The best preface to this journal written by a young girl belonging to the upper middle class is a letter by Sigmund Freud dated April 27 1915 a letter wherein the distinguished Viennese psychologist testifies to the permanent value of the document: "This diary is a gem. Never before I believe has anything been written enabling us to see so clearly into the soul of a young girl belonging to our social and cultural stratum during the years of puberal development.