SAPL : Miep And The Most Famous Diary, By Meeg Pincus

Press release from the San Antonio Public Library:

Christine Deffendall

26 October 2021

Anne Frank was a teenage girl living in the Netherlands during World War II. She kept a diary while she and her family were in hiding from the Nazis, who were determined to rid Europe of the Jewish people. Miep Gies (pronounced Meep Geese) was one of the extraordinarily brave group of grown-ups who helped to hide the Frank family, and when the family was betrayed, discovered, and arrested, Miep managed to save Anne's diary. Hoping to return it to her young friend, she kept it locked away until she learned of Anne's death.

The only surviving member of Anne's family was her father, Otto. Miep gave the diary to him, and he in turn gave it to the world when he had it published as The Diary of a Young Girl.

Meeg Pincus, had the honor of meeting Miep Gies (who died at the age of 100!), and wrote Miep and the Most Famous Diary as a way to honor the woman who worked so hard to help Anne's family and to preserve their story. In a note in the back of the book, the author says, "...Miep did not want to be viewed as a hero." See if you agree with Miep after you read this book.

This press release was produced by the San Antonio Public Library. The views expressed here are the author’s own.