Most of my long-term readers know that for years Anaïs Nin has been my muse and mentor. Even though she was most popular in the 1970s, in many ways her work is timeless and resonates with women and men intergenerationally. I particularly relate to Nin's journals because we both began journaling at the age of ten after the loss of a loved one. For those interested and curious about Nin-and who want to get a glimpse into her alluring, interesting, and complex life without reading all her books-this volume is a must read.

Franklin has selected some of Nin's best writings-spanning her four decades as an author-as an introduction into one of the past century's most talented, complex, and intriguing female literary figures. In the Preface, Paul Herron, the editor/publisher of Sky Blue Press who published many of Nin's works, says that this collection represents excerpts from some of Nin's best writing, while at the same time, the reader clearly witnesses her evolution and growth as a writer, from diarist to novelist to overall writing theories. He makes the poignant statement that "Readers new to Anaïs Nin will be enabled to make informed choices when further exploring her work."

This book is highly recommended; it will make a wonderful holiday gift for women across the generations, and also all lovers of the written word.