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The Diary and Life of Anne Frank with Dr. Finn Ballard

The Diary and Life of Anne Frank with Dr. Finn Ballard


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Many are familiar with the life of Anne Frank, the young Jewish diarist who might have turned 92 this year. Her account of the German occupation of the Netherlands is a part of school curriculums worldwide and has been translated into over 70 languages. 

In this conversation, we will discuss the remarkable life of Anne Frank, her fate at Bergen-Belsen, her diary, and how her name would come to resonate around the world. We will also discuss the culture of memory around Anne Frank today, both in Amsterdam and globally, and shine light onto the deeper context of her family's story. 

Following the Nazi ascension to power, the Frank family left Germany for the relative safety of the Netherlands - Anne was only four years old at the time. Upon the Nazi occupation of the Low Countries, the Frank family sought a hiding place in the center of Amsterdam. And with assistance, they managed to remain undetected there for two years, during which time Anne wrote the diary which would be posthumously published in 1947, thanks to the efforts of her father, Otto Frank. 

Led by an expert on Third Reich history, Dr. Finn Ballard, this Conversation will pay tribute to Anne Frank on what could have become her 92 birthday. Designed to inform curiosity as well as future travels, participants will come away with an increased understanding of perhaps the most famous diary ever written, and its author – who died at the age of 15 years old at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. 

Finn grew up in Northern Ireland before moving to England to study and later teach in the department of Film and Literature at the University of Warwick. He completed his doctoral study on German folklore and popular cinema in 2012, and has published extensively in the fields of Film Studies and Gender Studies. Since 2008, he has been living and guiding in Berlin. He now works as a historical advisor for television and film productions set in Berlin, particularly during the Weimar era or Third Reich. He is a journalist for the 'Siegessauele', Europe's foremost Queer magazine, and organises events at Berlin's English-language bookstore 'Another Country'.

This conversation is suitable for all ages.

90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.

Customer Reviews

Based on 10 reviews
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(10)
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C
Christine B. (Claymont, US)
Diary of Anne Frank

Wonderful exploration not only of the diary and its young writer, but of the circumstances that helped create it. Fascinating time. I loved it.

R
RW (Toronto, CA)
Excellent discussion

This was such an insightful discussion of the context in which Anne Frank was born, lived and ultimately died - what was happening in Europe and the rest of the world, and what was happening with her own family.

Some of the other participants asked helpful questions and provided interesting input.

I’m going to Amsterdam this summer and I thought I’d learn about Anne Frank’s diary, but this was so much better.

M
Martha Langer (Tel Aviv, IL)
The diary and life of Anne Frank

Excellent presentation, as usual with Dr. Finn Ballard. Rich in information, clear to the point and full of empathy towards the subject he discussed. It's a pleasure to attend such seminars.

J
Joanne (Colchester, US)

Another excellent presentation.

A
Anonymous (Orinda, US)

Guest did not leave comment

Customer Reviews

Based on 10 reviews
100%
(10)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
C
Christine B. (Claymont, US)
Diary of Anne Frank

Wonderful exploration not only of the diary and its young writer, but of the circumstances that helped create it. Fascinating time. I loved it.

R
RW (Toronto, CA)
Excellent discussion

This was such an insightful discussion of the context in which Anne Frank was born, lived and ultimately died - what was happening in Europe and the rest of the world, and what was happening with her own family.

Some of the other participants asked helpful questions and provided interesting input.

I’m going to Amsterdam this summer and I thought I’d learn about Anne Frank’s diary, but this was so much better.

M
Martha Langer (Tel Aviv, IL)
The diary and life of Anne Frank

Excellent presentation, as usual with Dr. Finn Ballard. Rich in information, clear to the point and full of empathy towards the subject he discussed. It's a pleasure to attend such seminars.

J
Joanne (Colchester, US)

Another excellent presentation.

A
Anonymous (Orinda, US)

Guest did not leave comment