author
I. B. (Ian Bernard) Stoughton Holborn
1872–1935
A prolific lecturer, Oxford scholar, and writer, he brought art, travel, and history together in books shaped by a lively curiosity. He is also remembered as the owner of Foula, the remote Shetland island that inspired some of his best-known writing.
1 Audiobook
The Child of the Moat: A Story for Girls. 1557 A.D.
by I. B. (Ian Bernard) Stoughton Holborn
About the author
Born in 1872 and also known as Ian Holbourn, he was an Oxford professor and lecturer as well as a writer with wide-ranging interests. His work moved across poetry, fiction, travel, and cultural history, which gives his books an unusually varied character.
Foula, the isolated Shetland island he owned, became closely tied to his public life and writing. That connection is especially clear in The Isle of Foula, while other titles associated with him include An Introduction to the Architectures of European Religions, Children of Fancy, and The Child of the Moat.
His life also intersected with a dramatic moment in modern history: he survived the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915. He died in 1935, leaving behind a body of work that reflects both scholarly interests and a taste for vivid, accessible storytelling.