Roses from the Earth : Biography of Anne Frank

by Carol Ann Lee

Anne Frank's diary is the most widely-read book after the Bible, yet never before has a biography of her been published. Carol Anne Lee has been allowed access to previously unpublished documents and gives a definitive account of Anne Frank's short life before, during and after the diary.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, History, Holocaust, War, World War II, Childrens

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Robin Rowles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This biography of Anne Frank is very readable, compulsively so, at times, as the appalling drama of the events described unfolds with novelistic tension... what emerges... is a fuller, more accurate portrait of Anne herself... a portrait too, that puts an individual ordeal in its social, political and historical context.

This book is compelling and it certainly pulled at my own emotional feelings. Indeed, one of my most constant thoughts that I had in my mind, while reading this book was: "If only?....." - but of course, we can't change the course of history. This is an extremely powerful book.

Fascinating...

[Oonagh Grant · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was good, but contained a few glaringly embarrassing historical inaccuracies that were hopefully corrected by later editions of the text

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I purchased this at the Anne Frank House and read it while in Amsterdam. I'm not sure if that is at least part of the reason why I found the book so moving and interesting. According to the back of the book, "Lee has been allowed access to a number of previously unpublished documents and gives a definitive account of Anne Frank's short life before, during and after the diary."

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sad book. Author is a very nice person.

[Jo]

i did a project on anne frank at school - this hadn't been written then but i got this as soon as it came out and it's veyr good

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book and extremely interesting. A very moving insight into the true story of Ann Franks very tragically short life

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a lovely book. I would if you like Anne Frank's Diary, read this, it's pretty close to something of a biography of Anne, from people who knew of Anne.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice addition to the cannon of writing about the WWII heroine we all love.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I had read this book sooner, and I am so glad I read it. I have been interested in Anne Frank and her life story ever since I received a copy of her diary around the age of 9 or 10 years old. I always wanted to know more.... who betrayed the Franks (and van Pels and Pfeffer), what was Anne really like beyond the pages of her (edited) diary, the family history of the Franks and Hollanders, what happened after the arrests but before their tragic deaths? Thankfully, this book provided the answers to many of my questions that I had never felt had been fully answered in other materials that I've read over the years about Anne Frank. The other materials had more speculation and guesswork, but always left me feeling unsatisfied. This book gave me more of a feeling of satisfaction upon completion.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in Anne Frank, her diary, and who want to know more about her. I also recommend it for anyone wanting to know more about the Holocaust - the before, during, and aftermath, although it is centralized upon the 8 Jews in hiding, and more specifically around the Frank family and Anne in particular, as to be expected. I also recommend this book to any doubters of the Holocaust or Holocaust Erasers. The ring of truth from this text is too strong to deny.

A summary of the book:

A very well written, deeply researched biography of Anne Frank, which was eye opening and difficult to put down. I recommend this book to anyone who wanted to know more about Anne Frank - the girl beyond the diary.
This book details about Anne, her and her families (mother and father's families) past before the war, during the war, while they were in hiding for 25 months, and after their arrest, subsequent shipment off to Auschwitz and other concentration camps. It further details Anne and Margot's separation from their mother, quotes eye witness accounts from people who knew Anne and Margot in Bergen-Belsen, and details a bit more about how they died. The author goes on to detail the after events of the war coming to a close, how Otto - the sole remaining survivor of the eight in hiding - returned to Holland with hopes of reconnecting with his daughters, the subsequent discovery of their murders, the gift of Anne's diary given to him by Miep Gies. It discusses the struggle to edit and publish the diary, how people claim it is fake to suit their own personal narrative (ie. Holocaust Deniers), how the play diverted from the diary and showed inaccurate portrayals of some of the people in hiding.
It closes with a chapter about theories of who betrayed the Franks, van Pels, and Pfeffer.

Some things that stood out in the book: The amount of careful background detail that was written about the rise of Nazi movement and Hitler, details of Anne's family history - giving more dimension not only to Anne, but to the others hiding in the annex as well. More dimension for the helpers, and clarity with the aftermath of the arrests and deaths of the members who had been hiding. This book helped flesh out Anne and everyone involved in her life story. The acknowledgement of bias that Anne had written in her own diary of portrayal of the others in hiding with her (particularly of Pfeffer). The extreme plausibility, however with acknowledged doubt of the potential people who betrayed Anne Frank. The horrible outcome of everyone who had been arrested that day and details leading up to their murders, or, in Otto's case, how he learned to live afterward.

A fascinating read.

[Christine Mathieu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the German hardcover translation shortly after having finished Melissa Mueller's book on Anne Frank and after having read Carol Ann Lee's biography on Otto Frank. Out of these three books the one on Otto is my favorite, a very moving story. I could barely force myself to stop reading at night.
I can highly recommend "Roses from the Earth", but both books (on Otto and on Anne) have of course many events and anecdotes in common.
So I rated this one 4 stars and the Otto Frank biography by Carol Ann Lee 5 stars. Melissa Mueller's Anne Frank biography is also pretty compelling.

[Tim Turnbull · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Biography of Anne Frank provides a wonderful insight into the very short life of this amazing child author. Written with access to family sources and letters, this book paints a powerful portrait of Anne Frank and provides some of the missing pieces from the time the family is betrayed from their hiding place when Anne’s diary comes to an abrupt close.

This book increases my admiration for Anne Frank, Otto Frank and his family and friends as well as their Dutch friends and colleagues that risked all to hide the family.

[Lenore · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you loved the diary of Anne Frank you need to read this book. So much detail into her life before they went into hiding and what happened after they were arrested. Some very hard reading about the camps. I have read so many books about them - but this just seemed so much more personal. Anne and Margot lasted nearly to the end of the war - so close. Well written and good reading.

[Léonie Cornet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Une biographie extrêmement bien documentée. La vie d'Anne Franck avant ses deux ans passés dans l'Annexe, à Amsterdam, mais aussi pendant et surtout après ! J'ai appris tellement de choses. Découvert tellement d'aspects de sa vie que j'ignorais complètement. Mon édition est enrichie de photos également. À lire absolument pour compléter la lecture du Journal d'Anne Franck.

[Sidney McQuade · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is just incredible. It is happy and heartwarming, yet it is completely devastating and heartbreaking. This book came alive to me and I felt every emotion on each page. It was a page turner that I could not set down. I recommend this to anyone and everyone.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anne's diary itself made a mixed impression on me, and a rereading is in order after this excellent biography which gives both the familial context, and the horrifying facts and figures of the treatment of the Jewish population of Holland, and the deportations.

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, well-written, well-researched biography!

[Spyros Balas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Τhe largest and most important pens are dipped in mud.

[Aušra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book

[Mia Miceikaite · Rating 5 out of 5]

Neteisybės slapstymas

Kūrinys „Anos Frank dienoraštis” išleistas Alma littera leidykloje 2016 metais. Knygą sudaro 344 puslapiai. Tai labai įdomus, nuoširdžios mergaitės Anos pasakojimas, kuri turėtų žinoti kiekvienas.
Šioje knygoje rašomi Anos Frank dienoraščio užrašai. Aprašomas laikotarpis buvo kupinas neteisybės ir sunkumų. 1942-1944 metai - nacių Vokietijos vykdomo holokausto metai. Buvo vykdomos žydų paieškos, masiniai naikinimai, išdavystės, todėl dauguma žydų stengėsi rasti patikimų žmonių, kurie jiems galėtų padėti šioje neteisybėje. Dėl šios priežasties Ana su savo šeima buvo priversta slapstytis pas savo artimus draugus, kurie nebuvo žydai bei buvo pilnai pasirengę, bet kokiu atveju padeti Frankų šeimai ir jų draugams, bei gyventi dvejus metus savo susikurtoje slėptuvėje su dar keliomis šeimomis. Jos pasakojimai pilni malonių akimirkų kartu, smagių prisiminimų iš laisvo, atviro gyvenimo, tačiau apstu ir pykčių, šeimyninių nesutarimų, kankinančių jausmų, dėl įvairių priežasčių. Iš tikrųjų gyvenimas ten buvo tikrai labai sudėtingas, tačiau jie niekad neprarado vilties, kad ir kas vyko aplinkoje. Labai atvirai atskleidžiamos visų mintys ir jausmai, dėl izoliavimo įtakos. Tačiau Ana Frank visą tai atskleidė savo dienoraščiui.
Man patiko, kad kūrinyje viskas buvo išdėstyta, kaip skaitant tikrą dienoraštį, su datomis ir atskirų dienų įvykiais ir nenutrūkstančiais jausmų antplūdžiais. Tai suteikė knygai unikalumo ir dar labiau įtraukė į visus pasakojimus.
Dar prieš atsiverčiant šią knygą, buvau nusistačiusi, kad man ji bus neįdomi, nes mane atgraso istorinės knygos, tačiau skaitant mano nuomonė visiškai pasikeitė. Buvo labai įdomu sužinoti ir suprasti šią istoriją, nes tai skaitant plečiasi akiratis apie praeitį ir istorinių įvykių svarbą. Manau kiekvienas žmogus turėtų perskaityti šį kūrinį ir nepaleisti šio pasakojimo vėjams.

[E · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found one major inaccuracy while reading this book. It made me question what else might be wrong and it sort of ruined the entire reading experience for me.

[Irs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ideal para quienes quieran saber más allá del entorno de Ana Frank y no quedarse solo con su vida a través de su diario. Cuenta con una prolija documentación de sus familiares y amigos que reconstruye el entorno familiar de Ana desde sus bisabuelos hasta los acontecimientos después de su muerte en Bergen Belsen.

[Shanny · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Quiero ser recordada después de mi muerte" Ana Frank

[Natacha Ribeiro · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it was a tiring book to read due to all the details.

The book went into great detail and described Anne's entire journey well, but, as I said before, there were certain things that could be removed.

[Nelly Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

una prespetiva diferente de la vida de Ana Frank la verdad creo que esta muy completa y bien documentada.

[Rasa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Educational, sad to learn about horror of the events.