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The Diary of Miss Idilia

Thursday, September 21st, 2006 | Book

I’ve just read ‘The Diary of Miss Idilia’ - the tragic real-life story of 17-year-old Scottish girl Idilia Dubb. (only available in Swedish and German, I believe). It took place back in the days when it was fashionable for English people to travel to the Rheinland. It is the story of her noble fiancé’s betrayal, of her parents’ problems, of her blossoming relationship with German merchant Christian Bach (whom she met on the ship) and of her tragic fate. After having spent a romantic evening with Christian on the tower of castle Lahneck she climbs it again the next morning to make sketches of the place now so dear to her. But the wooden stairs collaps behind her and she is trapped - left to a painful death. I hear there are plans to make this into a movie: I’d love to see that.

3 Comments to The Diary of Miss Idilia

Alan Sharkey
May 3, 2008

I heard about the story of Idilia Dubb on a visit to nearby Boppard. I have just returned to Bobbard and intend to visit Lahneck Castle, where Idilia died.

I would love to find an English translation of the book, which from the description above is I supsect a fictionalised account!

Denise
July 25, 2008

Please tell me where I can get a copy of this book.

Thank you

Alan J Sharkey
September 3, 2008

The publisher is:

Verlag Bertelsmann
Abteilung Jugendbuch
Neumaerkter Strasse 28
81673 Muenchen

I have written to them but had no response yet. I will however write my own account of the tragedy of Idilia Dubb and already have an archive of material. If you can add to that do please write to me - I can be contacted via my ‘blog’:

http://alansharkey.blogspot.com/

Write to me also if you would like a copy of my own book when published.

I would very much like to trace any members of the family - can you help?

Alan J Sharkey

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