Written by Ruth Rendell under the nom-de-plume of Barbara Vine, the story of Asta’s Book opens in 1905, when a Danish family arrives in London and the lonely young mother, Asta, begins a diary. After Asta’s death more than sixty years later, her daughter Swanny discovers a huge pile of diaries which, since they are written in Danish, she can barely read. Fascinated by their contents, the widowed Swanny begins a new life as their editor and translator. Once published, Asta’s Book becomes a sensation, a phenomenal bestseller. However only her close family know the real reason for Swanny’s obsession with her mother’s diaries. For all their apparent eloquence and detailed chronicling of daily life, they also serve to conceal various painful family secrets. Also, a contemporary documentary maker believes, they may contain vital clues...
1443 words
Citation: Rowland, Susan A.. "Asta's Book". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 03 June 2005 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=16822, accessed 09 June 2026.]
