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ZITA PHILLIPS : 1937 & 1938 ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT DIARIES OF A YOUNG BRITISH GIRL BOARDING AT A NORWICH RELIGIOUS SCHOOL

8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. On offer are two [2] original manuscript diaries, that are very interesting on many levels, handwritten by Miss Zita Phillips a young English school girl, fourteen or fifteen we guess, who boards, even though her family lives close by, in what appears to be a religious all girls school in Fakenham, near Norwich in Norfolk England. A casual reading tells one that she is of a wealthy family, her father teaches occasionally at high school level, the family travels in higher up local social circles and religion is important in many ways to the family. These diaries do a super service in providing a peek into the private world of a school girl, away from home confiding to the diary the day to day happenings and yearnings of her mind and heart. She uses two 100 pp+ 8 x 6 inch hardcover notebooks adding dates. Of the two books; one is dated 1937 beginning in January running through to November 25th which is blank. The second book begins January 1st runs sporadically through August. This book while undated we deduce is from 1938 given the January 1st entry is a Sunday. At first the diaries appear to be written by a girl of limited abilities for schoolwork and short of some enthusiasm for Lacrosse, not much else. She does prove to be a more intellectual author as we read more. Upon arriving home for what would be a 'Spring Break' the girl finds her father and mother in some re awakening of religious fervor. Zita rails at the announcement of compulsory morning prayers at home - 'of all the Puritanical ideas!' - she writes. Then a passage: 'Daddy questioned me about my religion and to think it over and to tell him. I won't be questioned about my religion.' This is a passionate young girl and when love does hit here it is a train. His name is Noel and for a number of pages she moons about him. And then there is Hal. Once she has met him and realized she can't stop thinking about him she begins a campaign to be with him. Our writer is not a dimwit as she references the world events such as Hitler's rise and Mussolini's battles. Zita also does a great job and local historians and collectors will have many clues which should identify the school and other missing details. She names, among many, many others: Betty Kellett, Nita Brooks, Dr. Fawkes, Anne Purdy, Betty Bristowe, Felicity Moss, Elizabeth Withers, Helen Appleton, Anne Daugbert ['my Dane'??], Sylvia Eckersley, Elwyn Jones, Felicity Moss-Blundell, Patience Cunningham, Bishop [Bertram] Pollock+++. She also mentions : at School Parliament she is proposed as gardening monitor, reading 'In the Steps of St. Paul by HV Thorton, playing a new game called Monopoly, church in Sheringham and others, 2 pages of secret writings in Greek printing, notes on the coronation of George VI and much, much more. Lacrosse is the sport of choice and there are a number of team lists she has noted names and positions. There has been some damp damage long ago but the books have aged well and save for a loose page and the odd damp-stains these books are overall G.. Manuscript. Book Condition: Good

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