The Diary of Anaïs Nin, Volume 3: 1939–1944

WWII has broken out, Nin has fled to the US where she continues her artistic pursuits and meets an assortment of fellow artists, a list which reads like a Who's Who of the 40s American creative scene.

The pressure on her to be the relatively wealthy benefactor to her parasitic hanger-on artiste pals is finally getting to her. She finally acknowledges why she allows them to often leave her penniless and for her to have to scrounge for her own day to day living. For example, Miller is gallivanting around the US and telling her that he needs her to send him ten bucks so he can buy someone a birthday present (or something to that effect; reading his letter made my eyes glaze over in darkness and rage at his entitlement).

I really enjoyed show more reading the section where she bought (ostensibly for Gonzalo) a printing press and is printing Winter of Artifice herself. I loved her description of the mechanics and how the process of typesetting made her even more ruthlessly self-edit. Interestingly, Nin references her husband in these sections but never as her husband and only by his artistic pseudonym Ian Hugo who does the beautiful plates for her books. Perhaps some day I'll read the unexpurgated diaries so I can find out what Hugh was up to.

Of all her intense friendships so far, my favourite is Frances Brown. I couldn't find any information about her online but her story (as told - in her own words or paraphrased by Nin? - in the diary) is some real romanticised impoverished childhood like A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. But somehow she is mentally and monetarily more healthy and less parasitic than Nin's other friendships.

Two characters I need to know more about: Seon Gibben who Nin said can do higher mathematics, and Frances Steloff whose documentary Memoirs of a Bookseller I'd love to watch. show less

I started reading Nin's diaries at a much younger age...30s 40s, when she spoke more to my own experiences...feelings...not at 81 I am going back (almost discarded it)....One diary writet to another, thank you Anias

Her erotic appetite compares to no other... for such a dainty bird.

Shocking when I first read it.

gorgeous and illuminating as usual.

Interessant als tijdsdocument en als persoonlijk getuigenis. Een vrijgevochten vrouw die worstelt met het nieuwe milieu waarin ze terecht komt in de Verenigde Staten. Doorweven met de erotische verhalen die ze om den brode schrijft.