Our patron Simon Brett is editor of the Faber Book of Diaries and was the perfect person to speak at the March meeting on famous and infamous diarists.
He said that a diary, unless written by a politician, is usually intended to remain private or to have limited circulation among friends. Therefore they are often indiscreet and can give a marvellous insight into the mind of the writer.
Many diarists, among them Philip Larkin, have given instructions that their diaries be destroyed after their death. Fortunately for us, many survive and have been published.
We were treated to extracts from Pepys, John Evelyn, Queen Victoria and others, all read by Simon in what amounted to a humorous performance rather than a scholarly talk.