On Diary

Summary: "On Diary is the second collection in English of the groundbreaking and profoundly influential work of one of the best-known and provocative theorists of autobiography and diary. Ranging from the diaryʼs historical origins to its pervasive presence on the Internet, from the spiritual journey of the sixteenth century to the diary of Anne Frank, and from the materials and methods of diary writing to the question of how diaries end, these essays display Philippe Lejeuneʼs expertise, eloquence, passion, and humor as a commentator on the functions, practices, and significance of keeping or reading a diary. Two substantial introductory essays by Jeremy Popkin and Julie Rak place Lejeuneʼs work within its critical and theoretical traditions and comment on his central importance within the fields of life writing, literary genetic studies, and cultural studies."--Publisher description.