The Many Lives of Anne Frank

“Ms. Franklin has done a wonderful thing here. While giving an analysis of the obliterating phenomenon of ‘Anne,’ she continually points back to the real-life girl in a way that feels fresh and persuasive. . . . [Her] technique . . . gives verve and texture to this fine book.”—Meghan Cox Gurdon, Wall Street Journal “Humane, generous . . . a rare combination of lightness and equanimity. . . . It is unusual for a book to have a companion as faithful and elegant as the one Frank’s diary finds here. Franklin has performed an invaluable service—or, to put it another way, a mitzvah.”—Alexander Nazaryan, Los Angeles Times “Trenchant. . . . An essential look at the diarist’s legacy.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review) “With comprehensive research and stunning clarity of thought, Ruth Franklin has peeled back all the layers that lie between life and art, memory and history, icon and human being. This tour de force sets the standard for anyone thinking about Anne Frank for years to come.”—Dara Horn, author of People Love Dead Jews “This brilliant, meticulously researched, and deeply engaging portrait of Anne Frank is more than a biography—it is cultural history, investigative journalism, literary criticism, and, ultimately, a moving, clear-eyed tribute. A triumph.”—Heather Clark, author of Red Comet: The Short Life and Blazing Art of Sylvia Plath “Ruth Franklin meets Anne Frank incisively on her own terms, first and foremost as a writer. She executes a difficult balancing act with subtlety, returning the diary to its context while also amplifying the voice of its author.”—Stacy Schiff, author of The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams “With great narrative feeling, Franklin brings to life not only Anne but the entire canvas of her life, deepening our understanding of her, her legacy, and the times she lived in. Anyone who has read the diary will be fascinated and edified by this stirring, important companion biography.”—Sheila Heti, author of Alphabetical Diaries