Writing and Reading Diaries in Mid-Twentieth-Century Britain

Abstract

Using the diaries of Jean Lucey Pratt as a case study, the article assesses the impact of the availability of published diaries in mid-twentieth-century Britain on conventions in diary-writing practice. Consideration is also given to the effect of Pratt's involvement in Mass-Observation on her perception of her diary, and to the wider influence of Mass-Observation on twentieth-century diary-writing, given that this project troubles the idea of the diary as an individualistic, private form of writing.