The Diary of a Nobody
George and Weedon Grossmith
Martine's house, 7th February 2002
Synopsis
I have often seen reminiscences of people I have
never even heard of, and I fail to see - because I do not
happen to be a "Somebody" - why my diary should
not be interesting.
An office clerk and upright family man in a dull 1880s London
suburb, Mr Pooter was nonetheless confident that others would
find his life interesting. His confidence was not misplaced.
The Diary of a Nobody was first serialized in Punch
and the book which followed in 1892 has never been out of
print.
In it the Grossmith brothers not only created an immortal
comic character but produced a clever satire of their society.
The diary is a wonderful portrait of the class system and
the inherent snobbishness of the suburban middle classes.
It sends up contemporary crazes for Aestheticism, spiritualism
and bicycling, as well as the fashion for publishing diaries
by anybody and everybody.
First lines
My dear wife Carrie and I have just been a week
in our new house, 'The Laurels', Brickfield Terrace, Holloway
- a nice six-roomed residence, not counting basement, with
a front breakfast-room. We have a little front garden; and
there is a flight of ten steps up to the front door, which,
by-the-by, we keep locked with the chain up.
Published reviews
The funniest book in the world.
Evelyn Waugh
There was a touch of genius in the creation of Mr Pooter
Frank Muir
True humour ... with its mixture of absurdity, irony and
affection ... a masterpiece, immortal
J B Priestley
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