The Diary Keepers

The Diary Keepers by Nina Siegal is a profound exploration of history, memory, and the human spirit under the shadow of oppression. This extraordinary work draws on an exceptional archive from Amsterdam, which houses over two thousand Dutch diaries from World War II. These personal writings offer an unparalleled perspective on one of the darkest periods in history, revealing it in a unique and intimate light.

Nina Siegal, an accomplished journalist and novelist, masterfully interlaces excerpts from the daily journals of various individuals—collaborators, resistors, and the persecuted alike—into a cohesive and riveting narrative. The voices range from a Dutch Nazi police detective to a Jewish journalist imprisoned at the Westerbork transit camp, and a courageous grocery store owner who rescued dozens of lives. Through these varied testimonies, Siegal creates a vivid, day-by-day chronicle of the Nazi occupation and the Dutch Holocaust.

As she weaves these narratives together, Siegal provides crucial historical and personal context. She delves deep into her own familial connections to this harrowing past, exploring what it means to be a “second-generation survivor.” Born and raised in New York, Siegal reflects on her mother and maternal grandparents' experiences in war-torn Europe, which became more poignant after her move to Amsterdam. Her inquiry extends to the disturbing question of why 75 percent of the Dutch Jewish community perished during the war—a significantly higher proportion than in other Western European countries. She seeks to reconcile this with the famed narratives of Dutch resistance and tolerance she had always known.

Through thoughtful interviews with those who have preserved and inherited these diaries, The Diary Keepers takes readers into the present day, revealing how these personal histories continue to resonate. Siegal addresses the complex nature of memory, illustrating how traumatic events are repeatedly revisited and reinterpreted over time.

The Diary Keepers is not only a historical investigation but also a deeply personal and reflective journey that connects past to present. It is a singular, searching examination of how we remember, recount, and come to terms with the myriad stories of the Holocaust and Nazi occupation, making it an indispensable addition to World War II literature.