
The Diary of a Nobody
INTRODUCTION BY MR. POOTER
CHAPTER I
CHAPTER II
CHAPTER III
CHAPTER IV
CHAPTER V
CHAPTER VI
CHAPTER VII
CHAPTER VIII
Meet a modest city clerk who has decided that his otherwise unremarkable life deserves a record. Settling into a newly‑rented six‑roomed house on Brickfield Terrace, he describes the front garden, the locked front door, and the constant stream of tradesmen that seem to invade his peace. His diary opens with a cheerful pledge to capture the small triumphs and frustrations of domestic existence.
The entries quickly become a comic chronicle of leaky windows, misplaced umbrellas, and the occasional drunken butterman barging in for a dram. Through his earnest yet slightly pompous voice, the narrator offers a wry commentary on his friends' visits, the endless list of household chores, and his determination to be a proper ‘gentleman’ despite his modest means. The humor lies in the minutiae—broken bells, stubborn scrapers, and the perpetual negotiation with neighbours and shopkeepers. Listeners will find a warm portrait of Victorian‑era middle‑class life, where the ordinary is rendered both absurd and endearing.
Language
en
Duration
~3 hours (227K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
Aug 1, 1997
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1847–1912
Best remembered for the wonderfully awkward comedy of The Diary of a Nobody, this Victorian entertainer brought sharp humor to both the page and the stage. He was also one of the original stars of Gilbert and Sullivan’s Savoy operas, known for comic roles that matched his gift for observation and wit.
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1852–1919
Best known as the co-creator and illustrator of The Diary of a Nobody, he brought a sharp eye for everyday comedy to both the stage and the page. His work helped turn small domestic embarrassments into one of English humor’s most enduring classics.
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