The Diary (just where did V get it & what is really going on ?)

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 86634

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "a_reader2003"
<carolynwhite2 at a...> wrote:
> One question about the diary that does not seem to have been 
> discussed, is just how did Tom get hold of it in the first place ? 
> Yes, Tom, not Lucius. I am intrigued that JKR chooses to emphasise 
> its origins so specifically:
> 
> 'Harry turned to the back cover of the book and saw the printed name 
> of a newsagents in Vauxhall Road, London. 
> 'He must have been Muggle-born,' said Harry thoughtfully, 'to have 
> bought a diary from Vauxhall Road...'
> 
> ...edited...
> 
> Carolyn


bboy_mn:

Excellent analysis. Please forgive me for not addressing it item by
item; I'm just going to make a few general comments.

First point, the USA edition says that the book is from a "variety
story" on Vauxhall Road. My guess is, the impicaition is that the book
came from a newstand or shop that specializes in periodicals and cheap
paperback books as well as a few miscellaneous novelty and convinience
 items. In any event, both UK and US books seem to indicate that the
name on the back and reference to Vauxhall Rd represent the store and
not the publisher.

Now let's look at the actual book. If it was a 'year' diary where each
day of the week is specifically associated with a calendar date, then
things become a little more complicated. But, if it was more like a
journal, just a book of blank or lined pages, things are much simpler.

A journal could be published at any time; so, if it was a journal,
then the diary could have been 10 years old before it was actually
purchased. This type of journal is cheap and readily available. I
speculate that I could go to my local grocery story and find this type
of journal in the office supply section. Many store that sell this
type of cheap journal or date calendar, do imprint their store name on
the back as a form of advertising. 

The journal type diary helps because it allows us to separate the book
from shops that might be casualties of war. In fact, I will speculate
that the war might have even helped make the journal MORE available to
Tom Riddle.

I speculate that the orphanage that Riddle grew up in wasn't totally
heartless or without compassion. So, when Christmas rolled around,
each kid would be give some type of token present just so they could
feel like they were part of Christmas too. 

Now we can assume that Riddle received the journal as a Christmas
present. I can further speculate that because the Vauxhall Rd area was
damaged by the war, much of the merchandise from damage stores would
have been salvaged and put on the surplus market. An attempt by the
owners to recover as much as they could from the destruction. That
means that a relatively nice journal would be available for an
extremely low price to the orphanage. It may have even been an
complimentary advertising gift to one of the orphanage staff, who in
turn donated it to be re-gifted to one of the orphans.

All pure speculation, but it holds up as a likely way in which Tom
could have come across the diary.

Just a thought.

bboy_mn