Isabelle Holland was an American author of fiction for children and adults. Her career as a writer spans more than three decades. She wrote Gothic novels, adult mysteries, romantic thrillers, and many books for children and young adults.
Background
Holland was born June 16, 1920, in Basel, Switzerland. She was the daughter of Philip (a U.S. Foreign Service officer) and Corabelle (Anderson) Holland. She had a brother, Philip, known to the family as Pito, who was nine years older than Isabelle.
Education
When Isabelle was six, she was sent to school, her teacher was Jessie Margaret Sullenberger. She also attended the elementary school in New York, where she was taught the Palmer method of writing. Isabelle attended the University of Liverpool, reading history. Later she studied at Tulane University of Louisiana and received Bachelor of Arts in 1942.
Career
Due to World War II, Isabelle moved to the United States in 1940. She worked there for various publications, including as a fiction editor for Tomorrow; a copywriter for a book advertising agency, beginning in 1949; McCall’s, New York City, until 1956; Crown Publishers, Inc., New York City, publicity director, 1956-60; J. B. Lippincott Co., New York City, publicity director, 1960-66; Harper’s, New York City, assistant to publisher, 1967-68; G. P. Putnam’s Sons, New York City, publicity director, 1968-69.
Using her experiences in English boarding schools, Holland created her first novel, 1967’s Cecily. Horn Book reviewer Ruth Hill Viguers described Cecily as “a beautifully polished gem of a novel.” Edith C. Howley wrote in Best Sellers that the book is “lightly knit and plausible,” cited the characters as clearly defined, and appraised the book overall as “well done.” Beginning with the publication of Cecily in 1967, she has received considerable praise from critics, teachers, librarians, and readers.
Holland’s next book, Amanda’s Choice, was written for children but addresses problems that are universal to people in relationships. Reviewing Amanda’s Choice in the Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, Zena Sutherland lauded the book for its “memorable characterization” and “good style.”
Holland’s third novel, 1972’s The Man without a Face, was appraised as “deeply affecting” by Children’s Literature in Education contributor Corine Hirsch, who calls the book Holland’s “most interesting novel to date.” The book is one of Holland’s best known, primarily because of its controversial subject matter.
Holland wrote another children’s book in 1982, Abbie’s God Book.
Holland's books for children and young adults tackled a variety of difficult and/or controversial topics - death, rape, incest, teen pregnancy, sexual abuse, and homosexuality. Reoccurring themes in her books for adults and children include the ravages of alcoholism on families, and the healing and redemptive power of animals.
She was still working at the time of her death at age 81 in New York City.
Views
Holland believes that parents or other adults will often unintentionally inflict mental damage on a young person, the damage that can scar the child for many years. While Holland’s books criticize the mistreatment of young people, she also views them as a means to make people aware of, and hopefully address and correct, these problems. She summarized by stating, “If my books are about the wounds given ... they are also about the healing that can take place, given the right adult at the right time.”
Quotations:
“You can be free from everything but the consequences of what you do.”
“Guilt is the price we pay willingly for doing what we are going to do anyway.”
Membership
Isabelle Holland was the member of Authors Guild, Authors League of America, PEN.
Personality
Quotes from others about the person
Kaye told that “Holland writes with compassion and a sensitive understanding of human nature and its idiosyncracies.”