The Diary of a Nobody

With an Introduction and Notes by Michael Irwin, Professor of English Literature, University of Kent at Canterbury. The Diary of a Nobody is so unassuming a work that even its author, George Grossmith, seemed unaware that he had produced a masterpiece. For more than a century this wonderfully comic portrayal of suburban life and values has remained in print, a source of delight to generations of readers, and a major literary influence, much imitated but never equalled. If you don’t recognise yourself at some point in The Diary you are probably less than human. If you can read it without laughing aloud you have no sense of humour.

With an Introduction and Notes by Michael Irwin, Professor of English Literature, University of Kent at Canterbury. The Diary of a Nobody is so unassuming a work that even its author, George Grossmith, seemed unaware that he had produced a masterpiece. For more than a century this wonderfully comic portrayal of suburban life and values has remained in print, a source of delight to generations of readers, and a major literary influence, much imitated but never equalled. If you don’t recognise yourself at some point in The Diary you are probably less than human. If you can read it without laughing aloud you have no sense of humour.

Mr. Pooter has read about many people who have kept diaries, and concludes that he too should keep a diary, even though he is not famous, just a nobody. Mr. Pooter's life is a hilarious mix of comic moments filled with common people, everyday events, bathtub accidents, marriage proposals breaking, peculiar friends, and visitors galore. In this diary, Mr. Pooter, the bank clerk, chronicles his upside-down life. The events mentioned are comically entertaining, and will make you chuckle, even though they are of a nobody.

Channelling a razor-sharp satire through the everyday mishaps of the immortal comic character Mr Pooter, George and Weedon Grossmith's The Diary of a Nobody is edited with an introduction and notes by Ed Glinert in Penguin Classics. Mr Pooter is a man of modest ambitions, content with his ordinary life. Yet he always seems to be troubled by disagreeable tradesmen, impertinent young office clerks and wayward friends, not to mention his devil-may-care son Lupin with his unsuitable choice of bride. In the bumbling, absurd, yet ultimately endearing character of Pooter, the Grossmith brothers created a wonderful portrait of the class system and the inherent snobbishness of the suburban middle-class suburbia - one which sends up the late Victorian crazes for Aestheticism, spiritualism and bicycling, as well as the fashion for publishing diaries by anybody and everybody. This edition contains the original illustrations by Weedon Grossmith and an introduction by Ed Glinert, author of The London Compendium , discussing the novel's serialisation in Punch , the growth of the suburbs and the figure of Mrs Pooter. George Grossmith (1847-1912) initially worked as a journalist, reporting Police Court proceedings for The Times . In 1870 he began his career as a singer and entertainer, creating some of the most memorable characters in Gilbert and Sullivan's operettas. Weedon Grossmith (1854-1919) brother of George, was educated at the Slade and the Royal Academy with a view to following a career as a painter, and exhibited at the Grosvenor Gallery and the Royal Academy. Joining a theatre company in 1885, he toured the provinces and America. The best-known of his many plays, The Night of the Party , was published in 1901. If you enjoyed The Diary of a Nobody , you might like Jerome K. Jerome's Three Men in a Boat, also available in Penguin Classics. 'The funniest book in the world' Evelyn Waugh 'True humour ... with its mixture of absurdity, irony and affection ... a masterpiece, immortal' J.B. Priestley

Channelling a razor-sharp satire through the everyday mishaps of the immortal comic character Mr Pooter, George and Weedon Grossmith's The Diary of a Nobody is edited with an introduction and notes by Ed Glinert in Penguin Classics. Mr Pooter is a man of modest ambitions, content with his ordinary life. Yet he always seems to be troubled by disagreeable tradesmen, impertinent young office clerks and wayward friends, not to mention his devil-may-care son Lupin with his unsuitable choice of bride. In the bumbling, absurd, yet ultimately endearing character of Pooter, the Grossmith brothers created a wonderful portrait of the class system and the inherent snobbishness of the suburban middle-class suburbia - one which sends up the late Victorian crazes for Aestheticism, spiritualism and bicycling, as well as the fashion for publishing diaries by anybody and everybody. This edition contains the original illustrations by Weedon Grossmith and an introduction by Ed Glinert, author of The London Compendium , discussing the novel's serialisation in Punch , the growth of the suburbs and the figure of Mrs Pooter. George Grossmith (1847-1912) initially worked as a journalist, reporting Police Court proceedings for The Times . In 1870 he began his career as a singer and entertainer, creating some of the most memorable characters in Gilbert and Sullivan's operettas. Weedon Grossmith (1854-1919) brother of George, was educated at the Slade and the Royal Academy with a view to following a career as a painter, and exhibited at the Grosvenor Gallery and the Royal Academy. Joining a theatre company in 1885, he toured the provinces and America. The best-known of his many plays, The Night of the Party , was published in 1901. If you enjoyed The Diary of a Nobody , you might like Jerome K. Jerome's Three Men in a Boat, also available in Penguin Classics. 'The funniest book in the world' Evelyn Waugh 'True humour ... with its mixture of absurdity, irony and affection ... a masterpiece, immortal' J.B. Priestley

The Diary of a Nobody is a comic masterpiece that has been hugely influential since its first publication in 1892. Part of the Macmillan Collector's Library; a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. This edition features Weedon Grossmith's original illustrations and an afterword by novelist Paul Bailey. Proud to be ensconced with his wife Carrie at 'The Laurels' in the desirable London suburb of Holloway, bank clerk Charles Pooter decides to keep a diary. From the frequent visits from his dear friends Mr Cummings and Mr Gowing to the ups and downs of his feckless son Lupin, the self-regarding Mr Pooter considers, mistakenly, that all aspects of his life are worthy of note. The result is a hilarious spoof and a perfectly pitched satire on late Victorian society.

The Diary of a Nobody is a comic masterpiece that has been hugely influential since its first publication in 1892. Part of the Macmillan Collector's Library; a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. This edition features Weedon Grossmith's original illustrations and an afterword by novelist Paul Bailey. Proud to be ensconced with his wife Carrie at 'The Laurels' in the desirable London suburb of Holloway, bank clerk Charles Pooter decides to keep a diary. From the frequent visits from his dear friends Mr Cummings and Mr Gowing to the ups and downs of his feckless son Lupin, the self-regarding Mr Pooter considers, mistakenly, that all aspects of his life are worthy of note. The result is a hilarious spoof and a perfectly pitched satire on late Victorian society.

George Grossmith (1847-1912) and Weedon Grossmith (1854-1919) were English brothers best known for their contributions to Victorian entertainment and literature. George was a celebrated comic actor, singer, and writer, famous for originating principal comic roles in Gilbert and Sullivan operas, while Weedon was an actor, playwright, and illustrator. Together, they collaborated on several projects, with their most enduring work being The Diary of a Nobody . George handled much of the writing while Weedon provided the illustrations, creating a perfect blend of wit and visual humor. Their combined talents left a lasting mark on British comic tradition, influencing generations of humorists. The Diary of a Nobody is a beloved comic novel chronicling the everyday life of Charles Pooter, a middle-class clerk living in late Victorian London. Written in the form of a diary, the book humorously details Pooter's minor social embarrassments, domestic trivialities, and earnest self-importance. Through gentle satire, the Grossmith brothers created an affectionate yet sharp portrait of suburban aspirations and pretensions. First serialized in Punch magazine, The Diary of a Nobody has since become a classic of English literature, cherished for its timeless humor and keen social observation.

George Grossmith (1847-1912) and Weedon Grossmith (1854-1919) were English brothers best known for their contributions to Victorian entertainment and literature. George was a celebrated comic actor, singer, and writer, famous for originating principal comic roles in Gilbert and Sullivan operas, while Weedon was an actor, playwright, and illustrator. Together, they collaborated on several projects, with their most enduring work being The Diary of a Nobody . George handled much of the writing while Weedon provided the illustrations, creating a perfect blend of wit and visual humor. Their combined talents left a lasting mark on British comic tradition, influencing generations of humorists. The Diary of a Nobody is a beloved comic novel chronicling the everyday life of Charles Pooter, a middle-class clerk living in late Victorian London. Written in the form of a diary, the book humorously details Pooter's minor social embarrassments, domestic trivialities, and earnest self-importance. Through gentle satire, the Grossmith brothers created an affectionate yet sharp portrait of suburban aspirations and pretensions. First serialized in Punch magazine, The Diary of a Nobody has since become a classic of English literature, cherished for its timeless humor and keen social observation.