Anne Frank wishes her diary to be published after the war and she starts rewriting it.
Rewriting for publication
Anne Frank dreams of becoming a writer or a journalist after the war. On March 25, 1944, she notes: “It's much easier now to tell Peter things I'd normally keep to myself; for example, I told him I want to write later on, and if I can't be a writer, to write in addition to my work.”
Anne writes:
“But, and that's a big question, will I ever write be able to write something great, will I ever become a journalist or a writer?”
Diary is published
Otto reads in Anne's diary that she intended to publish a book after the war about her time in the secret annexe.
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Reactions to the diary
Otto received many letters after the publication of Anne’s diary.
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Online store
The diary of Anne Frank and other books can be purchased from our online shop.
To the store
Special News Report
On March 28, 1944, the people in hiding hear a special news report on the Dutch sender broadcasting from London, Radio Oranje (Radio Orange). Dutch Cabinet Minister Bolkestein announces that diaries and other important documents will be gathered when the war ends, as a record of what happened to the Dutch people during World War Two and to be preserved for future generations. The people in hiding immediately think of Anne’s diary.
A Novel about the Secret Annex
Anne also thinks this is a brilliant idea and writes: 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. In May 1944, the idea of this novel takes on serious form: "At long last after a great deal of reflection I have started my Achterhuis (Secret Annex), in my head it as good as finished, although it won't go as quickly as that, if it ever comes off at all."
Loose sheets
A part of Anne's revised diary.
Anne keeps up the hard work
She revises the major portion of her original diary in the short time left until the arrest of the people in hiding on August 4, 1944. Working on loose sheets of colored paper, she frequently makes simple corrections in the text. Sometimes she deletes entire passages because she thinks these are too personal. She still addresses all the letters in her diary to Kitty, her imaginary friend. The last diary entry that Anne has a chance to rewrite on these loose sheets is dated March 29, 1944.