So Dear to my Heart

Virginia accompanies Lisa, her young pianist of a sister, to Switzerland where the latter can get help with her hand injury and play piano again. The famous Swiss surgeon, Dr. Leon Hanson, is charming and well able to come to the rescue. Although Lisa is usually the one to attract attention, the doctor’s gaze is this time fixed upon the sweet Virginia. How can Virginia resist, and in such stunning scenery? The intriguing tale was written in the 20th century under one of Ida Pollock’s pseudonyms, Susan Barrie.

A must-read for fans of literary romance and surprising twists of fate.



Susan Barrie is a pseudonym of Ida Pollock (1908 – 2013), a highly successful British writer of over 125 romance novels translated into numerous languages and published across the world. Ida Pollock has sold millions of copies over her 90-year career.

Pollock began writing when she was 10 years old. Ida has travelled widely, living in several different countries. She continues to be popular amongst both her devoted fan base and new readers alike. Pollock has been referred to as the "world's oldest novelist" who was still active at 105 and continued writing until her death.

On the occasion of her 105th birthday, Pollock was appointed honorary vice-president of the Romantic Novelists' Association, having been one of its founding members.

Ida Pollock wrote in a wide variety of pseudonyms: Joan M. Allen, Susan Barrie, Pamela Kent, Averil Ives, Anita Charles, Barbara Rowan, Jane Beaufort, Rose Burghley, Mary Whistler and Marguerite Bell.