‘These absolutely spiffing diaries offer a madcap, aristocratic window behind the lines of war.’ Daily Mail
This week in Hoxton Square we’ve been discussing the art of keeping a diary. The benefits of journaling have been well documented, and the office foxes have all pledged to jot their thoughts down on paper more often. Whether you write to capture memories, exercise the writing muscle or simply to decompress away from a screen, the consensus is that keeping a diary is good for your mood.
But what about reading diaries? The diary format offers a unique way to enter a writer’s immediate experience, and nowhere is this better demonstrated than in To War with Whitaker, the war diaries of Hermione, Countess of Ranfurly. Filled with improbable anecdotes, eccentric characters and eloquent reflections, it is everything a published diary ought to be.
To War with Whitaker follows the unlikely adventures of Hermione and characterful cook-butler Whitaker as they travel in pursuit of her husband Dan, who has been called up to war. What follows is a sparkling story written on-the-hoof as they journey around the Middle East and North Africa, encountering everyone from King Farouk to Evelyn Waugh. Fifty years later Hermione’s unique behind-the-scenes account was finally published. How fortunate that was, for she is the ideal diarist, observant, brave, unsnobbish and the perfect confidante.
Please scroll on for a selection of diaries, journals and letters published by Slightly Foxed and, of course, we thought it only appropriate to highlight our sturdy little notebooks too, ready to be filled with your own great thoughts.
We are sure that many of you, dear readers, will agree that using a well-made pen is a gamechanger when it comes to bringing ink to the page. We are therefore delighted to announce that Thomas Slim, purveyors of beautifully crafted ink pens, have kindly offered a 10% discount to our newsletter subscribers. Details can be found at the bottom of this page.
With best wishes, as ever, from the SF staff
Isabel, Rebecca, Edie, Ruth & Jennie
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