The Journal I Did Not Keep

“For almost six decades Segal has quietly produced some of the best fiction and essays in American literature, as this generous sampler attests.”—The New York Times

“An eclectic, covertly joyful book, [that] shares with the rest of Segal’s writing an openhearted curiosity toward life, even at its ugliest moments.”—HARPER’S MAGAZINE

“Clear, precise and devastating… a satisfying grasp for continuity by a woman who has continuously experienced profound loss.”—VANITY FAIR

“Lore Segal is a national treasure, brilliant, unsentimental, and wry; this volume, introduced by Catherine Lacey, is a massive and delightful compendium of six decades of her work, including uncollected writings, essays, and excerpts from novels and stories.”—LIT HUB

“Segal is a monumental writer, one of the finest of her generation; this lovely collection is a fine introduction to her work.”—Kirkus  [STARRED REVIEW]


“Segal remains one of the most distinct voices of the 20th-century American literary tradition. Consistently perceptive with a wry humor lurking just beneath the surface. The Journal I Did Not Keep is a joy to read.”—Shelf Awareness

“No one writes like Segal—her glittering intelligence, her piercing wit, and her dazzling insights into manners and mores, are a profound pleasure.” —Margot Livesey

“I always feel in her work such a sense of toughness and humor . . . Her writing is sad and funny, and that makes it more of both.” —Jennifer Egan

“If America had anything resembling a wise elder, or cared to, it would be Lore Segal.” —Shalom Auslander

“This woman is one of the best writers I’ve ever had the privilege of reading.” —Ayelet Waldman

“Lore Segal is a marvelous and fearless writer. No subject is too hard, too absurd, or too painful for her wise, peculiar, and brilliant fiction.” —Lily Tuck