- Paperback: 176 pages
- Publisher: Oxford Paperbacks; New edition edition (16 July 1998)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0192833278
- ISBN-13: 978-0192833273
- Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 12.7 x 1.5 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (70 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,109,130 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Diary of a Nobody
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Product Description
Book Description
'Why should I not publish my diary? 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' Charles Pooter
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
Product Description
`Why should I not publish my diary? 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.' The Diary of a Nobody (1892) created a cultural icon, an English archetype. Anxious, accident-prone, occasionally waspish, Charles Pooter has come to be seen as the epitome of English suburban life. His diary chronicles encounters with difficult tradesmen, the delights of home improvements, small parties, minor embarrassments, and problems with his troublesome son. The suburban world he inhabits is hilariously and painfully familiar in its small-mindedness and its essential decency. Both celebration and critique, The Diary of a Nobody has often been imitated, but never bettered. This edition features Weedon Grossmith's hilarious illustrations and is complemented by an enjoyable introduction discussing the book's social background and suburban fiction as a genre.
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
94 of 96 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The Diary of a Nobody tells in diary form the story of a certain Mr Pooter, clerk by profession and a man of no importance or interest. He is somewhat pompous, dull, and stuffy, with pretensions towards gentility but lacking in social skills and self-awareness. He is quite a ridiculous figure, and one who is taken advantage of by many who he is pleased to call his friends, and mocked by his juniors at work. Additionally, all tradesmen are his nemeses. As he sets this down in his diary, however, Mr. Pooter is often oblivious to his own foolishness and to the impression he creates in others, and in the reader.
Mr. Pooter's son Lupin is the main source of incident in his father's life. He is a youth of high spirits and little respect for his elders, including his father. Lupin undertakes a love affair with a young lady called Daisy Mutlar; he is desperately in love with this young lady , who seems to Mr. Pooter to be of no remarkable attraction or accomplishments. Concurrent with this torrid affair, Lupin finds and loses several jobs, joins an amateur dramatics club and speculates on the stock exchange with his father's money.
Though over 100 years old, this book is still funny for the modern reader. It was written with the contemporary audience in mind but the humour has not dated. As another reviewer noted, Mr Pooter is something of a 19th century David Brent. The style is notably uncluttered and unaffected. It is a short book(145 pages approx. in this edition) and extremely readable. From a relatively uneventful start, it gathers momentum with the arrival of Lupin. Pooter's character broadens somewhat to become a decent everyman, though none the less ridiculous for that. This book ends long before the reader has had enough of the bumbling central character, and is a very pleasant, undemanding read.
Mr. Pooter's son Lupin is the main source of incident in his father's life. He is a youth of high spirits and little respect for his elders, including his father. Lupin undertakes a love affair with a young lady called Daisy Mutlar; he is desperately in love with this young lady , who seems to Mr. Pooter to be of no remarkable attraction or accomplishments. Concurrent with this torrid affair, Lupin finds and loses several jobs, joins an amateur dramatics club and speculates on the stock exchange with his father's money.
Though over 100 years old, this book is still funny for the modern reader. It was written with the contemporary audience in mind but the humour has not dated. As another reviewer noted, Mr Pooter is something of a 19th century David Brent. The style is notably uncluttered and unaffected. It is a short book(145 pages approx. in this edition) and extremely readable. From a relatively uneventful start, it gathers momentum with the arrival of Lupin. Pooter's character broadens somewhat to become a decent everyman, though none the less ridiculous for that. This book ends long before the reader has had enough of the bumbling central character, and is a very pleasant, undemanding read.
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition
There's a lot of humour in the characterisations of this middle class Victorian family. Observed in a similarly wry style as Elizabeth Gaskell uses in Cranford. Thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish.
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Mr Pooter is keeping a diary. It records his life with his wife Carrie, their son Lupin and friends Mr Cummings and Mr Gowing. Mr Pooter is a hard working clerk in the office of a firm whose business is unspecified. He is a good man with firm principles who makes bad jokes and takes offence at small things at times. The picture the reader gets of his life is vivid and every reader will find it possible to identify with at least some of the events.
Mr Pooter does not get on with his son and occasionally falls out with his wife and his servant. When not at work he potters around at home or meets friends. There are impromptu social events - some successful some not. He is concerned about the company his son is mixing with and is worried about the influence Mrs James has on his wife especially when she causes her to write on slate blue paper with white ink and take part in séances. Above all Mr Pooter is loyal to his employer and prides himself on doing a good job. He is a model citizen and a good father and husband. Even after more than twenty years of marriage he and Carrie are obviously still happy even if Carrie sometimes spends all evening reading and doesn't talk to him.
The book is a classic and I loved reading it and it's one of those books I shall re-read regularly. I thoroughly recommend it.
Mr Pooter does not get on with his son and occasionally falls out with his wife and his servant. When not at work he potters around at home or meets friends. There are impromptu social events - some successful some not. He is concerned about the company his son is mixing with and is worried about the influence Mrs James has on his wife especially when she causes her to write on slate blue paper with white ink and take part in séances. Above all Mr Pooter is loyal to his employer and prides himself on doing a good job. He is a model citizen and a good father and husband. Even after more than twenty years of marriage he and Carrie are obviously still happy even if Carrie sometimes spends all evening reading and doesn't talk to him.
The book is a classic and I loved reading it and it's one of those books I shall re-read regularly. I thoroughly recommend it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Comical, insightful and entertaining
And why not publish your diary?
I can't say it was the MOST gripping read, but it certainly was entertaining, lighthearted, well written, and insightful, taking you back... Read more
I can't say it was the MOST gripping read, but it certainly was entertaining, lighthearted, well written, and insightful, taking you back... Read more
Published 9 days ago by Gyles
fooled me
This was a curious little book that actually had me believing i was reading a real diary from the 19th century. Read more
Published 13 days ago by c and
Very Enjoyable
Although I had heard of this book I doubt if I would ever have read it without the Kindle store.
Thoroughly enjoyed the gentle and ironic humour. Recommended
Thoroughly enjoyed the gentle and ironic humour. Recommended
Published 1 month ago by P
Good Quality Copy: Entertaining Read
Didn't find a single typo in this, which is a relief after some of the free books I've looked at.
Very entertaining in its way - the first half more amusing than the second. Read more
Very entertaining in its way - the first half more amusing than the second. Read more
Published 1 month ago by C. Collett
Diary Of A Nobody.(E-Book)
Nice easy read,normal family of their era trying to get by as best they can.Not many highs or lows,just amusing entries into a diary kept by the man of the house. Read more
Published 1 month ago by K. W. Day
Very funny
I enjoyed this - it was gently satirical and although set a while ago, I still identified most of the traits being mocked, while it never got really mean.
Published 1 month ago by pavanne
Comic genius
Must be recognised as one of the funniest books (after those of P G Wodehouse) that has ever been written, nothing further to be said!
Published 2 months ago by owen09
Enjoyable read
Another free kindle book which was most enjoyable and had it not been for kindle I would probably never have had the pleasure of reading it.
Published 2 months ago by PK
A quiet classic
A delightful little book. Mr Charles Pooter, the eponymous "nobody", is an accidental comic genius. Reading his simple diary entries felt like sitting down with a nice cup of tea... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Simon Bendle
A comic classic
I first came across this comic novel several years ago, and have picked it up to re-read on a number of occasions since then. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Jeremy Walton
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