Barbara Murray Holland was a renowned American author, known for her defense of modern-day vices through her writings. She was born in Washington, D.C., in 1933 and passed away in Bluemont, Va., in 2010. Throughout her career, Holland wrote on various topics, including humor, history, essays, biography, memoirs, and children’s books. Some of her most popular works include “They Went Whistling - Women Wayfarers, Warriors, Runaways, and Renegades,” “Hail to the Chiefs: Presidential Mischief, Morals & Malarkey from George W. to George W.,” and “Endangered Pleasures: In Defense of Naps, Bacon, Martinis, Profanity, and Other Indulgences.”
In addition to her defense of vices such as cursing, drinking, eating fatty food, and smoking cigarettes, Holland also penned a memoir of her time spent growing up in Chevy Chase, Maryland, near Washington, D.C. Her love for the Bluemont area was evident in her writing, as she immortalized Loudoun County in “Bingo Night at the Fire Hall: The case for cows, orchards, bake sales & fairs.” Holland’s work as an advertising copywriter in the 1950s and 60s also influenced her writing, particularly her short stories, which are currently being edited for publication along with two novellas.
Holland’s writing appeared in a wide range of publications, from “Seventeen” to “Smithsonian,” for over 50 years. Her work was well-received, and in 2010, HarperCollins released a revised edition of her best-selling book, “Secrets of the Cat: Its Lore, Legend and Lives.” Holland’s writing was not only popular but also influential, as she encouraged her readers to embrace life’s indulgences and to defend their right to enjoy them. Her legacy as a writer lives on through her numerous publications, which continue to inspire and entertain readers to this day.