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The Red Leather Diary: Reclaiming a Life Through the Pages of a Lost Journal (P.S.) Kindle Edition

4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 432 ratings

“A world straight from the pages of an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel . . . An extraordinary story about coming of age . . . and discovering who you are.” —Parade

Rescued from a Dumpster on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, a discarded diary brings to life the glamorous, forgotten world of an extraordinary young woman . . .

Opening the tarnished brass lock of a red leather diary found in the basement of a New York City apartment building, 
New York Times writer Lily Koppel embarked on a journey into the past. Compelled by the hopes and heartaches captured in the pages, Koppel set out to find the diary’s owner, a 90-year old woman named Florence. Eventually reunited with her diary, Florence ventured back to the girl she once was, rediscovering a lost self that burned with artistic fervor.

Joining intimate interviews with original diary entries, 
The Red Leather Diary is an evocative and entrancing work that recreates the romance and glitter, sophistication and promise, of 1930s New York, bringing to life the true story of a precocious young woman who dared to follow her dreams.

“Melds three life-affirming subjects—Florence Wolfson’s journal of life in 1930s Manhattan, Koppel’s discovery of it in a Dumpster decades later, and the meeting of the two women—into one enchanting memoir.” —Elle 



“[An] amazing story . . . A highbrow fairy tale . . . Much of the book’s emotional power derives from the drama of an old woman reclaiming a past that was almost lost to her . . . Koppel writes with flair.” —Chicago Tribune

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Journalist Koppel found the inspiration for this book, based on her 2006 New York Times article, after discovering Florence Wolfson’s diary in a Manhattan dumpster. Koppel eventually locates Florence in Florida and surprises the 90-year-old with this artifact from her past, which reveals her views on growing up as an intelligent, ambitious and creative teenager on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in the 1930s. Florence received the diary as a present on her 14th birthday. She recorded everything from her first kiss (with a boy) to her crush on actress Eva Le Galliene (which led her to question her sexuality) to her passion for writing and art. The diary acts as a window into a fascinating and privileged world, one that Koppel tries to recreate by writing in a novelistic way, using no more than snippets of text from Florence’s diary and, we can presume, multiple interviews as support. The result, which some readers may find frustrating and others rewarding, is that the original inspiration—the diary itself—becomes no more than a starting point for a much larger story: that of Florence’s life.

From Booklist

In 2003, Koppel, a novice writer for the New York Times, stumbled upon an amazing discovery: the decades-old diary of a privileged teenaged Manhattanite penned between 1929 and 1934. Fascinated by entries detailing theater expeditions, shopping sprees, love interests, and grand ambitions, she put her journalistic skills to good use, tracking down the original owner of this faded and cracked red-leather treasure. Elated to discover 90-year-old Florence Wolfson alive, alert, and eager to share her memories of a bygone time and place, Koppel began interviewing Florence, interweaving the brief diary entries with more detailed personal anecdotes infused with the type of glamour and sophistication associated with a 1930s romantic comedy. After a front-page story appeared in the New York Times Sunday City section, interest in Florence’s fascinating story prompted the author to write a full-length book that works as both a biography and a spellbinding glimpse into a vanished era. --Margaret Flanagan

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0013TPYQM
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins e-books; Illustrated edition (October 13, 2009)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 13, 2009
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3610 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 327 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 432 ratings

About the author

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Lily Koppel
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Lily Koppel is the New York Times bestselling author of The Astronaut Wives Club (the basis for the ABC TV series) and The Red Leather Diary. She has written for the New York Times, the New York Times Magazine, the Daily Beast, and Glamour. Koppel grew up in Chicago and graduated from Barnard College. She currently resides in New York City.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
432 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and enjoyable. They praise the writing style as descriptive and easy to read. The characters are described as intelligent, thoughtful, and adventurous. Readers appreciate the insights into NYC during the early 20th century and the rich details about that era. While some felt the storyline was choppy and redundant at times, overall they found the book educational and well-researched.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

52 customers mention "Readability"38 positive14 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find it interesting and enjoyable, with a good story and great ending. The diary story is fun, but some readers felt the book got dull after about 2/3 of the way through.

"...What a spellbinding book!!..." Read more

"The story of how the diary was revealed was fun...." Read more

"...There are many interesting tidbits of history, literature, and women's roles in twentieth century U.S. which I found enlightening." Read more

"...Also lacked the flow of a good novelist, written more like the journalist the author is. A good story and interesting characters...." Read more

50 customers mention "Story quality"44 positive6 negative

Customers enjoy the story's intrigue and interesting historical perspective from a young girl's point of view. They find the period and place fascinating, especially New York City in the 1920s and 1930s. The book is described as an extraordinary account of a young woman's life with interesting facts and historical notes.

"...Though the parts about people were interesting, the portions of the diary dealing with 1930s life in New York City were absolutely fascinating...." Read more

"...The book's best feature was its revelation of life in NYC during the golden age of the 20's and 30's ." Read more

"...There are many interesting tidbits of history, literature, and women's roles in twentieth century U.S. which I found enlightening." Read more

"...unexpected parts (PG-13 for sure)and some parts that were really interesting facts. I thought it was a great look back in time...." Read more

13 customers mention "Writing style"13 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the writing style. They find it well-written, easy to read, and descriptive. The book contains interesting dialogue about the 20th century in New York City and the people. Readers appreciate the author's research and interviews to create this diary.

"...I will recommend this to people who like history and easy reading." Read more

"...Lily did an impressive amount of research and interviews to create this book . I admire her willingness to ferret out this story...." Read more

"The Red Leather Diary is written in a simplistic style...." Read more

"...She truly has a descriptive way with words and transported us to a brilliant and daring young woman's life in old New York...." Read more

11 customers mention "Personality"11 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's personality. They find the young woman intellectually gifted and daring. The author seems talented and deeply connected to both young and old. Readers appreciate the well-written story and pictures included.

"...Florence is a very bright, upper class girl, the Manhattan daughter of a doctor and a woman who owned her own high-end dress/gown business..." Read more

"...I admire her willingness to ferret out this story. She, too, seems talented as well as deeply connected to young and old Florence...." Read more

"...way with words and transported us to a brilliant and daring young woman's life in old New York...." Read more

"...yound woman's life in NYC in the late 20's and 30's, it's a fascinating look at her life , her friends, her family, and most importantly of New..." Read more

8 customers mention "Enlightenedness"8 positive0 negative

Customers enjoyed the insights into NYC during the early 20th century. They appreciated the great descriptions of places and things of that era. The content was rich in detail, but the storyline was a bit choppy and redundant. However, it recalled many of their travels and experiences.

"...Although the content was rich in detail, the storyline was a bit choppy and redundant, as if the reader did not have a memory and had to be reminded..." Read more

"...She, too, seems talented as well as deeply connected to young and old Florence...." Read more

"...and made it her mission to find Florence has done a wonderful job compiling Florence's memories with the old diary entries and adding little..." Read more

"I LIKED THE DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PLACES AND THINGS OF THAT ERA...." Read more

6 customers mention "Pacing"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's pacing good. They say the author introduces the idea well and it's intriguing. The book is fascinating, although at times it seems more like a list of things. Readers appreciate the impressive research and interviews used to create this educational and easy-to-read story.

"...Lily did an impressive amount of research and interviews to create this book . I admire her willingness to ferret out this story...." Read more

"...Most of the book was fascinating, although at times it seemed more to be a list of things she'd done and people she'd met without much meat~..." Read more

"...One of the most skillfully written and researched books I have ever read. Buy a copy for you and give another as a gift to a friend!..." Read more

"This was a good idea and a good story. Takes you back in history to a different, simpler time." Read more

7 customers mention "Intelligence"4 positive3 negative

Customers have different views on the book's intelligence. Some find it engaging and interesting, with a brilliant mind and creative passion. Others feel the observations of a teenager are shallow and not worth reading.

"...Moreover, she had a brilliant mind, a creative passion, and a zest for living and for being her own person...." Read more

"...As one might expect, the observations of a teenager are not deep, but they are entertaining." Read more

"...Florence was indeed a very interesting person and led a very interesting life." Read more

"...is unbearably egocentric to the point of narcissism, shallow, and unlikeable...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2013
    A young woman, a 20-something New York Times reporter moved into a new place in NYC. She discovers that the building is throwing out old foot lockers full of abandoned stuff from old residents and, while poking around, she came across an old red leather diary, along with some other things.

    It's a 5-year diary, from the 14th to 19th birthdays of a girl named Florence in 1929 to 1934. Florence is a very bright, upper class girl, the Manhattan daughter of a doctor and a woman who owned her own high-end dress/gown business (but who had all their money invested in the stock market when it crashed in 1929).

    We learn, via brief lines of daily writing, of Florence's friends and lovers, both male and female, during her late high school years, up through her years at Hunter College, and through a 3-month trip to Europe. Florence is a very artistic girl and talked much, too, about her art and her writing.

    Though the parts about people were interesting, the portions of the diary dealing with 1930s life in New York City were absolutely fascinating. What a spellbinding book!!

    Also of interest, the reporter tracked down Florence, who, in her early 90s, was able to tell of her life after the diary abruptly ended.

    I notice that the reviews of this book are all over the board but I, for one, thought it was absolutely terrific. Loved it!!
    9 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2016
    Although I enjoyed this book, I feel like it could have been done with far fewer pages. Although the content was rich in detail, the storyline was a bit choppy and redundant, as if the reader did not have a memory and had to be reminded quite often. Also lacked the flow of a good novelist, written more like the journalist the author is. A good story and interesting characters. I will recommend this to people who like history and easy reading.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2014
    The story of how the diary was revealed was fun. The life of the woman who wrote the diary was certainly interesting to anyone who grew up in a midwestern, middle-class home- maybe a little shocking- though not really inspiring. The book's best feature was its revelation of life in NYC during the golden age of the 20's and 30's .
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2016
    Florence wrote in the red leather diary for five years beginning in her mind-teens in the late 1920's and early 1930's in New York City. Lily, the author, found the red leather diary in 2003 in her early twenties and eventually she found Florence. As a teen in the Great Depression, Florence had some incredible opportunities at a time when opportunities were rare. Moreover, she had a brilliant mind, a creative passion, and a zest for living and for being her own person.
    Lily did an impressive amount of research and interviews to create this book . I admire her willingness to ferret out this story. She, too, seems talented as well as deeply connected to young and old Florence.

    There are many interesting tidbits of history, literature, and women's roles in twentieth century U.S. which I found enlightening.
    7 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2013
    The Red Leather Diary is written in a simplistic style. It relates of a girl maturing into adulthood,who lived in Manhattan in the 1930's in diary form.It tells the reader about many places that no longer exists.The diarist was from a comfortably wealthy home which enabled her see things that the average teen might not be able to experience. The diary is a 'fast read' requiring no particular intellect, but interesting
    3 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2008
    For some reason I really love NY in the 20's and 30's. So this book was perfect for me. Plus, I do have to admit I am little nosey, so getting the opportunity to read someone diary sounded fun! Sometimes I have trouble with a book keeping my interest. I had no trouble at all with this one. It had some unexpected parts (PG-13 for sure)and some parts that were really interesting facts. I thought it was a great look back in time. There was only one thing I would change about the book... There were several chapters on the diary and then the next several chapters were in real time. I thought the flow was a little choppy. Other than that it was great!
    14 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2014
    I saw a public TV talk given by the author about discovering the old trunks in a dumpster outside an apartment building in NYC. She brings the diary writer to life, taking us back in an earlier ear of life as an adolescent in NYC. It makes one wonder what kind of other wonderful discoveries there might be in the basement storage of so many prewar apartment buildings in the city.

    The author tracks down the diary writer, now living in Florida and they develop a lovely friendship.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2020
    The retelling of the story of the entries of the owner of the found diary had promise but the few times the author jumped around in time could be confusing. The subject even though about a maturing young woman in the bohemian years after World War I made her seem so self centered this reader got bored with her escapades. Otherwise the view of New York City in the early 20th century was interesting especially the the encounters of the subject with some well known writers and actors
    One person found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • shelley
    5.0 out of 5 stars Would Florence be able to live her life if she’d been born a century later?
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 1, 2024
    If Florence were a teenager today, she’d be called a rebel, trouble, she needs help and be labelled!
    Thank god she was able to live the life she wanted, along with her peers. Thank you for bringing Florence’s teenage years to life in this book.
    Fascinating history of a young woman growing up in New York in the well-to-do 1930’s
  • Bettyjane Wylie
    4.0 out of 5 stars I never met a diarist I didn't like.
    Reviewed in Canada on November 14, 2014
    For my diary collection. I never met a diarist I didn't like.
  • Maria Savva
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 21, 2008
    I really enjoyed reading this book. This is the true story of the discovery of a long-forgotten diary. The diary of Florence Wolfson lay undiscovered for over half a century until the author, Lily Koppel, finds it in a dumpster. Koppel is a writer for the New York Times and was naturally curious about the content of the diary. She searched for the diary's author, and 90 year-old Florence told her all about her life in 1920s and 1930s New York. Florence as a teenager had been full of energy and had a zest for life and the arts. Her story is an amazing one. Lily Koppel brings the pages of the diary to life brilliantly.
  • J.A
    5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 8, 2013
    Bought this book second hand out of slight curiosity: one of the best buys I've made book wise this year. An absolutely amazing insight in to bygone New York, Koppel really pulls you in to Florence's life and gets you attached to all the people she writes about, so much so I was rather upset when I finished it!

    Light and easy to read, Florence's story and do-everything insight on life really makes you think and now when I want to make a decision I think to myself, What Would Florence Wolfson Do?
  • Jean H
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 25, 2018
    Arrived quickly and as described am very happy with purchase.

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