Overview
Praised as 'remarkable,' 'meticulous,' and 'long overdue,' ""Anne Frank: The Biography"", originally published in 1998, still stands as the definitive account of the girl who has become 'the human face of the Holocaust.' Biographer Melissa Muller drew on exclusive interviews with family and friends, on previously unavailable correspondence, and on missing diary pages that she discovered to create a nuanced portrait of her famous subject. Full of revelations, Muller's richly textured narrative returned Anne Frank to history, portraying the flesh-and-blood girl unsentimentalised and so all the more affecting.In the decade since the book appeared, much new information has come to light: letters sent by Otto Frank to relatives in America as he sought to save his family, the identity of other suspects involved in the betrayal of the Franks, and important details about the family's arrest and subsequent fate. Revised and updated, this is an indispensable volume for all those who seek a deeper understanding of Anne Frank and the brutal times in which she lived.
Reviews
Flawlessly researched and compellingly written . . . In her comprehensive and nuanced portrait of Anne and her collapsing world, Muller has given us Anne Frank for adults. --The Christian Science Monitor In this updated edition of her superb 1998 biography, Muller adds immeasurably to a well-known story . . . An invaluable complement to an immortal testimony. --Kirkus (starred review) Superb. . . . This meticulous and gripping narrative honors in full a life we thought we knew. --Newsweek Muller pays respect to the legend, but she also does something long overdue. She saves Anne Frank from idolatry and impersonal symbolism by restoring her physical presence. --R.Z. Sheppard, Time One might ask, what remains to be said about Anne Frank? Quite a bit, as it turns out. . . . In addition to revealing the missing diary pages, this biography also acts as a supplement to the diary, filling in Anne's fragmentary view of her own life. . . . One of the things that lends this biography such power is the awful juxtaposition of the ordinary and the horrific. --Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times Remarkable. . . . Muller has achieved the near-impossible by restoring human proportions to the near mythical Anne. . . . Muller has returned the young writer to history. --Susan Jacoby, Newsday Mueller's book reminds us of the powerful role of contingency in history. It also ably celebrates what it calls 'a life of singular intensity' and offers noteworthy additions to Anne Frank's story . . . .Mueller's biography, in the end, does exactly what it should: it sends us back to Anne's words. --Julia M. Klein, The Philadelphia Inquirer Muller offers an especially impressive portrait of Anne's father, Otto, as well as a chilling, convincing theory about the Dutch informant who likely led the Gestapo to the secret annex. --Carolyn Alessio, Chicago Tribune (editor's choice) A thoughtful book, honorable and fluent . . . humane. --Robert Skloot, The Nation The author's literary gifts and exhaustive research distinguish Anne Frank: The Biography as both an absorbing and definitive text. --Deborah Hornblow, The Hartford Courant Muller succeeds in rounding out the picture of the sensitive and talented Jewish schoolgirl though interviews with friends and family, letters and previously unavailable documents. --The Minneapolis Star Tribune The first serious biography of Anne Frank. --David Barnouw and Gerrold van der Stroom, editors of The Diary of Anne Frank: The Critical Edition Flawlessly researched and compellingly written . . . In her comprehensive and nuanced portrait of Anne and her collapsing world, Muller has given us Anne Frank for adults. The Christian Science Monitor In this updated edition of her superb 1998 biography, Muller adds immeasurably to a well-known story . . . An invaluable complement to an immortal testimony. Kirkus (starred review) Superb. . . . This meticulous and gripping narrative honors in full a life we thought we knew. Newsweek Muller pays respect to the legend, but she also does something long overdue. She saves Anne Frank from idolatry and impersonal symbolism by restoring her physical presence. R.Z. Sheppard, Time One might ask, what remains to be said about Anne Frank? Quite a bit, as it turns out. . . . In addition to revealing the missing diary pages, this biography also acts as a supplement to the diary, filling in Anne's fragmentary view of her own life. . . . One of the things that lends this biography such power is the awful juxtaposition of the ordinary and the horrific. Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times Remarkable. . . . Muller has achieved the near-impossible by restoring human proportions to the near mythical Anne. . . . Muller has returned the young writer to history. Susan Jacoby, Newsday Mueller's book reminds us of the powerful role of contingency in history. It also ably celebrates what it calls a life of singular intensity' and offers noteworthy additions to Anne Frank's story . . . .Mueller's biography, in the end, does exactly what it should: it sends us back to Anne's words. Julia M. Klein, The Philadelphia Inquirer Muller offers an especially impressive portrait of Anne's father, Otto, as well as a chilling, convincing theory about the Dutch informant who likely led the Gestapo to the secret annex. Carolyn Alessio, Chicago Tribune (editor's choice) A thoughtful book, honorable and fluent . . . humane. Robert Skloot, The Nation The author's literary gifts and exhaustive research distinguish Anne Frank: The Biography as both an absorbing and definitive text. Deborah Hornblow, The Hartford Courant Muller succeeds in rounding out the picture of the sensitive and talented Jewish schoolgirl though interviews with friends and family, letters and previously unavailable documents. The Minneapolis Star Tribune The first serious biography of Anne Frank. David Barnouw and Gerrold van der Stroom, editors of The Diary of Anne Frank: The Critical Edition Flawlessly researched and compellingly written . . . In her comprehensive and nuanced portrait of Anne and her collapsing world, Muller has given us Anne Frank for adults. The Christian Science Monitor In this updated edition of her superb 1998 biography, Muller adds immeasurably to a well-known story . . . An invaluable complement to an immortal testimony. Kirkus (starred review) Superb. . . . This meticulous and gripping narrative honors in full a life we thought we knew. Newsweek Muller pays respect to the legend, but she also does something long overdue. She saves Anne Frank from idolatry and impersonal symbolism by restoring her physical presence. R.Z. Sheppard, Time One might ask, what remains to be said about Anne Frank? Quite a bit, as it turns out. . . . In addition to revealing the missing diary pages, this biography also acts as a supplement to the diary, filling in Anne's fragmentary view of her own life. . . . One of the things that lends this biography such power is the awful juxtaposition of the ordinary and the horrific. Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times Remarkable. . . . Muller has achieved the near-impossible by restoring human proportions to the near mythical Anne. . . . Muller has returned the young writer to history. Susan Jacoby, Newsday Mueller's book reminds us of the powerful role of contingency in history. It also ably celebrates what it calls a life of singular intensity' and offers noteworthy additions to Anne Frank's story . . . .Mueller's biography, in the end, does exactly what it should: it sends us back to Anne's words. Julia M. Klein, The Philadelphia Inquirer Muller offers an especially impressive portrait of Anne's father, Otto, as well as a chilling, convincing theory about the Dutch informant who likely led the Gestapo to the secret annex. Carolyn Alessio, Chicago Tribune (editor's choice) A thoughtful book, honorable and fluent . . . humane. Robert Skloot, The Nation The author's literary gifts and exhaustive research distinguish Anne Frank: The Biography as both an absorbing and definitive text. Deborah Hornblow, The Hartford Courant Muller succeeds in rounding out the picture of the sensitive and talented Jewish schoolgirl though interviews with friends and family, letters and previously unavailable documents. The Minneapolis Star Tribune The first serious biography of Anne Frank. David Barnouw and Gerrold van der Stroom, editors of The Diary of Anne Frank: The Critical Edition Flawlessly researched and compellingly written . . . In her comprehensive and nuanced portrait of Anne and her collapsing world, Muller has given us Anne Frank for adults. -- The Christian Science Monitor In this updated edition of her superb 1998 biography, Muller adds immeasurably to a well-known story . . . An invaluable complement to an immortal testimony. -- Kirkus (starred review) Superb. . . . This meticulous and gripping narrative honors in full a life we thought we knew. -- Newsweek Muller pays respect to the legend, but she also does something long overdue. She saves Anne Frank from idolatry and impersonal symbolism by restoring her physical presence. --R.Z. Sheppard, Time One might ask, what remains to be said about Anne Frank? Quite a bit, as it turns out. . . . In addition to revealing the missing diary pages, this biography also acts as a supplement to the diary, filling in Anne's fragmentary view of her own life. . . . One of the things that lends this biography such power is the awful juxtaposition of the ordinary and the horrific. --Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times Remarkable. . . . Muller has achieved the near-impossible by restoring human proportions to the near mythical Anne. . . . Muller has returned the young writer to history. --Susan Jacoby, Newsday Mueller's book reminds us of the powerful role of contingency in history. It also ably celebrates what it calls 'a life of singular intensity' and offers noteworthy additions to Anne Frank's story . . . .Mueller's biography, in the end, does exactly what it should: it sends us back to Anne's words. --Julia M. Klein, The Philadelphia Inquirer Muller offers an especially impressive portrait of Anne's father, Otto, as well as a chilling, convincing theory about the Dutch informant who likely led the Gestapo to the secret annex. --Carolyn Alessio, Chicago Tribune (editor's choice) A thoughtful book, honorable and fluent . . . humane. --Robert Skloot, The Nation The author's literary gifts and exhaustive research distinguish Anne Frank: The Biography as both an absorbing and definitive text. --Deborah Hornblow, The Hartford Courant Muller succeeds in rounding out the picture of the sensitive and talented Jewish schoolgirl though interviews with friends and family, letters and previously unavailable documents. -- The Minneapolis Star Tribune The first serious biography of Anne Frank. -- David Barnouw and Gerrold van der Stroom, editors of The Diary of Anne Frank: The Critical Edition In this updated edition of her superb 1998 biography, Muller adds immeasurably to a well-known story... An invaluable complement to an immortal testimony. -- Kirkus (starred review) Superb. . . . This meticulous and gripping narrative honors in full a life we thought we knew. -- Newsweek Muller pays respect to the legend, but she also does something long overdue. She saves Anne Frank from idolatry and impersonal symbolism by restoring her physical presence. --R.Z. Sheppard, Time One might ask, what remains to be said about Anne Frank? Quite a bit, as it turns out. . . . In addition to revealing the missing diary pages, this biography also acts as a supplement to the diary, filling in Anne's fragmentary view of her own life. . . . One of the things that lends this biography such power is the awful juxtaposition of the ordinary and the horrific. --Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times Remarkable. . . . Muller has achieved the near-impossible by restoring human proportions to the near mythical Anne. . . . Muller has returned the young writer to history. --Susan Jacoby, Newsday Mueller's book reminds us of the powerful role of contingency in history. It also ably celebrates what it calls 'a life of singular intensity' and offers noteworthy additions to Anne Frank's story . . . .Mueller's biography, in the end, does exactly what it should: it sends us back to Anne's words. --Julia M. Klein, The Philadelphia Inquirer Muller offers an especially impressive portrait of Anne's father, Otto, as well as a chilling, convincing theory about the Dutch informant who likely led the Gestapo to the secret annex. --Carolyn Alessio, Chicago Tribune (editor's choice) A thoughtful book, honorable and fluent . . . humane. --Robert Skloot, The Nation The author's literary gifts and exhaustive research distinguish Anne Frank: The Biography as both an absorbing and definitive t Superb. . . . This meticulous and gripping narrative honors in full a life we thought we knew. -- Newsweek Muller pays respect to the legend, but she also does something long overdue. She saves Anne Frank from idolatry and impersonal symbolism by restoring her physical presence. --R.Z. Sheppard, Time One might ask, what remains to be said about Anne Frank? Quite a bit, as it turns out. . . . In addition to revealing the missing diary pages, this biography also acts as a supplement to the diary, filling in Anne's fragmentary view of her own life. . . . One of the things that lends this biography such power is the awful juxtaposition of the ordinary and the horrific. --Michiko Kakutani, New York Times (daily) Remarkable. . . . Muller has achieved the near-impossible by restoring human proportions to the near mythical Anne. . . . Muller has returned the young writer to history. --Susan Jacoby, Newsday Mueller's book reminds us of the powerful role of contingency in history. It also ably celebrates what it calls 'a life of singular intensity' and offers noteworthy additions to Anne Frank's story . . . .Mueller's biography, in the end, does exactly what it should: it sends us back to Anne's words. --Julia M. Klein, The Philadelphia Inquirer Muller offers an especially impressive portrait of Anne's father, Otto, as well as a chilling, convincing theory about the Dutch informant who likely led the Gestapo to the secret annex. --Carolyn Alessio, Chicago Tribune (editor's choice) A thoughtful book, honorable and fluent . . . humane. --Robert Skloot, The Nation The author's literary gifts and exhaustive research distinguish Anne Frank: The Biography as both an absorbing and definitive text. --Deborah Hornblow, The Hartford Courant Muller succeeds in rounding out the picture of the sensitive and talented Jewish schoolgirl though interviews with friends and family
Flawlessly researched and compellingly written . . . In her comprehensive and nuanced portrait of Anne and her collapsing world, Muller has given us Anne Frank for adults. The Christian Science Monitor In this updated edition of her superb 1998 biography, Muller adds immeasurably to a well-known story . . . An invaluable complement to an immortal testimony. Kirkus (starred review) Superb. . . . This meticulous and gripping narrative honors in full a life we thought we knew. Newsweek Muller pays respect to the legend, but she also does something long overdue. She saves Anne Frank from idolatry and impersonal symbolism by restoring her physical presence. R.Z. Sheppard, Time One might ask, what remains to be said about Anne Frank? Quite a bit, as it turns out. . . . In addition to revealing the missing diary pages, this biography also acts as a supplement to the diary, filling in Anne's fragmentary view of her own life. . . . One of the things that lends this biography such power is the awful juxtaposition of the ordinary and the horrific. Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times Remarkable. . . . Muller has achieved the near-impossible by restoring human proportions to the near mythical Anne. . . . Muller has returned the young writer to history. Susan Jacoby, Newsday Mueller's book reminds us of the powerful role of contingency in history. It also ably celebrates what it calls a life of singular intensity' and offers noteworthy additions to Anne Frank's story . . . .Mueller's biography, in the end, does exactly what it should: it sends us back to Anne's words. Julia M. Klein, The Philadelphia Inquirer Muller offers an especially impressive portrait of Anne's father, Otto, as well as a chilling, convincing theory about the Dutch informant who likely led the Gestapo to the secret annex. Carolyn Alessio, Chicago Tribune (editor's choice) A thoughtful book, honorable and fluent . . . humane. Robert Skloot, The Nation The author's literary gifts and exhaustive research distinguish Anne Frank: The Biography as both an absorbing and definitive text. Deborah Hornblow, The Hartford Courant Muller succeeds in rounding out the picture of the sensitive and talented Jewish schoolgirl though interviews with friends and family, letters and previously unavailable documents. The Minneapolis Star Tribune The first serious biography of Anne Frank. David Barnouw and Gerrold van der Stroom, editors of The Diary of Anne Frank: The Critical Edition
Author Information
Melissa Müller is the author of numerous books on the history of the Third Reich. Her biography of Anne Frank has been translated into eighteen languages to date. Müller lives in Munich with her family.
