De Jong, Dola (1911–2003)
De Jong, Dola (1911–2003)
Dutch-American journalist, novelist and children's writer. Born Dorothea Rosalie de Jong, Oct 10, 1911, in Arnhem, Netherlands; died Nov 19, 2003, in Los Angeles, California; dau. of S.L. and Lotte (Benjamin) de Jong; m. Jan Hoowij (artist), 1940 (div.); m. Robert H. Joseph (writer), 1946.
Served as a theater and film reviewer for De Telegraaf; danced with the Royal Dutch Ballet for about 8 years; published 1st book for children at 18; with husband, immigrated to US with advent of WWII (1940); became American citizen (1946) and danced for the Joos ballet; facilitated literary contact between Netherlands and US; adult works include Dans om het hart (1939), En die akker is de wereld (And the Field is the World, 1946, later published as The Field), De thuiswacht (1954, trans. as The Tree and Vine, 1961) and The House of Charlton Street (1963); children's books, which were often set during WWII, include The Level Land (1943), Sand for the Sandman (1944), The Picture Story of Holland (1946) and Return to the Level Land (1947). Won Edgar Allan Poe award for The Whirligig of Time (1964).