Opal Whiteley

Opal Whiteley

Name	Opal Whiteley
Birth name
Birth date	December 11, 1897
Birth place	Colton, Washington, United States
Death date	February 16, 1992
Death place	Napsbury Hospital, St Albans, England
Alma mater
Occupation	Writer, diarist
Years active
Organization
Known for
Notable works	The Story of Opal: The Journal of an Understanding Heart
Spouse(s)
Website

Opal Whiteley (December 11, 1897 – February 16, 1992) was an American diarist and nature writer whose childhood journal, The Story of Opal, gained significant attention and controversy in the early 20th century. Her work is noted for its vivid descriptions of nature and its unique narrative style.

Early Life

Opal Whiteley was born in Colton, Washington, but she spent much of her childhood in the logging camps of Oregon. Her early life was marked by a deep connection to nature, which she documented in her diary. Whiteley claimed to have been adopted and to be of French royal descent, a claim that was never substantiated but added to her mystique.

The Story of Opal

The Story of Opal: The Journal of an Understanding Heart was published in 1920. The book purported to be a transcription of Whiteley's childhood diary, written when she was between the ages of 6 and 7. The diary is notable for its poetic language and detailed observations of the natural world. Whiteley described her interactions with animals and plants with a sense of wonder and spirituality.

Controversy

The authenticity of The Story of Opal was questioned soon after its publication. Critics pointed out inconsistencies in the narrative and questioned whether a child could have written such sophisticated prose. Some suggested that Whiteley had fabricated the diary as an adult. Despite the controversy, the book was a bestseller and has remained in print for decades.

Later Life

After the publication of her diary, Whiteley lived a peripatetic life, spending time in Europe and eventually settling in England. Her later years were marked by mental health struggles, and she spent the last decades of her life in a psychiatric hospital in St Albans, England, where she died in 1992.

Legacy

Opal Whiteley's life and work continue to fascinate readers and scholars. Her diary is considered a classic of nature writing, and her life story has inspired numerous biographies and studies. The debate over the authenticity of her diary remains unresolved, adding to her enigmatic legacy.

Also see

• Nature writing
• Diarist
• Literary forgery
• American literature