A very Happy National Dear Diary Day to you from the Wyoming State Library on this fine first day of autumn!
For thousands of years, people have kept diaries chronicling their lives. Many diaries have been published as first-hand primary sources during important times in history. For example, The Diary of Anne Frank gives readers a window into the life of a Jewish teenager who went into hiding during World War II. The Diary of Samuel Pepys is an account of the Great Fire of London and describes daily life in 17th-century England, while The Diary of Virginia Woolf provides insights into this authors thoughts and creative processes. Also, The Journals of Lewis and Clark outline these two explorers’ famous expedition across the American West during the early 1800s.
Along with these authentic volumes, the fictional diary is also a popular genre in imaginative literature. Several series for young readers, including Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Dork Diaries, in addition to many stand-alone books such as The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie offer relatable stories told in first person. The Color Purple by Alice Walker and Bridget Jones’ Diary by N.M. Butler offer adults a window into the thoughts, feelings, and stories of fictional characters, as well. Even the classic gothic novel, Dracula by Bram Stoker includes diary entries to help tell a story.
Nonfiction books like Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin use the diary genre as a vehicle for facts, presenting simple but true scientific information from a unique perspective. (Honestly, who could tell you more about being a worm than an actual earthworm?)
Diaries, both fictional and authentic, have found an important home amongst the other genres of literature and nonfiction, and they are definitely worth celebrating!
Why not celebrate National Dear Diary Day by reading a piece of literature written in diary form? You can find many of the examples mentioned above and thousands of others using GoWYLD’s virtual libraries, or by visiting your local Wyoming library in person.