Overview

In June, 1942, Anne Frank received a red-and-white checked diary for her thirteenth birthday, just weeks before she and her family went into hiding from the Nazis in an Amsterdam attic. For two years, with ever-increasing maturity, Anne crafted a memoir that has become one of the most compelling, intimate, and important documents of modern history - grappling with the unfolding events of World War II, until the hidden attic was raided in August, 1944. But the diary of Anne Frank, argues Francine Prose, is as much a work of art as an historical record. Through close reading, she marvels at the teenaged Frank's skillfully natural narrative voice, at her finely tuned dialogue and ability to turn living people into characters. And Prose addresses what few of the diary's millions of readers may know: this book is a deliberate work of art. During her last months in hiding, Anne Frank furiously revised and edited her work, crafting a piece of literature that she hoped would be read by the public after the war. Read it has been. Few books have been as influential for so long, and Prose thoroughly investigates the diary's unique afterlife: the obstacles and criticism Otto Frank faced in publishing his daughter's words; the controversy surrounding the diary's ""Broadway"" and film adaptations, and the 1950's social mores that reduced it to a tale of adolescent angst and love; the claims of conspiracy theorists who have cried fraud, and the scientific analysis that proved them wrong. Finally, having assigned the book to her own students, Prose considers the rewards and challenges of teaching one of the world's most read, and banned, books.

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9780061430794

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Reviews

A fascinating book...riveting to read... -- Anne Roiphe, Moment Magazine Provocative.... A penetrating analysis. -- Los Angeles Times Provocative.penetrating.With ANNE FRANK, then, Prose means to remove Frank from the wistful amber of her posthumous celebrity and reveal her to us in a more realistic light. -- Los Angeles Times Illuminating.A compelling story.Francine Prose explains some of the many sides of this remarkable story. -- Washington Post This is an amazing book.thorough, thoughtfully, beautifully written.[It] focuses on Anne Frank as an accomplished writer.I was thrilled to find it. -- Miami Herald Prose's book is a stunning achievement.Now Anne Frank stands before us.a figure who will live not only in history but also in the literature she aspired to create. -- Minneapolis Star Tribune Substantially researched and wide-ranging.This probing and informed book introduces readers to a far more complex and accomplished young woman than the Anne we met in our adolescence. -- Jewish Book World Compelling.With compassion and grace, Prose looks at Anne Frank as Anne wished to be seen: above all, as a writer. -- Christian Science Monitor A deeply felt reappraisal of the work and its global impact.... [Prose] makes a persuasive argument for Anne Frank s literary genius. --New York Times Book Review Passionate A sensitive, beautifully written and fascinating account of the myriad aspects of Anne Frank s life, death and diary --Haaretz (Israel) Provocative.... A penetrating analysis. --Los Angeles Times Francine Prose...takes Anne s story and adds to it a new perspective....Prose tells this story with tremendous beauty, pathos and a profound awareness of tragic coincidence. --San Francisco Chronicle Prose is clear-headed, tough, and fair, and her book, though in places immensely sad, is superb. It should be cherished alongside the masterpiece that inspired it. --Boston Sunday Globe This is an amazing book thorough, thoughtfully, beautifully written [It] focuses on Anne Frank as an accomplished writer I was thrilled to find it. --Miami Herald A valuable resource useful and well-written and researched --Philadelphia Inquirer Illuminating A compelling story Francine Prose explains some of the many sides of this remarkable story. --Washington Post Prose is commanding and illuminating...definitive, deeply moving inquiry into the life of the young, imperiled artist.... Extraordinary testimony to the power of literature and compassion. --Booklist (starred review) An impressively far-reaching critical work, an elegant study both edifying and entertaining...full of keen observations and fascinating disputes. --New York Times A fascinating book...riveting to read... --Anne Roiphe, Moment Magazine Compelling With compassion and grace, Prose looks at Anne Frank as Anne wished to be seen: above all, as a writer. --Christian Science Monitor Provocative penetrating With ANNE FRANK, then, Prose means to remove Frank from the wistful amber of her posthumous celebrity and reveal her to us in a more realistic light. --Los Angeles Times Substantially researched and wide-ranging This probing and informed book introduces readers to a far more complex and accomplished young woman than the Anne we met in our adolescence. --Jewish Book World Impassioned compelling No one has made the case as convincingly and forcefully as Francine Prose does that Anne Frank aspired to be taken seriously as a writer and should be. --San Diego Union-Tribune Prose admirably recreates the events in the attic over the years no small feat [with] all the drama of a classic whodunit Transcendent criticism [A] case so brilliantly proven. --Chicago Tribune Talented author Francine Prose approaches Anne Frank with the awe and respect of one writer for another Prose s research uncovers what many will be surprised to discover. --Jerusalem Post Prose s book is a stunning achievement Now Anne Frank stands before us a figure who will live not only in history but also in the literature she aspired to create. --Minneapolis Star Tribune A valuable resource...useful and well-written and -researched --Philadelphia Inquirer Francine Prose...takes Anne's story and adds to it a new perspective....Prose tells this story with tremendous beauty, pathos and a profound awareness of tragic coincidence. --San Francisco Chronicle Compelling...With compassion and grace, Prose looks at Anne Frank as Anne wished to be seen: above all, as a writer. --Christian Science Monitor Provocative...penetrating...With ANNE FRANK, then, Prose means to remove Frank from the wistful amber of her posthumous celebrity and reveal her to us in a more realistic light. --Los Angeles Times Impassioned...compelling...No one has made the case as convincingly and forcefully as Francine Prose does that Anne Frank aspired to be taken seriously as a writer--and should be. --San Diego Union-Tribune An impressively far-reaching critical work, an elegant study both edifying and entertaining...full of keen observations and fascinating disputes. --New York Times This is an amazing book...thorough, thoughtfully, beautifully written...[It] focuses on Anne Frank as an accomplished writer...I was thrilled to find it. --Miami Herald A fascinating book...riveting to read... --Anne Roiphe, Moment Magazine Talented author Francine Prose approaches Anne Frank with the awe and respect of one writer for another...Prose's research uncovers what many will be surprised to discover. --Jerusalem Post Passionate...A sensitive, beautifully written and fascinating account of the myriad aspects of Anne Frank's life, death and diary --Haaretz (Israel) A deeply felt reappraisal of the work and its global impact.... [Prose] makes a persuasive argument for Anne Frank's literary genius. --New York Times Book Review Illuminating...A compelling story...Francine Prose explains some of the many sides of this remarkable story. --Washington Post Substantially researched and wide-ranging...This probing and informed book introduces readers to a far more complex and accomplished young woman than the Anne we met in our adolescence. --Jewish Book World Provocative.... A penetrating analysis. --Los Angeles Times Prose's book is a stunning achievement...Now Anne Frank stands before us...a figure who will live not only in history but also in the literature she aspired to create. --Minneapolis Star Tribune Prose admirably recreates the events in the attic over the years--no small feat--[with] all the drama of a classic whodunit...Transcendent criticism...[A] case so brilliantly proven. --Chicago Tribune Prose is clear-headed, tough, and fair, and her book, though in places immensely sad, is superb. It should be cherished alongside the masterpiece that inspired it. --Boston Sunday Globe Prose is commanding and illuminating...definitive, deeply moving inquiry into the life of the young, imperiled artist.... Extraordinary testimony to the power of literature and compassion. --Booklist (starred review)

Compelling.With compassion and grace, Prose looks at Anne Frank as Anne wished to be seen: above all, as a writer. -- Christian Science Monitor

""Prose takes the 21st-century reader deep inside Anne's annex and invaded city, into the minds of those who have since laid claim to her legend, and into the heart of this committed young writer whose creative spirit lives on."" - O Magazine ""A lively and illuminating disquisition....an impressively far-reaching critical work, an elegant study both edifying and entertaining. In a book full of keen observations and fascinating disputes...Ms. Prose looks in all directions to find noteworthy material. . . . This is a Grade A example of what a smart, precise and impassioned teacher can do."" - Janet Maslin, New York Times ""An impressively far-reaching critical work, an elegant study both edifying and entertaining. . . full of keen observations and fascinating disputes."" - New York Times ""Francine Prose. . . takes Anne's story and adds to it a new perspective. . . . Prose tells this story with tremendous beauty, pathos and a profound awareness of tragic coincidence."" - San Francisco Chronicle ""Compelling. . . . With compassion and grace, Prose looks at Anne Frank as Anne wished to be seen: above all, as a writer."" - Christian Science Monitor ""Impassioned. . . compelling. . . . No one has made the case as convincingly and forcefully as Francine Prose does that Anne Frank aspired to be taken seriously as a writer--and should be."" - San Diego Union-Tribune ""Most importantly, Prose takes Anne Frank seriously as a writer, applying her crystalline critical insight to the work itself...[Prose gives] us the fullest sense of what Anne Frank was like--with contagious enthusiasm."" - Marion Winik, Newsday ""A fascinating book...riveting to read..."" - Anne Roiphe, Moment Magazine ""Provocative.... A penetrating analysis."" - Los Angeles Times ""A deeply felt reappraisal of the work and its global impact.... [Prose] makes a persuasive argument for Anne Frank's literary genius."" - New York Times Book Review ""A valuable resource...useful and well-written and -researched"" - Philadelphia Inquirer ""Passionate...A sensitive, beautifully written and fascinating account of the myriad aspects of Anne Frank's life, death and diary"" - Haaretz (Israel) ""Illuminating. . . . A compelling story...Francine Prose explains some of the many sides of this remarkable story."" - Washington Post ""Talented author Francine Prose approaches Anne Frank with the awe and respect of one writer for another...Prose's research uncovers what many will be surprised to discover."" - Jerusalem Post ""Prose is clear-headed, tough, and fair, and her book, though in places immensely sad, is superb. It should be cherished alongside the masterpiece that inspired it."" - Boston Sunday Globe ""Prose's book is a stunning achievement. . . . Now Anne Frank stands before us. . . a figure who will live not only in history but also in the literature she aspired to create."" - Minneapolis Star Tribune ""Substantially researched and wide-ranging...This probing and informed book introduces readers to a far more complex and accomplished young woman than the Anne we met in our adolescence."" - Jewish Book World ""Prose is commanding and illuminating...definitive, deeply moving inquiry into the life of the young, imperiled artist.... Extraordinary testimony to the power of literature and compassion."" - Booklist (starred review) ""This is an amazing book...thorough, thoughtfully, beautifully written...[It] focuses on Anne Frank as an accomplished writer...I was thrilled to find it."" - Miami Herald ""Provocative. . . penetrating. . . . Prose means to remove Frank from the wistful amber of her posthumous celebrity and reveal her to us in a more realistic light."" - Los Angeles Times ""Prose admirably recreates the events in the attic over the years--no small feat--[with] all the drama of a classic whodunit...Transcendent criticism...[A] case so brilliantly proven."" - Chicago Tribune

Author Information

Francine Prose is the author of fifteen books of fiction. Her most recent work of nonfiction, READING LIKE A WRITER, was a New York Times bestseller,

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