Kate- I too just read this gem a few years ago and found it surprisingly relevant today, just as you described. Being from the US, I knew about her husband and the kidnapping but not his secret life! Thank you for sharing all this. I find your essays illuminating. Keep writing please!!
Thank you, Karen! Her ideas and musings on life were so uncannily ahead of her time. And yes- the secret life was so unexpected! It must have been quite the scandal when it broke. Thank you for reading and your kind comments 😊
Great essay! I learned about the Lindbergh kidnapping in school, but I didn’t know about Anne’s writings. This is a fascinating look at separating a person’s work from their views. It can be a tricky issue!
Thank you! I have to admit to being quite ignorant of the whole thing until I researched her! But I’d definitely recommend the book, perfect for summer reading :)
“We have so little faith in the ebb and flow of life, of love, of relationships. We leap at the flow of the tide and resist in terror its ebb. We are afraid it will never return. We insist on permanency, on duration, on continuity…the only real security is not in owning or possessing, not in demanding or expecting, not in hoping, even…
Intermittency–an impossible lesson for human beings to learn. How can one learn to live through the ebb-tides of one’s existence? How can one learn to take the trough of the wave?”
Wow! That is such a juxtaposition of simplicity and messiness. I'm sure you're right Kate, that the book could read very differently with the biography in mind (and yay for the Monster's mention, the helpful key to navigating or reframing art/artist dilemmas). I didn't know about the Lindbergh's political leanings, but the first thing that jumped into my head about the kidnapping was Murder on the Orient Express, and a quick Google reliable informs me I didn't dream that connection! Interesting and thought-provoking an essay as ever.
Oh, yes! I hadn't made the connection with orient express, as I've only seen the old film once, but that makes sense! Thank you for that. But yes, simplicity and messiness sounds fitting for this read.
Kate- I too just read this gem a few years ago and found it surprisingly relevant today, just as you described. Being from the US, I knew about her husband and the kidnapping but not his secret life! Thank you for sharing all this. I find your essays illuminating. Keep writing please!!
Thank you, Karen! Her ideas and musings on life were so uncannily ahead of her time. And yes- the secret life was so unexpected! It must have been quite the scandal when it broke. Thank you for reading and your kind comments 😊
Great essay! I learned about the Lindbergh kidnapping in school, but I didn’t know about Anne’s writings. This is a fascinating look at separating a person’s work from their views. It can be a tricky issue!
Thank you! I have to admit to being quite ignorant of the whole thing until I researched her! But I’d definitely recommend the book, perfect for summer reading :)
I think you made the right choice to research after reading - I think it would have influenced your reaction to the book! :)
This--from her book...such a good reminder:
“We have so little faith in the ebb and flow of life, of love, of relationships. We leap at the flow of the tide and resist in terror its ebb. We are afraid it will never return. We insist on permanency, on duration, on continuity…the only real security is not in owning or possessing, not in demanding or expecting, not in hoping, even…
Intermittency–an impossible lesson for human beings to learn. How can one learn to live through the ebb-tides of one’s existence? How can one learn to take the trough of the wave?”
Beautiful…
Wow! That is such a juxtaposition of simplicity and messiness. I'm sure you're right Kate, that the book could read very differently with the biography in mind (and yay for the Monster's mention, the helpful key to navigating or reframing art/artist dilemmas). I didn't know about the Lindbergh's political leanings, but the first thing that jumped into my head about the kidnapping was Murder on the Orient Express, and a quick Google reliable informs me I didn't dream that connection! Interesting and thought-provoking an essay as ever.
Oh, yes! I hadn't made the connection with orient express, as I've only seen the old film once, but that makes sense! Thank you for that. But yes, simplicity and messiness sounds fitting for this read.