
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- historical documents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- historical documents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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