The Bravest Voices, Ida Cook
The Bravest Voices, Ida Cook
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The Bravest Voices
A Memoir of Two Sisters' Heroism During the Nazi Era

Author: Ida Cook

Narrator: Heather Wilds

Unabridged: 8 hr 8 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 01/19/2021


Synopsis

This timeless memoir documents two sisters’ bravery leading up to WWII—a singular historical account that shines a light on one of humanity’s darkest hours.

Ida and Louise Cook are two ordinary Englishwomen, seemingly destined never to stray from their quiet London suburb and comfortable jobs—Ida as a budding romance novelist and Louise as a civil service typist. But in 1923, a chance hearing of an aria from Madame Butterfly sparked a passion for opera in the sisters that led to the formation of friendships with some of Europe’s leading singers and their network, many of them Jewish. As the Nazis rose to power, Ida and Louise began working with the opera world’s insiders to save members of the community from persecution and death. Through ingenuity, thrift and bottomless goodwill, the sisters eluded the suspicion of the Nazis and helped secure safe passage for dozens of refugees. No one would have predicted such daring lives for Ida and Louise Cook—but that underestimation is exactly how they were able to save lives.

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, and is a moving testament to the extraordinary acts of courage by two everyday heroes.

About Ida Cook

Ida Cook (1904-1986), writing as Mary Burchell, authored more than 120 books over the course of five decades. A lifelong devotee of opera, she counted Amelita Galli-Curci, Rosa Ponselle and Maria Callas among her close friends. In 1965, together with her sister Louise, she was awarded the honor or Righteous Among Nations from the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Authority in Jerusalem.


Reviews

This is a book about two extraordinary sisters, Ida and Louise Cook. The one that wrote the book - Ida - was a romantic author, writing about 24 books over 40 years for the publisher Mills and Boon. She and her sister were also passionate opera fans. They were also two of only four British people ho......more

Goodreads review by Donna

The title is a bit misleading. The heroism is real, but it only takes place in about the middle third of the book. Most of the rest is about the author's serious love of opera.......more