The Diary of a Nobody - George Grossmith

The Diary Of a Nobody written by George and Weedon Grosssmith was originally published in Punch magazine and in subsequent years it has been added to. George Grossmith (1847-1912) was a actor turned comedian and Weedon Grossmith (1852-1919) was also in the entertainment business and it was he who illustrated the Diary Of A Nobody. This is a purely fictitious story that centres around the life of Charles Pooter, a lower middle- class London city clerk who quite rightly so believed that his rather ordinary day to day routine was worth documenting and saving for future generations to read and share. Charles strives to be the epitome of the Victorian ...  Read the complete review

I'm amazed that nobody has written a review of this excellent book before now. The mind-numbingly yet hilarious world of Pooter is a joy. Charles Pooter, along with his wife Carrie, move to a new house, The Laurels in Holloway and Pooter resolves to keep a diary. One gets the impression he harbours a great desire to go down in posterity as a latter-day Pepys but as you read the diary, you realise that there is no way that is ever going to happen! His life is filled with the mundane and his diary is full of very dreary everyday occurrences which somehow are extremely funny. This is largely because it is soon very apparent that Pooter is an exceptionally ...  Read the complete review

This book holds the origins to the word "Pooterism" referring to those who take themselves too seriously, based on the lead character Charles Pooter. Diary of a Nobody details about a year and a half in the small world of Charles Pooter, his wife Carrie, their son and various acquaintances and servants. Written by brothers George and Weedon Grossmith, it first appeared in Punch magazine in 1888 before being printed in its own right as a book in 1892. The book details every aspect of the Pooters' humdrum life, starting right at the beginning with a description of their house: "a nice six-roomed residence, not counting basement, with a front ...  Read the complete review

I was also surprised that this hasn't had more reviews! I was passed this book by my mother. She normally reads very high brow books and I had asked her is she had something more suitable for me she could recommend. As the title suggests this really is a diary of a nobody although the diarys author may disagree. Mr and Mrs Pooter have just moved into their new house and Mr Pooter has resolved to keep a diary (havent we all at some point in time?) Mr Pooters diary is of all his day to day things he does. Had drink with friends, wife bought new vase etc etc. and i think this is the genious of it. You get to spy into someone else every day ...  Read the complete review