The Diary of a Young Girl is among the most enduring documents of the 20th
century. Anne Frank kept a diary from 1942 to 1944. Initially she wrote it
strictly for herself. Then, one day in 1944, a member of the Dutch government
in exile announced in a radio broadcast from London that after the war he hoped
to collect eyewitness accounts of the suffering of the Dutch people under the
German occupation, which could be made available to the public. As an example,
he specially mentioned letters and diaries. Anne Frank decided that when the
war was over, she would publish a book based on her diary. Anne’s diary ends
abruptly when she and her family were betrayed. Since its publication in 1947,
The Diary of a Young Girl has been read by tens of millions of people.
Reviews
Anne Frank’s diary is one of the greatest books of the century . . . As she
brings herself and her circumstances into such buzzing, engaged life on the
page, she triumphs over her history. We return to her again and again, unable
to believe that this hymn to life was written on the way to Belsen (Guardian )
A modern classic . . . Anne’s diary tells a story that is true, memorable,
important and strongly personalized . . . Compelling reading (The Times )
Still rings down the decades as the most moving testament to the persecution
of innocence (Daily Mail ) –This text refers to an alternate Paperback
edition.”