Dear Diary

Dear Diary

From Rare Book Chat by Jeremy O'Connor and Michael DiRuggiero

November 20, 2025 · 30 min · Episode 21

About this episode

The episode explores the significance of personal diaries and their impact on history and literature.

"My Diary - Please respect it": So wrote the photographer Margaret Bourke-White at the beginning of her hand-written diary. And respect it we do! We cover a lot of ground in this episode exploring diaries, notes, and documents written without an eye to a future audience. Through the diary of a Revolutionary War soldier to the journals of an Apple Executive, we explore the strange accidental nature of these witnesses to history. And of course we have to discuss the diaries of Samuel Pepys - but more for their strong influence on Virginia Woolf, James Joyce, and modernism. Special guest: Rick Stattler, of Swann Galleries. As always, feel free to reach out to us with any questions or comments at: hello@rarebookchat.com Enjoy the show!

People in this episode

Hosts: Jeremy O'Connor, Michael DiRuggiero

Guest: Rick Stattler

Topics covered

  • diaries
  • historical documents
  • personal journals
  • influence on modernism
  • accidental history
  • Revolutionary War
  • literary figures

Keywords

  • diary
  • historical documents
  • Margaret Bourke-White
  • Samuel Pepys
  • Virginia Woolf
  • James Joyce
  • Revolutionary War
  • journals
  • Apple Executive
  • modernism

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Swann Galleries, Apple

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