Italy's Archivio Diaristico Nazionale or national diary archive, in the small town of Pieve Santo Stefano in Tuscany, holds about 9000 diaries, letters and memoirs. It's founder, the late Italian journalist Saverio Tutino, was a professional writer who wanted to find a home for his own voluminous diaries. Within its collection you will find the writings of Italian peasants, immigrants, aristocrats, criminals, factory workers, victims of violence, business executives, drug addicts, partisans, fascists, communists, the semi-illiterate, the over-educated, and students nursing literary ambitions. I wish Kerala had a similar diary archive. Must visit.
