyton was an English children's writer also known as Mary Pollock.Noted for numerous series of books based on recurring characters and designed for different age groups,her books have enjoyed huge success in many parts of the world, and have sold over 600 million copies.One of Blyton's most...
.
Pollock has lived in Lanreath
Lanreath
Lanreath is a civil parish and a village in southeast Cornwall, United Kingdom. The village is situated five miles west-northwest of Looe. The name Lanreath means 'church of Raydhogh' and it has been known variously as Lanreythow, Lanrathew, or Lanrethou...
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
since 1986.
First years
Born Ida Crowe on 12 April 1908 in LewishamLewisham
Lewisham is a district in South London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, England, United Kingdom, she was a illegitimate daughter. Her mother began an affair with a supposed Russian Duke but, after her parents death, her mother married Arthur Crowe, an old widower. A year or so later she resumed her affair with Russian and became pregnant. The couple lived apart when Ida born, and she narrowly escaped being smothered with a pillow by the nurse who attended her birth. Her mother had a difficult time raising her and she was almost adopted by a rich uncle.
As a teenager, she travelled alone to Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
, after suffering a mental breakdown. Encouraged by her mother, she began to write while still at school, setting her first publication, Palanquins and coloured lanterns, in 1920's Shanghai.
At age 20, she was living with her mother in Hastings
Hastings
Hastings is a town and borough in the county of East Sussex on the south coast of England. The town is located east of the county town of Lewes and south east of London, and has an estimated population of 86,900....
and already had several stories in major magazines and short novels in print. She visited the George Newnes
George Newnes
Sir George Newnes, 1st Baronet was a publisher and editor in England.-Background and education:...
's office in London, to sell her first full-length manuscript; and, three months later, she discovered they had lost it. After they found it, she returned to London to meet one of its editors, the 39-year-old Hugh Alexander Pollock (1888–1971), a distinguished veteran of World War I. Hugh had been married since 1924 to his second wife, the popular children's writer Enid Blyton
Enid Blyton
Enid Blyton was an English children's writer also known as Mary Pollock.Noted for numerous series of books based on recurring characters and designed for different age groups,her books have enjoyed huge success in many parts of the world, and have sold over 600 million copies.One of Blyton's most...
, with whom he had two daughters Gillian Mary
Gillian Baverstock
Gillian Baverstock, née Gillian Mary Pollock was a British author and elder daughter of English novelist Enid Blyton and her first husband, Hugh Pollock...
(1931–2007) and Imogen Mary (born 1935). Hugh was divorced from his first wife, Marion Atkinson, with whom he had two sons, William Cecil Alexander (1914–16) and Edward Alistair (1915–69). George Newnes bought her manuscript and contracted with her to write two more novels.
World War II years and family
During The BlitzThe Blitz
The Blitz was the sustained strategic bombing of Britain by Nazi Germany between 7 September 1940 and 10 May 1941, during the Second World War. The city of London was bombed by the Luftwaffe for 76 consecutive nights and many towns and cities across the country followed...
, Ida worked in London at a hostel for girls. Hugh, who had left publishing to join the Army, was Commandant of a school for Home Guard officers; and his marriage was in difficulties. He offered Ida a post as civilian secretary at the Army Training Centre in the Surrey Hills
Surrey Hills AONB
The Surrey Hills is a Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty , located in Surrey, England. The AONB was designated in 1958 and covers one quarter of the county of Surrey...
. During a bungled firearms training session on a firing range, Hugh was hit by shrapnel; and Ida contacted Enid, who declined to visit her husband because she was busy and hated hospitals.
In May 1942, during a visit to her mother's home in Hastings, a bomb destroyed the house. She escaped unhurt, but her mother was in hospital for two weeks. Hugh paid for Ida to stay at Claridges and decided to divorce his wife. The year before, Enid had met Kenneth Fraser Darrell Waters and begun a relationship with him. To get a quick divorce, Hugh blamed himself for adultery at divorce petition.
On 26 October 1943, Ida and Hugh were married at London's Guildhall
Guildhall, London
The Guildhall is a building in the City of London, off Gresham and Basinghall streets, in the wards of Bassishaw and Cheap. It has been used as a town hall for several hundred years, and is still the ceremonial and administrative centre of the City of London and its Corporation...
Register Office
Register office
A register office is a British term for a civil registry, a government office and depository where births, deaths and marriages are officially recorded and where you can get officially married, without a religious ceremony...
, six days after Enid's marriage to Darrell Waters. In 1944, they had a daughter Rosemary Pollock
Rosemary Pollock
Rosemary Pollock is a British writer of romance novels. She is the daughter of romance writer and painter Ida Pollock and Lieut Colonel Hugh Alexander Pollock D.S.O. Royal Scots Fusilers .-Biography:...
, also a romance writer. Enid changed the name of their daughters; and Hugh did not see them again, although Enid had promised access as part of his taking the blame for the divorce.
Writing career
After the World War II, George Newnes, Hugh's old firm, decided not to work with him anymore. They also represented Enid Blyton and were not willing to let her go. After this the marriage experienced financial problems and, in 1950, Hugh had to declare bankruptcy while he struggled with alcoholism.Ida decided to write popular contemporary romances and sold her first novel to Mills & Boon
Mills & Boon
Mills & Boon is a British publisher of romance novels. It was founded in 1908, and was independent until its purchase in 1971 by Harlequin Enterprises with whom the company had had a long informal partnership...
in 1952. Being in print with several major international publishers at the same time, she decided to use multiple pseudonyms. In the 1950s she wrote as Susan Barrie, Pamela Kent, Rose Burghley, and Mary Whistler to Mills & Boon, as Averil Ives and Barbara Rowan to Ward Lock, as Anita Charles to Wright & Brown, as Jane Beaufort to Collins
HarperCollins
HarperCollins is a publishing company owned by News Corporation. It is the combination of the publishers William Collins, Sons and Co Ltd, a British company, and Harper & Row, an American company, itself the result of an earlier merger of Harper & Brothers and Row, Peterson & Company. The worldwide...
. In 1964, she published under her married name, Ida Pollock, her first historical novel, The Gentle Masquerade, and after the success of it, Mills and Boon's "Masquerade" series of historical romances was launched. Under her last pseudonym, Marguerite Bell, she also wrote historical romances. Most of her novels have been reprinted by Mill & Boon (or Harlequin in the United States).
In the 1970s she slowed the rhythm of publication, but continues to write. Besides romances she published as Barbara Rowan a suspense novel and two Children/Young Adults Fiction books. Her most recent novel, A Distant Drum (2005), is based around the Battle of Waterloo. Her autobiography, Starlight, published on 15 November 2009, tells the story of the start of her career, her marriage, and the relation of her husband with her ex-wife Enid Blyton
Enid Blyton
Enid Blyton was an English children's writer also known as Mary Pollock.Noted for numerous series of books based on recurring characters and designed for different age groups,her books have enjoyed huge success in many parts of the world, and have sold over 600 million copies.One of Blyton's most...
.
She was a founder member of the Romantic Novelists' Association
Romantic Novelists' Association
The Romantic Novelists' Association is a writers' association in the UK. Founded in 1960, mainly through the efforts of Denise Robins , Barbara Cartland , Vivian Stuart , and other authors like Elizabeth Goudge, Netta Muskett, Catherine Cookson, Rosamunde Pilcher and Lucilla Andrews.The RNA runs...
, and in 2010 she helped in its 50th anniversary.
Present
During her marriage, she travelled widely and lived in many parts of England. It was their daughter's asthma that brought the Pollocks to Cornwall. She also lived in Ireland, France, Italy, Malta and Switzerland, where they successfully obtained a lasting cure for Rosemary's debilitating condition.Hugh died at 8 November 1971 in Malta, where he is buried in the British military cemetery. After her husband's death, Pollock returned with her daughter to England; and they lived for several years in Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, before moving to Lanreath
Lanreath
Lanreath is a civil parish and a village in southeast Cornwall, United Kingdom. The village is situated five miles west-northwest of Looe. The name Lanreath means 'church of Raydhogh' and it has been known variously as Lanreythow, Lanrathew, or Lanrethou...
in 1986.
Pollock is a recognised oil painter, who was selected for inclusion in a national exhibition in 2004. She also makes model houses, usually scale miniatures of Georgian or Tudor buildings.
Single novels
- Mistress of Brown Furrows, 1952
- Gates of Dawn, 1954
- Marry a Stranger, 1954
- Carpet of dreams, 1955
- Hotel Stardust = Hotel at Treloan, 1955
- Dear Tiberius = Nurse Nolan, 1956
- So Dear to my Heart, 1956
- The House of the Laird, 1956
- Air Ticket, 1957
- Four Roads to Windrush, 1957
- Heart Specialist, 1958
- Stars of San Cecilio, 1958
- The wings of the morning, 1960
- Bride in Waiting, 1961
- Moon at the Full, 1961
- Royal Purple, 1962
- A Case of Heart Trouble, 1963
- Mountain Magic, 1964
- Castle Thunderbird, 1965
- No Just Cause, 1965
- Master of Melincourt, 1966
- Rose in the Bud, 1966
- The Quiet Heart, 1966
- Accidental Bride, 1967
- Victoria and the Nightingale, 1967
- Wild Sonata, 1968
- The Marriage Wheel, 1968/12
- Night of the Singing Birds, 1970/04
Omnibus collections
- Marry A Stranger / Rose in the Bud / Marriage Wheel, 1976
- House of the Laird / A Case of Heart Trouble / The Quiet Heart, 1976
- Return to Tremarth / Night of the Singing Birds / Bride in Waiting, 1980
Anthologies in collaboration
- Golden Harlequin Library Vol. X: The Wild Land Isobel Chance / Surgeon for Tonight / Four Roads to Windrush (1971) (with Isobel Chace by Elizabeth Houghton)
- Golden Harlequin Library Vol. XVII: No Silver Spoon / Nurse Nolan / The Time and the Place (1971) (with Jane ArborJane ArborJane Arbor was the pseudonym used by Eileen Norah Owbridge a British writer of 57 romance for Mills & Boon from 1948 to 1985....
and Essie SummersEssie SummersEssie Summers was a New Zealand author who wrote so vividly of the people and landscape of her native country that she was offered The Order Of the British Empire for her contributions to New Zealand tourism.-Biography:Ethel Snelson Summers was born on on 24 July 1912 to a...
) - Golden Harlequin Library Vol. XXI: The Doctor's Daughters / Gates of Dawn / The Gift at Snowy River (1972) (with Anne WealeAnne WealeJay Blakeney was a British newspaper reporter, well-known as romance writer under the pseudonyms Anne Weale and Andrea Blake. She wrote over 88 for Mills & Boon from 1955 to 2002...
and Joyce Dingwell) - Children's Nurse / Heart Specialist / Child Friday (1972) (Sara SealeSara SealeA.D.L. MacPherson was a British writer of romance as Sara Seale from 1932 to 1976. Seale was one of the first Mills & Boon's authors published in Germany and the Netherlands.-Single novels: *Beggars May Sing *Chase the Moon...
and Kathryn Blair) - Romance Treasury (1975) (with Karin Mutch and Yvonne WhittalYvonne WhittalYvonne Whittal was a popular writer of 45 romance novels in Mills & Boon from 1975 to 1992.-Single novels:*East to Barryvale *The Slender Thread *Devil's Gateway *Price of Happiness *Where Seagulls Cry...
) - Harlequin Classic Library (1980) (with Elizabeth Hoy, Alex StuartVivian StuartVivian Stuart, née Violet Vivian Finlay , was a British writer from 1953 to 1986. She was published under different pen names; she signed her romance novels as Vivian Stuart, Alex Stuart, Barbara Allen, Fiona Finlay, and Robyn Stuart, she signed her military sagas as V.A...
, Mary Burchell, Juliet Shore, Jean S. MacLeod, Elizabeth Houghton and Jill Tahourdin)
Single novels
- Moon over Africa, 1955
- Desert Doorway, 1956
- City of Palms, 1957
- Sweet Barbary, 1957
- Meet Me in Istanbul, 1958
- Dawn on the High Mountain, 1959
- Flight to the Stars, 1959
- The Chateau of Fire 1961
- Bladon's Rock = Doctor Gaston, 1963
- The Dawning Splendour, 1963
- Enemy Lover 1964
- Gideon Faber's Chance = Gideon Faber's Choice, 1965
- Star Creek, 1965
- The Gardenia Tree, 1965
- Cuckoo in the Night, 1966
- White Heat, 1966
- Beloved Enemies, 1967
- The Man Who Came Back, 1967
- Desert Gold, 1968
- Man from the Sea, 1968
- Nile Dusk, 1972/12
- Night of Stars, 1975/12
Anthologies in collaboration
- Golden Harlequin Library Vol. VIII: Choose The One You'll Marry / Sweet Barbary / Senior Surgeon at St. David's (1970) (with Mary Burchell and Elizabeth Gilzean)
Single novels
- Haven of the Heart, 1956
- The Secret Heart, 1956
- Doctor's Desire = Desire for the Star, 1957
- The Uncertain Glory = Nurse Linnet's Release, 1957
- Island in the Dawn, 1958
- Love in Sunlight = Nurse for the Doctor, 1958
- Master of Hearts, 1959
Single novels
- The Black Benedicts, 1956
- My Heart at Your Feet, 1957
- One Coin in the Fountain, 1957
- Interlude for Love, 1958
- The Moon and Bride's Hill, 1958
- Autumn Wedding, 1962
- The King of the Castle, 1963
- White Rose of Love, 1963
Single novels
- Silver Fire = In Care of the Doctor, 1956
- Flower for a Bride, 1957
- Love is Forever, 1957
- Mountain of Dreams, 1958
- The Keys of the Castle, 1959
- House of Sand, 1986/08
Anthologies in collaboration
- Golden Harlequin Library Vol. XXXIII: Flower for a Bride / Bachelors Galore / Hope for the Doctor (1970) (with Essie SummersEssie SummersEssie Summers was a New Zealand author who wrote so vividly of the people and landscape of her native country that she was offered The Order Of the British Empire for her contributions to New Zealand tourism.-Biography:Ethel Snelson Summers was born on on 24 July 1912 to a...
and Margaret Malcolm) - Tuesday's Jillaroo / Fires of Toretta / The Keys of the Castle (1985) (with Kerry Allyne and Iris Danbury)
Single novels
- A Nightingale In The Sycamore, 1957
- Dangerous Lover = Dangerous Love, 1959
- Love in High Places, 1960
- A Quest for Lovers, 1963
- Interlude in Snow, 1964
Single novels
- (* Novels reedited as Susan Barrie)
- And Be Thy Love, 1958
- Love in the Afternoon, 1959
- The Sweet Surrender, 1959
- Bride by Arrangement, 1960
- A Moment in Paris, 1961
- Highland Mist, 1962
- The Garden of Don Jose*, 1965/06
- Man of Destiny, 1965/10
- A Quality of Magic, 1966
- The Afterglow = Alpine Doctor, 1966
- Bride of Alaine, 1966/10
- Folly of the Heart, 1967/04
- The Bay Of Moonlight, 1968/01
- Return to Tremarth*, 1969/08
Anthologies in collaboration
- Golden Harlequin Library Vol. XXV: And be Thy Love / Doctor Memsahib / Black Charles (1962) (with Juliet Shore and Esther Wyndham)
Single novels
- Enchanted Autumn, 1959
- Escape to Happiness, 1960
- Sunshine Yellow, 1961
- Pathway of Roses, 1962
- The Young Nightingales, 1967
Single novels
- The Gentle Masquerade, 1964
- The Uneasy Alliance, 1965
- Lady in danger, 1967
- Summer Conspiracy 1969/02
- Country Air, 1970/08
Single novels
- A Rose for Danger, 1977/05
- The Devil's Daughter 1978/07
- Bride by Auction, 1989/11
- Sea Change 2002/07
- A Distant Drum, 2005/01
Antologies in collaboration
- The Runaways / Eleanor and the Marquis / A Rose for Danger / The Secret of Val Verde (1977) (with Jane Wilby, Judith Polley and Julia Herbert)
- Eleanor and the Marquis / The Runaways / A Rose for Danger / Puritan Wife (1977) (with Jane Wilby, Judith Polley and Elizabeth De Guise)