Diary of Nobody's Son, The: A Reply to My Father's 'Diary of a Nobody'

The Diary of a Nobody is an English comic novel, serialised in Punch magazine, and written by George and Weedon Grossmith. The Diary records the daily events in the lives of a London clerk, Charles Pooter, his wife Carrie, his son Lupin, and their numerous friends and acquaintances, over a period of 15 months. Charles had a difficult relationship with his 20 year old son Lupin. The Diary of Nobody's Son gives Lupin's side of the story. 'I wish Pa hadn't called his book The Diary of a Nobody. There's a selfish reason; it makes me out to be nobody's son, in fact, nobody's only son; which makes me sound like I am less than nothing. But there s also an unselfish reason. Pa had his moments when he was nothing like a nobody or, to be positive, something like a somebody. This book is partly Pa's and partly mine as I comment on his diary and especially on what it says about me. Its a dialogue between him and me, a dialogue we never had in real life because it would have been too difficult. The Diary of Nobody's Son deals with their rows about money, Lupin's love life, Lupin's dress sense and the fact that Lupin thinks little of his father's boss, Mr Perkupp (whom Lupin's father idolises). The Diary came to be recognised by critics as a classic work of humour. Lupin's answer is a gem that answers a gem. Witty, unexpected, and even wise in places.