Anne Frank, Reviser

In recent years The Diary of Anne Frank: The Critical Edition has enabled new insights into Frank’s writing process, revealing her skill in revising her diary for a general audience. But while instructors tend to view her rewriting as exemplary, undergraduates, previously encouraged to see Frank’s Diary as a candid, spontaneous, and private first draft, may disagree. If teachers wish to convey Frank’s rapidly developing artistry, we need to examine with students the value of revision in general and its meaning for Frank in particular.