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Anne Frank's Tales from the Secret Annex: A Collection of Her Short Stories, Fables, and Lesser-Known Writings
Hiding from the Nazis in the "Secret Annexe" of an old office building in Amsterdam, a thirteen-year-old girl named Anne Frank became a writer. The now famous diary of her private life and thoughts reveals only part of Anne's story, however. This book completes the portrait of this remarkable and talented young author.
Tales from the Secret Annex is a complete collection of Anne Frank's lesser-known writings: short stories, fables, personal reminiscences, and an unfinished novel. Here, too, are portions of the diary originally withheld from publication by her father. By turns fantastical, rebellious, touching, funny, and heartbreaking, these writings reveal the astonishing range of Anne Frank's wisdom and imagination--as well as her indomitable love of life. Anne Frank's Tales from the Secret Annex is a testaments to this determined young woman's extraordinary genius and to the persistent strength of the creative spirit.
From the Paperback edition.
Tales from the Secret Annex is a complete collection of Anne Frank's lesser-known writings: short stories, fables, personal reminiscences, and an unfinished novel. Here, too, are portions of the diary originally withheld from publication by her father. By turns fantastical, rebellious, touching, funny, and heartbreaking, these writings reveal the astonishing range of Anne Frank's wisdom and imagination--as well as her indomitable love of life. Anne Frank's Tales from the Secret Annex is a testaments to this determined young woman's extraordinary genius and to the persistent strength of the creative spirit.
From the Paperback edition.
189 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1960
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12870 people want to read
About the author
Anne Frank
232 books5,925 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Annelies Marie Frank was a German-born Jewish girl who kept a diary documenting her life in hiding amid Nazi persecution during the German occupation of the Netherlands. A celebrated diarist, Frank described everyday life from her family's hiding place in an Amsterdam attic. She gained fame posthumously and became one of the most-discussed Jewish victims of the Holocaust with the 1947 publication of The Diary of a Young Girl (originally Het Achterhuis in Dutch, lit. 'the back house'; English: The Secret Annex), which documents her life in hiding from 1942 to 1944. It is one of the world's best-known books and has been the basis for several plays and films.
Frank was born in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1929. In 1934, when she was four-and-a-half, Frank and her family moved to Amsterdam in the Netherlands after Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party gained control over Germany. By May 1940, the family was trapped in Amsterdam by the German occupation of the Netherlands. Frank lost her German citizenship in 1941 and became stateless. Despite spending most of her life in the Netherlands and being a de facto Dutch national, she never officially became a Dutch citizen. As persecutions of the Jewish population increased in July 1942, the family went into hiding in concealed rooms behind a bookcase in the building where Frank's father, Otto Frank, worked. The hiding place is notably referred to as the "secret annex". Until the family's arrest by the Gestapo on 4 August 1944, Frank kept and regularly wrote in a diary she had received as a birthday present in 1942.
Following their arrest, the Franks were transported to concentration camps. On 1 November 1944, Anne Frank and her sister, Margot, were transferred from Auschwitz to Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, where they died (presumably of typhus) a few months later. They were estimated by the Red Cross to have died in March, with Dutch authorities setting 31 March as the official date. Later research has alternatively suggested that they may have died in February or early March.
Otto, the only Holocaust survivor in the Frank family, returned to Amsterdam after World War II to find that Anne's diary had been saved by his secretaries, Miep Gies and Bep Voskuijl. Moved by his daughter's repeated wishes to be an author, Otto Frank published her diary in 1947. It was translated from its original Dutch version and first published in English in 1952 as The Diary of a Young Girl, and has since been translated into over 70 languages.
Annelies Marie Frank was a German-born Jewish girl who kept a diary documenting her life in hiding amid Nazi persecution during the German occupation of the Netherlands. A celebrated diarist, Frank described everyday life from her family's hiding place in an Amsterdam attic. She gained fame posthumously and became one of the most-discussed Jewish victims of the Holocaust with the 1947 publication of The Diary of a Young Girl (originally Het Achterhuis in Dutch, lit. 'the back house'; English: The Secret Annex), which documents her life in hiding from 1942 to 1944. It is one of the world's best-known books and has been the basis for several plays and films.
Frank was born in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1929. In 1934, when she was four-and-a-half, Frank and her family moved to Amsterdam in the Netherlands after Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party gained control over Germany. By May 1940, the family was trapped in Amsterdam by the German occupation of the Netherlands. Frank lost her German citizenship in 1941 and became stateless. Despite spending most of her life in the Netherlands and being a de facto Dutch national, she never officially became a Dutch citizen. As persecutions of the Jewish population increased in July 1942, the family went into hiding in concealed rooms behind a bookcase in the building where Frank's father, Otto Frank, worked. The hiding place is notably referred to as the "secret annex". Until the family's arrest by the Gestapo on 4 August 1944, Frank kept and regularly wrote in a diary she had received as a birthday present in 1942.
Following their arrest, the Franks were transported to concentration camps. On 1 November 1944, Anne Frank and her sister, Margot, were transferred from Auschwitz to Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, where they died (presumably of typhus) a few months later. They were estimated by the Red Cross to have died in March, with Dutch authorities setting 31 March as the official date. Later research has alternatively suggested that they may have died in February or early March.
Otto, the only Holocaust survivor in the Frank family, returned to Amsterdam after World War II to find that Anne's diary had been saved by his secretaries, Miep Gies and Bep Voskuijl. Moved by his daughter's repeated wishes to be an author, Otto Frank published her diary in 1947. It was translated from its original Dutch version and first published in English in 1952 as The Diary of a Young Girl, and has since been translated into over 70 languages.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 407 reviews
December 19, 2016
She was a real teenager, she was human with desires, anger, anxiety, curiosity. This was probably a more accurate portrait of what happened in the annex than what her father edited to present a pretty picture. She was so close to surviving the Holocaust. We are blessed that she left her diary behind.
January 10, 2019
I decided to read Anne Frank's Tales from the Secret Annex after I finished her Diary. Her Diary (The Diary of Anne Frank) was still on my mind and having had this Kindle book for years, it was about time to read. When I glanced at the chapters in "The Tales from the Secret Annex", (TTFTSA); future abbreviation, it seemed like there would be a lot of stories that I had just read in her Diary. This was about 30% Diary material, I will list the chapters and comment on this by saying "new", meaning not from the Diary. When you see quotes with a "D" next to it, this is from her Diary and other quotes will be from TTFTSA.
Below I will quote from the Diary and place where it has a significance to the short stories.
"Mr. Bolkestein, the Cabinet Minister, speaking on the Dutch broadcast from London, said that after the war a collection would be made of diaries and letters dealing with the war. Of course, everyone pounced on my diary. Just imagine how interesting it would be if I were to publish a novel about the Secret Annex. The title alone would make people think it was a detective story." From "D"
"Anne Frank is best known as the writer of her world-famous diary, though she tried her hand at other genres as well. Between September 1943 and May 1944, Anne wrote numerous stories, fairy tales, essays and personal reminiscences in a stiff-backed notebook reserved for that purpose. She did her utmost to make it resemble a real book, copying her stories neatly into the notebook and adding a title page, a table of contents, page numbers and so forth. Her collection of tales is now reproduced here in full, in a new translation, in the exact order in which she wrote them in her notebook."
Chapters ------
(1)
"Was There a Break-in? Wednesday evening, March 24, 1943"- this is from "D", it seemed word for word. Anne describes robbers coming to steal from the factory.
(2)
"The Dentist Wednesday, December 8, 1942" - from "D" seems word for word.
(3)
"Sausage Day Friday, December 10, 1942" from "D" there is almost word for word but something are missing from "D".
(4)
"The Flea Wednesday, July 7, 1943" New not in the "D" though this and other chapters are dated, which is the case here. Fleas are mentioned in the "D" but not under this date and a different material.
(5)
"Do You Remember? Memories of my schooldays at the Jewish Lyceum" New- random memories of school. I had to laugh at Anne's apology letter to class because it seems not a true apology letter but mixed with insolent and sorry tones.
(6)
"The Best Little Table Tuesday, July 13, 1943" from the "D" Dussel and Anne fight from working at the table rights.
(7)
"Anne in Theory Monday, August 2, 1943" from "D"Dussel and Mrs. van Daan lectures Anne.
(8)
"The Battle of the Potatoes Wednesday, August 4, 1943" New, potatoes in "D" but this is different.
(9)
"Evenings and Nights in the Annex Wednesday, August 4, 1943" from ("D") seemed word for word.
(10)
"Lunch Break Thursday, August 5, 1943" from "D" with changes
(11)
"The Annex Eight at the Dinner Table Thursday, August 5, 1943" from "D" Seems word for word but under August 9, 1943 in the diary.
(12)
"Wenn Die Uhr Halb Neune Schlägt …* Friday, August 6, 1943" from "D" Word for word it seems but August 23, 1943 under the diary.
(13)
"Villains! Friday, August 6, 1943" from."D"; August entry in diary less mentioned there then here.
(14)
"A Daily Chore in Our Little Community: Peeling Potatoes! Friday, August 6, 1943" August 10, 1943 in the diary word for word
(15)
"Freedom in the Annex Friday, August 6, 1943" from "D" Word for word but August 10, 1943 in diary.
(16)
"Kaatje Saturday, August 7, 1943" new- Not in the diary. Anne makes up a story about a girl she sees that lives nearby.
(17)
"The Janitor's Family Saturday, August 7, 1943" New- Not in diary; Anne makes up a story bout the janitor's family.
(18)
"My First Day at the Lyceum Wednesday, August 11, 1943" All new about first day at new school.
(19)
"A Biology Class Wednesday, August 11, 1943" new
(20)
"A Math Class Thursday, August 12, 1943" New but also quack name mentioned.
(21)
"Eva's Dream Wednesday, October 6, 1943" New. Eva has a visit in her dream of a little elf who shows her nature and the botanicals; that personality.
“Eva’s Dream” is my best fairy tale, and the odd thing is that I don’t have the faintest idea where it came from. Parts of “Cady’s Life” are also good, but as a whole it’s nothing special. I’m my best and harshest critic." From "D"
"I want to ask the magazine The Prince if they’ll take one of my fairy tales, under a pseudonym, of course. But up to now all my fairy tales have been too long, so I don’t think I have much of a chance." From "D"
(22)
"Roomers or Renters Friday, October 15, 1943" New, renting to different people a room in the family's house.
(23)
"Paulas Flight Wednesday, December 22, 1943" Anne copied these stories told to her by her dad, who had a gift of story telling about "Bad Paula" new -, Paula a young girl is naughty and when going to an airport boards a plane where soldiers are about to bomb Russia. The plane crashes and the Russians send the girl to a farm till the end of the war but Paula decided to go home to see her family which are no longer there but their paths cross. Bad Paula stories were told over the years to her.
(24)
"Delusions of Stardom Friday, December 24, 1943 My answer to Mrs. van Daan, who's forever asking me why I don't want to be a movie star" New -This was interesting because it shows us about Anne's thoughts on movie stars, America and her morals. Priscilla Lane who is adorable as were her sisters; I wonder if she heard this short story that she and her family are mentioned in.
(25)
"Katrien Friday, February 11, 1944" new - a lonely girl tries to win friends. I found this story very sad and mature thinking about life.
(26)
"Sundays Sunday, February 20, 1944" from "D" but more.
(27)
"The Flower Girl Sunday, February 20, 1944" new - a young girl sells flowers and works hard.
(28)
"My First Interview Tuesday, February 22, 1944" New, Not located in diary though she does mention Peter other places in the diary.
(29)
"The Den of Iniquity Tuesday, February 22, 1944" New not in diary. Views on dress and nudity.
(30)
"The Guardian Angel Tuesday, February 22, 1944" New - a granddaughter is left alone after her grandmother dies.
(31)
"Happiness Sunday, March 12, 1944" New - a girl talks to a boy and both no longer feel alone. She is kind of writing about herself and Peter here.
(32)
"Fear Saturday, March 25, 1944" New - a young girl finds peace amongst war. New - a young girl finds peace amongst war.
"Now that the war has long been over, I know why my fear vanished beneath that spacious sky. You see, once I was alone with nature I realized, without actually being aware of it, that fear doesn't help, that it doesn't get you anywhere. Anyone who's as frightened as I was should look to nature and realize that God is much closer than most people think. From that moment on, though countless bombs fell close by, I was never truly afraid again."
This quote tells so much about Anne and wise at such a young age. I so agree with her sentiments about nature and God; inner strength from nature and a source of inner happiness.
(33)
"Give!* Sunday, March 26, 1944" New - the art of giving.
"Everyone is born equal; we will all die and shed our earthly glory. Riches, power and fame last for only a few short years. Why do we cling so desperately to these fleeting things? Why can't people who have more than enough for their own needs give the rest to their fellow human beings? Why should anyone have to have such a hard life for those few short years on earth?"
(34)
"The Wise Old Gnome Tuesday, April 18, 1944" New -old Gnome teaches a lesson.
(35)
"Blurry the Explorer Sunday, April 23, 1944" New - a teddy bear leaves home to explore the world.
"I’ve written an amusing story called “Blurry the Explorer,” which was a big hit with my three listeners." From "D"
(36)
"The Fairy Friday, May 12, 1944" New - a fairy who has money gives it away and helps others.
"I want to ask the magazine The Prince if they’ll take one of my fairy tales, under a pseudonym, of course. But up to now all my fairy tales have been too long, so I don’t think I have much of a chance." From "D"
"I want to try to finish my story about Ellen, the fairy. Just for fun, I can give it to Father on his birthday, together with all the copyrights. See you later!" From "D"
"I’ve finished my story about Ellen, the fairy. I’ve copied it out on nice notepaper, decorated it with red ink and sewn the pages together." From "D"
(37)
"Riek Undated" new-giving story
(38)
"Jo Undated"new - A girl finds strength that she thought she lost.
(39)
"Why? Undated" new- Some of this is at the beginning but this is all.
(40)
"Who Is Interesting? Undated" New- finding someone interesting on a train.
(41)
"Cady's Life" An unfinished story which I will include some note from her Diary that will give you an idea.
"I haven’t worked on “Cady’s Life” for ages. In my mind I’ve worked out exactly what happens next, but the story doesn’t seem to be coming along very well. I might never finish it, and it’ll wind up in the wastepaper basket or the stove. That’s a horrible thought, but then I say to myself, “At the age of fourteen and with so little experience, you can’t write about philosophy.” So onward and upward, with renewed spirits. It’ll all work out, because I’m determined to write!" From "D"
"Anne also started a novel, which she called Cady's Life, at the back of Diary 2—the second volume of her diary— where there were still a number of blank pages. It is not known exactly when she began to write Cady's Life. However, from comments in her diary we can conclude that she must have been working on the “bits and pieces” during the first half of 1944. For one reason or another she never finished the novel, though in her diary entry of May 11, 1944, she briefly sketched the remainder of the plot. Three fragments of Cady's Life, which were written on loose sheets of paper, have also been included in this edition. No attempt has been made to insert them in the proper chronological order in the story, since we have no way of knowing where—or indeed whether—Anne intended to include them. But because there is a gap in the chronology, the three fragments have been inserted before the final, very moving, piece in Anne's unfinished novel. Interested readers are referred to The Diary of Anne Frank: The Revised Critical Edition (2003), which reproduces Anne Frank's Tales from the Secret Annex and Cady's Life in every detail. Gerrold van der Stroom's introduction to that section provides a wealth of background information."
I added this here about the plot of Cady's story because if you read it in this book it is quite incomplete and this next quote will help you understand where she was going with the story.
"You’ve known for a long time that my greatest wish is to be a journalist, and later on, a famous writer. We’ll have to wait and see if these grand illusions (or delusions!) will ever come true, but up to now I’ve had no lack of topics. In any case, after the war I’d like to publish a book called The Secret Annex. It remains to be seen whether I’ll succeed, but my diary can serve as the basis. I also need to finish “Cady’s Life.” I’ve thought up the rest of the plot. After being cured in the sanatorium, Cady goes back home and continues writing to Hans. It’s 1941, and it doesn’t take her long to discover Hans’s Nazi sympathies, and since Cady is deeply concerned with the plight of the Jews and of her friend Marianne, they begin drifting apart. They meet and get back together, but break up when Hans takes up with another girl. Cady is shattered, and because she wants to have a good job, she studies nursing. After graduation she accepts a position, at the urging of her father’s friends, as a nurse in a TB sanatorium in Switzerland. During her first vacation she goes to Lake Como, where she runs into Hans. He tells her that two years earlier he’d married Cady’s successor, but that his wife took her life in a fit of depression. Now that he’s seen his little Cady again, he realizes how much he loves her, and once more asks for her hand in marriage. Cady refuses, even though, in spite of herself, she loves him as much as ever. But her pride holds her back. Hans goes away, and years later Cady learns that he’s wound up in England, where he’s struggling with ill health. When she’s twenty-seven, Cady marries a well-to-do man from the country, named Simon. She grows to love him, but not as much as Hans. She has two daughters and a son, Lilian, Judith and Nico. She and Simon are happy together, but Hans is always in the back of her mind until one night she dreams of him and says farewell. It’s not sentimental nonsense: it’s based on the story of Father’s life." From "D"
My thoughts- Did Anne Frank have talent enough to be a writer as an adult? I think these stories by a teenager have promise, so I think she could have made it. Her stories have feeling and insight of suffering not just from a war torn environment but many stories draw into her characters dealing with things in life not very easy. The story about the Teddy Bear going out in the world shows how our surroundings can play a part in how are life is lead and people having more charge of us than we would like to admit. Cady's Life is interesting but when you read about how she wants the story to play out as mentioned in her Diary, you see the serious writer.
When reading these stories and thinking about Anne's life, another author that was killed after arriving in Auschwitz, Irene Nemirovsky came to my mind, quite similar in a way. Though Anne was much younger than Irene both used their relationships with their mothers in their works. Their relationship with their mothers was quite cool and it is obvious and shows up many times. I think Anne's mother would have helped her daughter and grandkids if trouble needed her help, Irene's mom living in Paris actually refused to help her daughter and granddaughters, who luckily had to hide with a good friend and not easily done. Both these authors had unfinished works because of the Final Solution of The Nazis and being Jewish. Irene's Suite Francaise is her example and Anne's is Cady's Life. Both these unfinished stories had a war related stories and both had to find writing material that was scare. Anne writing in her Diary and Irene writing in extremely small print. (I plan on re reading Suite Francaise in 2021)
The loss of these women is just so heart breaking, the reason for their death makes no sense and shows such barbarism and credulity.
Was this worth reading? Yes, I came away understanding Anne Frank better and her philosophy which helped her deal with life. Anne has fulfilled her wish below and making future generations of all races aware of the dangers that make men turning away from goodness and embracing evil.
"I want to be useful or bring enjoyment to all people, even those I’ve never met. I want to go on living even after my death!" From "D"
Below I will quote from the Diary and place where it has a significance to the short stories.
"Mr. Bolkestein, the Cabinet Minister, speaking on the Dutch broadcast from London, said that after the war a collection would be made of diaries and letters dealing with the war. Of course, everyone pounced on my diary. Just imagine how interesting it would be if I were to publish a novel about the Secret Annex. The title alone would make people think it was a detective story." From "D"
"Anne Frank is best known as the writer of her world-famous diary, though she tried her hand at other genres as well. Between September 1943 and May 1944, Anne wrote numerous stories, fairy tales, essays and personal reminiscences in a stiff-backed notebook reserved for that purpose. She did her utmost to make it resemble a real book, copying her stories neatly into the notebook and adding a title page, a table of contents, page numbers and so forth. Her collection of tales is now reproduced here in full, in a new translation, in the exact order in which she wrote them in her notebook."
Chapters ------
(1)
"Was There a Break-in? Wednesday evening, March 24, 1943"- this is from "D", it seemed word for word. Anne describes robbers coming to steal from the factory.
(2)
"The Dentist Wednesday, December 8, 1942" - from "D" seems word for word.
(3)
"Sausage Day Friday, December 10, 1942" from "D" there is almost word for word but something are missing from "D".
(4)
"The Flea Wednesday, July 7, 1943" New not in the "D" though this and other chapters are dated, which is the case here. Fleas are mentioned in the "D" but not under this date and a different material.
(5)
"Do You Remember? Memories of my schooldays at the Jewish Lyceum" New- random memories of school. I had to laugh at Anne's apology letter to class because it seems not a true apology letter but mixed with insolent and sorry tones.
(6)
"The Best Little Table Tuesday, July 13, 1943" from the "D" Dussel and Anne fight from working at the table rights.
(7)
"Anne in Theory Monday, August 2, 1943" from "D"Dussel and Mrs. van Daan lectures Anne.
(8)
"The Battle of the Potatoes Wednesday, August 4, 1943" New, potatoes in "D" but this is different.
(9)
"Evenings and Nights in the Annex Wednesday, August 4, 1943" from ("D") seemed word for word.
(10)
"Lunch Break Thursday, August 5, 1943" from "D" with changes
(11)
"The Annex Eight at the Dinner Table Thursday, August 5, 1943" from "D" Seems word for word but under August 9, 1943 in the diary.
(12)
"Wenn Die Uhr Halb Neune Schlägt …* Friday, August 6, 1943" from "D" Word for word it seems but August 23, 1943 under the diary.
(13)
"Villains! Friday, August 6, 1943" from."D"; August entry in diary less mentioned there then here.
(14)
"A Daily Chore in Our Little Community: Peeling Potatoes! Friday, August 6, 1943" August 10, 1943 in the diary word for word
(15)
"Freedom in the Annex Friday, August 6, 1943" from "D" Word for word but August 10, 1943 in diary.
(16)
"Kaatje Saturday, August 7, 1943" new- Not in the diary. Anne makes up a story about a girl she sees that lives nearby.
(17)
"The Janitor's Family Saturday, August 7, 1943" New- Not in diary; Anne makes up a story bout the janitor's family.
(18)
"My First Day at the Lyceum Wednesday, August 11, 1943" All new about first day at new school.
(19)
"A Biology Class Wednesday, August 11, 1943" new
(20)
"A Math Class Thursday, August 12, 1943" New but also quack name mentioned.
(21)
"Eva's Dream Wednesday, October 6, 1943" New. Eva has a visit in her dream of a little elf who shows her nature and the botanicals; that personality.
“Eva’s Dream” is my best fairy tale, and the odd thing is that I don’t have the faintest idea where it came from. Parts of “Cady’s Life” are also good, but as a whole it’s nothing special. I’m my best and harshest critic." From "D"
"I want to ask the magazine The Prince if they’ll take one of my fairy tales, under a pseudonym, of course. But up to now all my fairy tales have been too long, so I don’t think I have much of a chance." From "D"
(22)
"Roomers or Renters Friday, October 15, 1943" New, renting to different people a room in the family's house.
(23)
"Paulas Flight Wednesday, December 22, 1943" Anne copied these stories told to her by her dad, who had a gift of story telling about "Bad Paula" new -, Paula a young girl is naughty and when going to an airport boards a plane where soldiers are about to bomb Russia. The plane crashes and the Russians send the girl to a farm till the end of the war but Paula decided to go home to see her family which are no longer there but their paths cross. Bad Paula stories were told over the years to her.
(24)
"Delusions of Stardom Friday, December 24, 1943 My answer to Mrs. van Daan, who's forever asking me why I don't want to be a movie star" New -This was interesting because it shows us about Anne's thoughts on movie stars, America and her morals. Priscilla Lane who is adorable as were her sisters; I wonder if she heard this short story that she and her family are mentioned in.
(25)
"Katrien Friday, February 11, 1944" new - a lonely girl tries to win friends. I found this story very sad and mature thinking about life.
(26)
"Sundays Sunday, February 20, 1944" from "D" but more.
(27)
"The Flower Girl Sunday, February 20, 1944" new - a young girl sells flowers and works hard.
(28)
"My First Interview Tuesday, February 22, 1944" New, Not located in diary though she does mention Peter other places in the diary.
(29)
"The Den of Iniquity Tuesday, February 22, 1944" New not in diary. Views on dress and nudity.
(30)
"The Guardian Angel Tuesday, February 22, 1944" New - a granddaughter is left alone after her grandmother dies.
(31)
"Happiness Sunday, March 12, 1944" New - a girl talks to a boy and both no longer feel alone. She is kind of writing about herself and Peter here.
(32)
"Fear Saturday, March 25, 1944" New - a young girl finds peace amongst war. New - a young girl finds peace amongst war.
"Now that the war has long been over, I know why my fear vanished beneath that spacious sky. You see, once I was alone with nature I realized, without actually being aware of it, that fear doesn't help, that it doesn't get you anywhere. Anyone who's as frightened as I was should look to nature and realize that God is much closer than most people think. From that moment on, though countless bombs fell close by, I was never truly afraid again."
This quote tells so much about Anne and wise at such a young age. I so agree with her sentiments about nature and God; inner strength from nature and a source of inner happiness.
(33)
"Give!* Sunday, March 26, 1944" New - the art of giving.
"Everyone is born equal; we will all die and shed our earthly glory. Riches, power and fame last for only a few short years. Why do we cling so desperately to these fleeting things? Why can't people who have more than enough for their own needs give the rest to their fellow human beings? Why should anyone have to have such a hard life for those few short years on earth?"
(34)
"The Wise Old Gnome Tuesday, April 18, 1944" New -old Gnome teaches a lesson.
(35)
"Blurry the Explorer Sunday, April 23, 1944" New - a teddy bear leaves home to explore the world.
"I’ve written an amusing story called “Blurry the Explorer,” which was a big hit with my three listeners." From "D"
(36)
"The Fairy Friday, May 12, 1944" New - a fairy who has money gives it away and helps others.
"I want to ask the magazine The Prince if they’ll take one of my fairy tales, under a pseudonym, of course. But up to now all my fairy tales have been too long, so I don’t think I have much of a chance." From "D"
"I want to try to finish my story about Ellen, the fairy. Just for fun, I can give it to Father on his birthday, together with all the copyrights. See you later!" From "D"
"I’ve finished my story about Ellen, the fairy. I’ve copied it out on nice notepaper, decorated it with red ink and sewn the pages together." From "D"
(37)
"Riek Undated" new-giving story
(38)
"Jo Undated"new - A girl finds strength that she thought she lost.
(39)
"Why? Undated" new- Some of this is at the beginning but this is all.
(40)
"Who Is Interesting? Undated" New- finding someone interesting on a train.
(41)
"Cady's Life" An unfinished story which I will include some note from her Diary that will give you an idea.
"I haven’t worked on “Cady’s Life” for ages. In my mind I’ve worked out exactly what happens next, but the story doesn’t seem to be coming along very well. I might never finish it, and it’ll wind up in the wastepaper basket or the stove. That’s a horrible thought, but then I say to myself, “At the age of fourteen and with so little experience, you can’t write about philosophy.” So onward and upward, with renewed spirits. It’ll all work out, because I’m determined to write!" From "D"
"Anne also started a novel, which she called Cady's Life, at the back of Diary 2—the second volume of her diary— where there were still a number of blank pages. It is not known exactly when she began to write Cady's Life. However, from comments in her diary we can conclude that she must have been working on the “bits and pieces” during the first half of 1944. For one reason or another she never finished the novel, though in her diary entry of May 11, 1944, she briefly sketched the remainder of the plot. Three fragments of Cady's Life, which were written on loose sheets of paper, have also been included in this edition. No attempt has been made to insert them in the proper chronological order in the story, since we have no way of knowing where—or indeed whether—Anne intended to include them. But because there is a gap in the chronology, the three fragments have been inserted before the final, very moving, piece in Anne's unfinished novel. Interested readers are referred to The Diary of Anne Frank: The Revised Critical Edition (2003), which reproduces Anne Frank's Tales from the Secret Annex and Cady's Life in every detail. Gerrold van der Stroom's introduction to that section provides a wealth of background information."
I added this here about the plot of Cady's story because if you read it in this book it is quite incomplete and this next quote will help you understand where she was going with the story.
"You’ve known for a long time that my greatest wish is to be a journalist, and later on, a famous writer. We’ll have to wait and see if these grand illusions (or delusions!) will ever come true, but up to now I’ve had no lack of topics. In any case, after the war I’d like to publish a book called The Secret Annex. It remains to be seen whether I’ll succeed, but my diary can serve as the basis. I also need to finish “Cady’s Life.” I’ve thought up the rest of the plot. After being cured in the sanatorium, Cady goes back home and continues writing to Hans. It’s 1941, and it doesn’t take her long to discover Hans’s Nazi sympathies, and since Cady is deeply concerned with the plight of the Jews and of her friend Marianne, they begin drifting apart. They meet and get back together, but break up when Hans takes up with another girl. Cady is shattered, and because she wants to have a good job, she studies nursing. After graduation she accepts a position, at the urging of her father’s friends, as a nurse in a TB sanatorium in Switzerland. During her first vacation she goes to Lake Como, where she runs into Hans. He tells her that two years earlier he’d married Cady’s successor, but that his wife took her life in a fit of depression. Now that he’s seen his little Cady again, he realizes how much he loves her, and once more asks for her hand in marriage. Cady refuses, even though, in spite of herself, she loves him as much as ever. But her pride holds her back. Hans goes away, and years later Cady learns that he’s wound up in England, where he’s struggling with ill health. When she’s twenty-seven, Cady marries a well-to-do man from the country, named Simon. She grows to love him, but not as much as Hans. She has two daughters and a son, Lilian, Judith and Nico. She and Simon are happy together, but Hans is always in the back of her mind until one night she dreams of him and says farewell. It’s not sentimental nonsense: it’s based on the story of Father’s life." From "D"
My thoughts- Did Anne Frank have talent enough to be a writer as an adult? I think these stories by a teenager have promise, so I think she could have made it. Her stories have feeling and insight of suffering not just from a war torn environment but many stories draw into her characters dealing with things in life not very easy. The story about the Teddy Bear going out in the world shows how our surroundings can play a part in how are life is lead and people having more charge of us than we would like to admit. Cady's Life is interesting but when you read about how she wants the story to play out as mentioned in her Diary, you see the serious writer.
When reading these stories and thinking about Anne's life, another author that was killed after arriving in Auschwitz, Irene Nemirovsky came to my mind, quite similar in a way. Though Anne was much younger than Irene both used their relationships with their mothers in their works. Their relationship with their mothers was quite cool and it is obvious and shows up many times. I think Anne's mother would have helped her daughter and grandkids if trouble needed her help, Irene's mom living in Paris actually refused to help her daughter and granddaughters, who luckily had to hide with a good friend and not easily done. Both these authors had unfinished works because of the Final Solution of The Nazis and being Jewish. Irene's Suite Francaise is her example and Anne's is Cady's Life. Both these unfinished stories had a war related stories and both had to find writing material that was scare. Anne writing in her Diary and Irene writing in extremely small print. (I plan on re reading Suite Francaise in 2021)
The loss of these women is just so heart breaking, the reason for their death makes no sense and shows such barbarism and credulity.
Was this worth reading? Yes, I came away understanding Anne Frank better and her philosophy which helped her deal with life. Anne has fulfilled her wish below and making future generations of all races aware of the dangers that make men turning away from goodness and embracing evil.
"I want to be useful or bring enjoyment to all people, even those I’ve never met. I want to go on living even after my death!" From "D"
September 6, 2018
These 'tales' are essays and stories written by Anne Frank in a separate notebook from her world-famous diary, but they're all written in that same spirited, irreverent and irrepressible voice. A keen observer of people and nature, a seemingly natural-born storyteller, she leaves the reader, who knows her fate, with a sense of loss over what might have been. Despite her young age, the tragic circumstances of her life and the times she lived in, she knew the way to inner happiness.
January 21, 2009
This book is not for everyone. Readers must remember that these stories were written by a teenage girl, and therefore they should judge them accordingly.
The stories are interesting in their own right, but they do drag in places. It's rather obvious that if she had the chance, she would have probably edited and developed the stories to something that would be of better quality, but they are very good for the stage they are in. Definitely a must read for those interested in Anne Frank and/or the Holocaust.
The stories are interesting in their own right, but they do drag in places. It's rather obvious that if she had the chance, she would have probably edited and developed the stories to something that would be of better quality, but they are very good for the stage they are in. Definitely a must read for those interested in Anne Frank and/or the Holocaust.
August 16, 2025
Anne Frank was a remarkable person, and her writings are so mature for her age. I wonder what she should have accomplished if her life had not been taken at such a young age. Obviously these stories and fragments are not polished, but she had such promise and I am amazed with what depth she saw life at that age. I am glad I read this shortly after reading The Diary of Anne Frank.
April 22, 2019
This was a re-read!
If you haven’t read The Diary Of A Young Girl, then you should. Anne Frank was a Jewish girl who went into hiding in an Amsterdam warehouse to escape the Nazis. She and her family spent a little over two years, in which she kept her famous diary but wrote a bunch of other short stories and started a novel called Cady’s Life (unfinished).
Anne had an incredible imagination. To which I’m in awe of. She loved to write short stories involving talking animals or fairies, ideas that have been done lots of times. But her writing style was so innocent and carefree. Cady’s Life is a novel that after reading the fragments of in Tales From The Secret Annexe, I kind of want to write an ending for but at the same time, I don’t. I think Anne had a potential ending in mind which sadly never got written. I did enjoy most of the content included in the collection.
If you haven’t read The Diary Of A Young Girl, then you should. Anne Frank was a Jewish girl who went into hiding in an Amsterdam warehouse to escape the Nazis. She and her family spent a little over two years, in which she kept her famous diary but wrote a bunch of other short stories and started a novel called Cady’s Life (unfinished).
Anne had an incredible imagination. To which I’m in awe of. She loved to write short stories involving talking animals or fairies, ideas that have been done lots of times. But her writing style was so innocent and carefree. Cady’s Life is a novel that after reading the fragments of in Tales From The Secret Annexe, I kind of want to write an ending for but at the same time, I don’t. I think Anne had a potential ending in mind which sadly never got written. I did enjoy most of the content included in the collection.
June 23, 2010
While the stories in this book display childish writing (Anne Frank was only a young girl when she wrote these) they are quite remarkable. The most memorable one is the last one, Cady's Life. Anne had learned to create a character that was highly autobiographical in some ways (Cady has a difficult relationship with her mother) but was different as well. Cady isn't Jewish, but has a Jewish friend. The climax is Cady going to visit her friend, the Germans are arresting her friend and family, they momentarily arrest her but let her go when she shows her ID to prove she isn't Jewish. Cady goes home and feels guilt at having survived.
It seems unprecedented to me that Anne Frank, at such a young age, under threat of death for her Jewishness, found it possible to imagine what the Holocaust experience might be like for a sympathetic non-Jew.
It seems unprecedented to me that Anne Frank, at such a young age, under threat of death for her Jewishness, found it possible to imagine what the Holocaust experience might be like for a sympathetic non-Jew.
July 14, 2024
Oh gosh, I how I always have and always will adore Anne Frank, not only as such an inspiring historical figure, but also for her profound and personal writing💜🫶
June 14, 2014
I got a 'suggestion-read' today of this book. I've read it at 'least' 3 times ---(two daughters and being Jewish does that to a 62 year old) ...
but its always nice to receive recommendations from our friends on Goodreads. --- How can I 'not' give this book 5 stars?/!!!
but its always nice to receive recommendations from our friends on Goodreads. --- How can I 'not' give this book 5 stars?/!!!
June 18, 2018
3.5 stars!
This is part of Jamison's Marvel-a-thon challenge.
The challenge: Captain America- read a book set in or written in WW2.
Whenever I think about Anne Frank or even World War two in general, I can't help but feel so sad. A life, among countless more, taken needlessly. Anne was talented and precocious. Had she lived, I think she could have done amazing things with her life.
This review will be a bit different because this book is a bit different. I wrote 5 (five) notes in my tiny notebook that I use to keep notes in the book I'm reading. I'm just going to put what those notes say and maybe touch on them briefly.
∇ This is a mix of diary entries, stories and essays. The diary entries weren't included in the original book or at least not in my copy. They gave more of of an insight to life in the secret Annex along with mentions of life before hiding.
∇ I mentioned before how it makes me sad to think of Anne Frank. Had she had the time, she could have grown to be a truly great writer. She was on her way to doing something great.
∇ Her stories are very childlike but that is to be expected as she was a child herself when writing them. But that is something to that is in this book.
∇ I learned more about Anne from reading this than I did reading her diary. Anne poured her soul into those stories and essays.
∇ I firmly believe that Anne was very progressive for her time. I also believe she was a feminist. Reading her essay "The Den of Iniquity" confirms this for me.
This is part of Jamison's Marvel-a-thon challenge.
The challenge: Captain America- read a book set in or written in WW2.
Whenever I think about Anne Frank or even World War two in general, I can't help but feel so sad. A life, among countless more, taken needlessly. Anne was talented and precocious. Had she lived, I think she could have done amazing things with her life.
This review will be a bit different because this book is a bit different. I wrote 5 (five) notes in my tiny notebook that I use to keep notes in the book I'm reading. I'm just going to put what those notes say and maybe touch on them briefly.
∇ This is a mix of diary entries, stories and essays. The diary entries weren't included in the original book or at least not in my copy. They gave more of of an insight to life in the secret Annex along with mentions of life before hiding.
∇ I mentioned before how it makes me sad to think of Anne Frank. Had she had the time, she could have grown to be a truly great writer. She was on her way to doing something great.
∇ Her stories are very childlike but that is to be expected as she was a child herself when writing them. But that is something to that is in this book.
∇ I learned more about Anne from reading this than I did reading her diary. Anne poured her soul into those stories and essays.
∇ I firmly believe that Anne was very progressive for her time. I also believe she was a feminist. Reading her essay "The Den of Iniquity" confirms this for me.
June 6, 2018
Depois de ter lido o seu diário na minha adolescência..... Decidi que queria conhecer as suas histórias. E me emocionei muito.
Imaginei o que ela pensaria se ainda tivesse viva...Gostoria que as pessoas lessem as suas histórias? Eu acho que ela seria uma talentosa escritora e inspiraria milhares de mulheres a contarem sua história, como já inspira.
Nunca me desilude lê -la!
Imaginei o que ela pensaria se ainda tivesse viva...Gostoria que as pessoas lessem as suas histórias? Eu acho que ela seria uma talentosa escritora e inspiraria milhares de mulheres a contarem sua história, como já inspira.
Nunca me desilude lê -la!
September 14, 2020
This book is a gentle reminder of the deep, compassionate child Anne Frank was. Her stories are a reflection of her internal struggles and some fantasies. Such a charming little girl who felt deeply for the world and revered nature. Still remembered and deeply missed!
April 21, 2016
I have to admit I was a little disappointed at first since I was expecting the same maturity and reflections I've once experienced in The Diary of a Young Girl. Instead, I found some fables and tales of a 13-year-old girl. I'm not complaining about its quality, I just had to realise the book was made of tales which Anne wasn't able to revisit; I know it is pretty obvious, but this insight was important for my experience.
After that, I could fully enjoy her tales. It was a regular/good experience until I reach the one called "Cady's Life". In this one, I could recognise the girl I grew so fond of while reading Diary of a Young Girl. In this text with a pronounced autobiographical content, I was able to see her detachment of her mother, her belief in God, her tenderness for her dad and so many wonderful details which made me love her Diary.
In the second part of the book, composed of some memories of her days before the Secret Annex. Curiously, we can see the same girl in these stories, the one who loved life, nature and existence itself.
Therefore, I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to revisit Anne or just find out more about the girl who told one of the most unforgettable stories of the last century.
After that, I could fully enjoy her tales. It was a regular/good experience until I reach the one called "Cady's Life". In this one, I could recognise the girl I grew so fond of while reading Diary of a Young Girl. In this text with a pronounced autobiographical content, I was able to see her detachment of her mother, her belief in God, her tenderness for her dad and so many wonderful details which made me love her Diary.
In the second part of the book, composed of some memories of her days before the Secret Annex. Curiously, we can see the same girl in these stories, the one who loved life, nature and existence itself.
Therefore, I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to revisit Anne or just find out more about the girl who told one of the most unforgettable stories of the last century.
September 24, 2008
This is another one of those books that I picked up out of guilt. I would imagine that most folks in the Western world have heard of Anne Frank, the teenage girl who hid with her family in a house in World War II Holland. I, too, had heard of her, back when I was a kid. What I never did, either as a child or adult, was actually read her famous diary. So when we were sorting through a stack of books being lent to us, I saw her famous picture and said, "Oooh, Anne Frank, I should read that." Of course, this is not her diary. It's some other writings--stories and essays--that she happened to write back in the 1940's. So I read the book, attempting to fulfill some karmic obligation or something. It's not great--really just waiting room material. There are no themes or stories that I found really compelling. But they are good. The kid showed some potential. The fact that both her and her potential contribution to humanity were snuffed out in some damned concentration camp is a crime. So go ahead and give the Nazis the proverbial finger and give the book a read.
May 22, 2016
Having read Anne Frank's famous Diary, I chose to read this volume as well, almost a companion volume to the first. Her diary mentions her writing efforts and it is fun to read them here in their entirety. The quality of the stories increases immensely as we go from one to the next, proving the old axiom that the only way to improve your writing is to practice. But what is really amazing is the insights this young girl was able to bring to her stories. Several seem to be quite plain on the surface yet have an underlying message or theme. Most of them are understandably coming-of-age stories. In addition, we get a little more insight into her life in the attic and those people that surrounded her during that time.
If you enjoyed reading Anne Frank's Diary, then you will also enjoy this volume of stories.
If you enjoyed reading Anne Frank's Diary, then you will also enjoy this volume of stories.
March 9, 2017
I would hate to have my childhood stories, essays and daydreams published, but Anne's are really quite good even though these are not polished for publication the way her diary was. There is a story about her befriending a movie star and going to visit her in California that would have been silly if not for knowing Anne's story, which made it poignant. You can see her writing developing throughout the book and I wonder if she would have become a great novelist had she survived the war. But if she had survived, would her diary have had the same impact it has? This little collection made Anne even more real to me and again reminded me of our similarities and how lucky I am to have been born when and where I was.
December 7, 2020
2020 re-read: Still blown away by her writing ability at such a young age, and it's clear that she used these writings to express and explore her own life, philosophy, fears, and hopes.
2008: Absolutely amazing! A collection of Anne Frank's short stories, essays, anecdotes, fairy tales, and the beginning of a novel! She was a wonderful and remarkable person and writer!
2008: Absolutely amazing! A collection of Anne Frank's short stories, essays, anecdotes, fairy tales, and the beginning of a novel! She was a wonderful and remarkable person and writer!
June 3, 2025
Anne💔
Vitkuttelin tämän kirja lukemista vuosia, mutta onneksi vihdoin tartuin siihen. Olen itse kirjoittanut päiväkirjaa koko elämäni, ja välillä lukiessani havahduin outoon tunteeseen siitä, että todella luen nuoren tytön kirjoittamaa päiväkirjaa ja että minulla ei olisi lupaa lukea sitä. Onneksi Anne päätti kirjoittaa päiväkirjaa, sillä siitä saa taas uudenlaisen näkökulman sotaan ja nuoren tytön ajatuksiin. Anne on päiväkirjansa perusteella hurmaava, hauska ja ihana ihminen, ja on sydäntäsärkevää ajatella, että hän ei koskaan päässyt toteuttamaan unelmiansa.
”Me rakastamme vielä elämää, me emme ole vielä unohtaneet luonnon ääntä, me toivomme vielä, toivomme kaikkea.”
Vitkuttelin tämän kirja lukemista vuosia, mutta onneksi vihdoin tartuin siihen. Olen itse kirjoittanut päiväkirjaa koko elämäni, ja välillä lukiessani havahduin outoon tunteeseen siitä, että todella luen nuoren tytön kirjoittamaa päiväkirjaa ja että minulla ei olisi lupaa lukea sitä. Onneksi Anne päätti kirjoittaa päiväkirjaa, sillä siitä saa taas uudenlaisen näkökulman sotaan ja nuoren tytön ajatuksiin. Anne on päiväkirjansa perusteella hurmaava, hauska ja ihana ihminen, ja on sydäntäsärkevää ajatella, että hän ei koskaan päässyt toteuttamaan unelmiansa.
”Me rakastamme vielä elämää, me emme ole vielä unohtaneet luonnon ääntä, me toivomme vielä, toivomme kaikkea.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 25, 2025
Better than the diaries. The last tale of a Dutch girl who imagines the horrible conditions of her Jewish friend at a concentration camp is especially piercing and painful.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 11, 2020
I bought this book a couple of months ago during my visit to the Anne Frank House in the amazingly charming city of Amsterdam. The museum was excellent, moving, touching, and I take the opportunity to say that PLEASE GO SEE IT! It's a unique experience!
Well, back to the book. I bought it knowing that it was a compilation of her short stories and tales, but I expected something else. My fault, I admit. I read the diary some years ago and I felt differently, Anne sounded much more mature in her diary than in these tales, but in the end it's a 13-year-old writing and this is something that should be beared in mind. This doesn't mean I don't recognize her merit: she was very talented, probably gifted with the writer's hand, and she had dreams, persistence and a good working ethic, the three elements which surely pushed her to write everyday and do her best, which is shown in the quality of the texts.
My opinion is that sometimes we think about Anne Frank as this person who has become a symbol of strength against the Nazi period and we forget that she was a teenager. And she was. And reading this expecting to find things other than the ramblings and the stories of a teenager is unfair to her. She was very mature because she went through so much, but it wouldn't be fair for her if we said we don't like her writing because we wanted more historicisim and adult thinking in it. Then, it's our fault if the text lets our expectations down.
Nevertheless, I've liked these stories. I think of Anne very fondly. I'm sure she put all her heart in every tale and I'm happy I've read them and that she became a famous writer in the end.
Well, back to the book. I bought it knowing that it was a compilation of her short stories and tales, but I expected something else. My fault, I admit. I read the diary some years ago and I felt differently, Anne sounded much more mature in her diary than in these tales, but in the end it's a 13-year-old writing and this is something that should be beared in mind. This doesn't mean I don't recognize her merit: she was very talented, probably gifted with the writer's hand, and she had dreams, persistence and a good working ethic, the three elements which surely pushed her to write everyday and do her best, which is shown in the quality of the texts.
My opinion is that sometimes we think about Anne Frank as this person who has become a symbol of strength against the Nazi period and we forget that she was a teenager. And she was. And reading this expecting to find things other than the ramblings and the stories of a teenager is unfair to her. She was very mature because she went through so much, but it wouldn't be fair for her if we said we don't like her writing because we wanted more historicisim and adult thinking in it. Then, it's our fault if the text lets our expectations down.
Nevertheless, I've liked these stories. I think of Anne very fondly. I'm sure she put all her heart in every tale and I'm happy I've read them and that she became a famous writer in the end.
June 25, 2017
A few weeks ago, a friend asked me: If I had a time machine to use as I will, whom would I like to meet? I said I wasn't sure.
Anne Frank has been described as an adult in a girl's body. I don't agree at all. Anne was definitely a child: still innocent, yet very sensitive and perceiving, not only of other people's feelings, but also—and this is what I most admire about her—of human condition. Thus, via short stories, she speaks about the nature of war and religion, about fearfulness, happiness and depression, and about nature and mankind's place in it.
Granted, many people, if stuck in place similar to the «Secret Annex» for that amount of time, would probably have not much more to do than think and think. But also, let's consider she was 14 years old.
Now I'm sure I would travel in time to have a long talk with Anne.
Anne Frank has been described as an adult in a girl's body. I don't agree at all. Anne was definitely a child: still innocent, yet very sensitive and perceiving, not only of other people's feelings, but also—and this is what I most admire about her—of human condition. Thus, via short stories, she speaks about the nature of war and religion, about fearfulness, happiness and depression, and about nature and mankind's place in it.
Granted, many people, if stuck in place similar to the «Secret Annex» for that amount of time, would probably have not much more to do than think and think. But also, let's consider she was 14 years old.
Now I'm sure I would travel in time to have a long talk with Anne.
June 20, 2014
-Un simple diario, nada más, pero rodeado de unas circunstancias horribles.-
Género. Biografía (por tratar de ubicarlo en la pobre clasificación de este blog).
Lo que nos cuenta. Relato del diario personal de una niña holandesa llamada Ana Frank, que al ser judía a comienzos de los años cuarenta en la Holanda ocupada tiene que alternar datos de su día y entorno con las implicaciones sobre ambos del dominio de la Alemania nazi durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial. Versión C, para los que sepan de lo que estoy hablando, del diario de Ana Frank.
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
Género. Biografía (por tratar de ubicarlo en la pobre clasificación de este blog).
Lo que nos cuenta. Relato del diario personal de una niña holandesa llamada Ana Frank, que al ser judía a comienzos de los años cuarenta en la Holanda ocupada tiene que alternar datos de su día y entorno con las implicaciones sobre ambos del dominio de la Alemania nazi durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial. Versión C, para los que sepan de lo que estoy hablando, del diario de Ana Frank.
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
May 22, 2008
More than just Anne's diary survived the war; her short stories did, too, and I only discovered them last year. What a treasure for an Anne Frank lover like me! Some of the writings are from the diary itself, so the real treat was reading her fiction. She refers to some of it in the diary, so this made re-reading a richer experience. I agree with her; "Eva's Dream" is definitely her best, but Cody has some great parts, too. If you love Anne Frank, this is a must-read.
June 21, 2017
This is very hard to rate and review because it was interesting but ultimately the stories aren't terribly good. They definitely tell you a lot of their author though, with their tales of lonely, lost, struggling characters, mostly girls. There's also a lot of reflection on nature and God. There are a few bits from Anne's time in the Annex and at the end some fragments of a novel.
May 24, 2022
I still find it remarkable how skilled a writer Anne Frank was at such a young age, especially considering she was her only critic, editor and motivator. Though cramped in a tight space for two years without the opportunity for outside experience and learning, it did not appear to have stifled her growth in the slightest. One wonders what she would have become had she lived.
March 7, 2017
Delicadeza e inocência em cada página. Como é bom conhecer um pouco mais a Anne e suas histórias ❤️
September 10, 2025
Quando tinha 7 anos, num daqueles verões intermináveis da infância, a minha mãe deixou-me entretenimento para umas tardes - fazer cópias. Não senti a princípio grande entusiasmo pela tarefa (antes preferia fazer redemoinhos num balde e ver a água em movimento), mas o conteúdo que ela escolhera para mim logo me marcaria para sempre - tinha de copiar todos os dias uma entrada de "O Diário de Anne Frank". Lembro-me das palavras da minha mãe:
"- Este é um diário muito especial, pertencia a uma menina que já morreu e fala sobre a memória da Segunda Guerra Mundial."
Eu não conhecia a Segunda Guerra Mundial, nem estava certa que tivesse havido uma Primeira. Mas acreditei. Fui copiando. Fui copiando, desisti de copiar e depois li apenas. Fui lendo até abrir a última página, que dizia que Anne tinha morrido no campo de concentração de Bergen Belsen, de tifo, aos 15 anos. Logo fiz as contas - era apenas 8 anos mais velha do que eu era na altura... Não me pareceu muito na altura. Sabia pela minha mãe que Anne morrera, mas uma coisa era dar isso como certo, e outra era ler o seu diário só para dar conta da sua interrupção abrupta. Para mim, ler o diário de Anne foi como fazer amizade com ela e terminá-lo foi o mesmo que sentir na pele a sua perda. Foi como se eu mesma tivesse perdido uma amiga. Aqui está o quão poderosa é a escrita de Anne - tem a capacidade de criar relações fortes com os seus leitores, fazendo com que gerações e gerações sintam empatia por todos os que perderam e todos os que ainda perdem entes queridos por conta de guerras.
É como se eu tivesse estado lá e tivesse visto tudo. De certo modo, nunca me conformei com a morte de Anne e, desse sentimento de inconformidade, surgiu o meu desejo de comprar e ler este livro. Quis retomar a leitura do Diário, como se houvesse neste seu livro de Contos uma outra resposta, qualquer coisa que me fizesse sentir que a amiga que eu perdi ainda estava viva. E está. Anne viveu parte da vida escondida, mas nunca se esconde nas suas histórias, por muito que tente mudar os nomes das personagens. São comuns os temas da solidão, do desejo de conexão e profundidade, da transcendência (nas suas reflexões acerca de Deus e da religião), do amor e até da solidariedade e da generosidade. Muitas vezes, pensei que os contos eram muitas vezes idílicos, com personagens muito perfeitas e boas, mas depressa pensei que talvez isto fosse uma forma de lidar com o confinamento forçado, a claustrofobia, a falta de liberdade e o medo constante de ser capturada. Aliás, em algumas destas histórias, como, por exemplo, no romance inacabado "A Vida de Cady", nota-se até o sentimento de culpa de sobrevivente de Cady (cristã) perante Mary, a amiga judia que foi apanhada pelos nazis. Acreditei que, talvez, isto pudesse ter a ver com a própria incerteza que Anne sentia em relação ao destino dos seus amigos da escola, nos quais pensava muito enquanto vivia no anexo.
Senti que estes contos me trouxeram de volta a Anne alegre, luminosa, com sentido de humor e crente na bondade do ser humano que eu conhecia. Ao mesmo tempo, trouxeram a Anne à frente do seu tempo, com ideais progressistas e rebeldes para a época em que vivia. Se a tivessem deixado, talvez Anne se tivesse tornado uma escritora de livros infantis (pois estas histórias também me lembraram algumas da Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen, nomeadamente "A Fada Oriana"). Talvez se tivesse tornado jornalista ou talvez tivesse acabado o romance "A Vida de Cady". Talvez tivesse encontrado uma voz e vivências além das do núcleo familiar. No entanto, embora para mim os ideais de Anne sejam a normalidade, sinto que estes contos, simples e diretos, deviam ser lidos por todos os líderes mundiais que teimam em repetir a história. Talvez encontrassem neles o espírito de dar e a generosidade visível em alguém que acabou por perder tudo.
"- Este é um diário muito especial, pertencia a uma menina que já morreu e fala sobre a memória da Segunda Guerra Mundial."
Eu não conhecia a Segunda Guerra Mundial, nem estava certa que tivesse havido uma Primeira. Mas acreditei. Fui copiando. Fui copiando, desisti de copiar e depois li apenas. Fui lendo até abrir a última página, que dizia que Anne tinha morrido no campo de concentração de Bergen Belsen, de tifo, aos 15 anos. Logo fiz as contas - era apenas 8 anos mais velha do que eu era na altura... Não me pareceu muito na altura. Sabia pela minha mãe que Anne morrera, mas uma coisa era dar isso como certo, e outra era ler o seu diário só para dar conta da sua interrupção abrupta. Para mim, ler o diário de Anne foi como fazer amizade com ela e terminá-lo foi o mesmo que sentir na pele a sua perda. Foi como se eu mesma tivesse perdido uma amiga. Aqui está o quão poderosa é a escrita de Anne - tem a capacidade de criar relações fortes com os seus leitores, fazendo com que gerações e gerações sintam empatia por todos os que perderam e todos os que ainda perdem entes queridos por conta de guerras.
É como se eu tivesse estado lá e tivesse visto tudo. De certo modo, nunca me conformei com a morte de Anne e, desse sentimento de inconformidade, surgiu o meu desejo de comprar e ler este livro. Quis retomar a leitura do Diário, como se houvesse neste seu livro de Contos uma outra resposta, qualquer coisa que me fizesse sentir que a amiga que eu perdi ainda estava viva. E está. Anne viveu parte da vida escondida, mas nunca se esconde nas suas histórias, por muito que tente mudar os nomes das personagens. São comuns os temas da solidão, do desejo de conexão e profundidade, da transcendência (nas suas reflexões acerca de Deus e da religião), do amor e até da solidariedade e da generosidade. Muitas vezes, pensei que os contos eram muitas vezes idílicos, com personagens muito perfeitas e boas, mas depressa pensei que talvez isto fosse uma forma de lidar com o confinamento forçado, a claustrofobia, a falta de liberdade e o medo constante de ser capturada. Aliás, em algumas destas histórias, como, por exemplo, no romance inacabado "A Vida de Cady", nota-se até o sentimento de culpa de sobrevivente de Cady (cristã) perante Mary, a amiga judia que foi apanhada pelos nazis. Acreditei que, talvez, isto pudesse ter a ver com a própria incerteza que Anne sentia em relação ao destino dos seus amigos da escola, nos quais pensava muito enquanto vivia no anexo.
Senti que estes contos me trouxeram de volta a Anne alegre, luminosa, com sentido de humor e crente na bondade do ser humano que eu conhecia. Ao mesmo tempo, trouxeram a Anne à frente do seu tempo, com ideais progressistas e rebeldes para a época em que vivia. Se a tivessem deixado, talvez Anne se tivesse tornado uma escritora de livros infantis (pois estas histórias também me lembraram algumas da Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen, nomeadamente "A Fada Oriana"). Talvez se tivesse tornado jornalista ou talvez tivesse acabado o romance "A Vida de Cady". Talvez tivesse encontrado uma voz e vivências além das do núcleo familiar. No entanto, embora para mim os ideais de Anne sejam a normalidade, sinto que estes contos, simples e diretos, deviam ser lidos por todos os líderes mundiais que teimam em repetir a história. Talvez encontrassem neles o espírito de dar e a generosidade visível em alguém que acabou por perder tudo.
February 10, 2023
If Anne Frank were given a choice to live a quiet life or perish so that others could learn from her writings, she would choose the latter. If your heart isn’t touched by something in this book, you should read it again. I’m going out into nature now to calm myself and get closer to God.
October 15, 2023
hahahah vezu si to dneska hezky zpatky do hradce, abych to mohla tenhle tyden cist a doctu to hned po ceste ve vlaku no parada
November 10, 2023
On kyllä mielenkiintoista ajatella, millainen kirjailija Anne Frankista olisi tullut toisessa todellisuudessa. Hyvin taitavaa reflektointia ja pohdintaa teinitytöltä. Nyt en pysty ajatella muuta kuin, minkälainen viimeinen luku olisi ollut.
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