The Many Lives of Anne Frank

I read the diary, Miep Gies' (a protector) book, saw multiple films, and read other materials. For instance, I read a young adult book that includes a visit by two of its characters to the Anne Frank hiding place. 

This book is quite interesting in providing much background of her life and the use of her life (play, film, fiction, and so on). There are also short stand-alone chapters about people affected by her life and diary, including an African refugee. 

The book provides a lot of commentary about the process involved in writing and editing the diary, crafting the play, and the film. Anne in 1944 started to edit her diary. The final version combines her edited version (never completed) and the original with some edits (such as toning down some criticism). Readers can see all three versions in a "critical edition."* 

There have been many books written about Anne Frank, including people she knew. She imagines one friend was in captivity and hauntingly the friend (though they could not see each other) found her while they were in a concentration camp. The friend survived, in better quarters since her father had a foreign passport. Another friend was half-Jewish and managed to avoid capture. Multiple classmates also were in hiding and survived.

Anne Frank in passing notes Margot Frank had a diary though it was never found. What happened to it? One comment online suggested she took it with her after the capture. (Anne Frank's diary was scattered on the floor.) There is a mention of a "backpack" the girls had but you'd think if she had a diary, it would come up. One author imagined a diary, another her surviving the war (people also imagined Anne Frank surviving). 

One fascinating tidbit was that Anne and Margot had pen pals in the U.S. via a student project. We have a letter a piece from the sisters. The American sisters answered back and wondered why there was no reply. One later received a letter from Otto Frank informing her what happened.

We learn some stray facts about the facts family members but as usual, Anne and Otto dominate. Otto later was accused of focusing too much on Anne, forgetting about his other daughter. The amount of recognition Anne receives as well as the close Otto/Anne relationship makes this understandable. It underlines the need to make sure people also remember the less-known sister.

Here is one summary from Otto Frank's Wikipedia page that also provides us with some information about another member of the Secret Annex:

Otto's brother-in-law Erich Elias (the husband of his younger sister Leni and father of Buddy Elias) worked in Basel for Opekta, a company that sold spices and pectin for use in the manufacture of jam. The company was looking to expand its operations in Europe, and Erich arranged for Otto to work as Opekta's agent in Amsterdam, allowing Otto to have an income to support his family once they had moved there. Otto and his family lived in Merwedeplein in the modern suburb of Amsterdam-Zuid; they came to know many other German emigrant families. In 1938, Otto Frank started a second company, Pectacon, which was a wholesaler of herbs, pickling salts, and mixed spices, used in the production of sausages. Hermann van Pels was employed by Pectacon as an advisor about spices.

Many family members (both families) survived by emigrating. Otto's mother lived in Switzerland. In passing, we hear about a brother of van Pels who was in the United States. The non-Jewish fiance of the dentist also survived the war. Along with the surviving classmates, including those who went into hiding, you have the potential to fill in some blanks.

I didn't like one chapter involving discussing fictional works that supposed Anne Frank was alive. The uses were all rather unpleasant. An "interlude" chapter with additional usage in fiction was better. 

I also think talking about fiction using Margot or Peter, instead of just referencing them in passing, could have been done. Just cut the extended Philp Roth section in half. The final chapter on her use in political causes was a mixed bag.

I also would have liked some more photos other than the cover (not even discussed) and inside cover photos. Overall, I really enjoyed the book. It covered a lot of ground in an approachable way. It also is not as long as her previous biography of Shirley Jackson.  

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* We also learn how Anne Frank was influenced by one of her favorite young adult authors. Otto Frank later showed the author her diary and she agreed with him that it should be published.