Talk:The Diary of a Nobody

Semi-colon abuse
''Before their collaboration on the Diary, the brothers each pursued successful careers on the stage. George originated nine of the principal comedian roles in the Gilbert and Sullivan operas over 12 years from 1877 to 1889. He also established a national reputation as a piano sketch entertainer and wrote a large number of songs and comic pieces. Weedon, before embarking on his stage career, had worked as an artist and illustrator; the Diary was the brothers' only mature collaboration.

Sentence pattern


 * 1) About the brothers lives
 * 2) About George
 * 3) About George
 * 4) About Weedon  --nut'n'bolt-- A significant statement about the brothers as a co-operative and the work as a whole.


 * That end line, which has to do with the brothers together, and the nature of the work which is the topic of the article, does not belong integrally to the sentence onto which it has been tacked. It is either a "stand-alone" sentence, or a tag to sentence No.1.
 * If any two sentences are going to be joined, then they ought to be on the same subject and of equal weight i.e. the two sentences about George.

The simple rule is, if the writer is not exactly sure how to use the semi-colon for its joining function, then it is best not to use it at all than to use it badly. A crucial statement ought never be tagged on behind one of less importance like The Little Red Caboose.

Amandajm (talk) 00:33, 9 October 2013 (UTC)


 * Point noted. The heavy pedantic tone made me chuckle, too.  Brianboulton (talk) 14:10, 10 October 2013 (UTC)

I thought it was rude, talking down like that to other editirs even if her opinion is correct. I enjoyed the article too. 2.26.108.157 (talk) 15:49, 11 October 2013 (UTC)

Possibly you have not read the book itself, in which case the reasons why extreme pedantry and looking down on the efforts of others is funny in this context would entirely have escaped you. :/ — Preceding unsigned comment added by 31.125.42.13 (talk) 21:47, 26 January 2020 (UTC)

Great stuff
I have come here not to persnick over some minor grammatical error but to congratulate those involved on creating a great and entertaining and informative read. Well done all. 86.158.245.133 (talk) 07:47, 9 October 2013 (UTC)


 * Same here, there aren't another great literature articles on Wikipedia, and it's so refreshing to see such a well-researched and interesting article on one of my favourite books. Congratulations for making such a good article! 133.9.4.11 (talk) 10:13, 9 October 2013 (UTC)
 * Thanks to both for the kind words. Brianboulton (talk) 14:11, 10 October 2013 (UTC)

stage adaptation of the 'Diary' - unintentional omission
In the section about Adaptations, the implication is that the stage version which combines the original text of the ‘Diary’ with Keith Waterhouse’s “Mrs. Pooter’s Diary” was first staged in 1993. However, I remember seeing Judi Dench and her husband Michael Williams starring in Waterhouse’s own production of “Mr and Mrs Nobody” at the Garrick Theatre in 1986. (This production is noted in the Wikepedia entry on the Garrick.)

One reference is the obituary of Keith Waterhouse at the Telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/theatre-obituaries/6140274/Keith-Waterhouse.html.

A supplementary source appears to be the book “Stage People” by Roger Lewis. The site http://www.djdchronology.com/lmn/lovesoldsweetsong.htm contains what seems to be nearly the entire text of chapter five, about Judi Dench and Michael Williams, and discusses at great length development, rehearsal, and performance of the play. I realize you can’t cite a work based on someone’s posting an excerpt, but it should suffice to verify that the play is indeed an adaptation of the ‘Diary’. 50.88.233.85 (talk) 02:58, 10 October 2013 (UTC)


 * Thanks for pointing this out, and for supplying sources! Yes, the Independent's 1993 report does refer to a "revival" of the Waterhouse play. I have now incorporated  the Dench/Williams production into the text. Brianboulton (talk) 08:53, 10 October 2013 (UTC)

London Book Bench
Fans of The Diary of a Nobody can vote for it to have a London Book Bench. You can vote here. -- Ssilvers (talk) 15:22, 10 July 2014 (UTC)

Another adaptation
User:Brianboulton: This appears to be a revival, in London at the Kings Head Theatre, of an adaptation by Mary Franklin. I don't know if you'd consider it notable. -- Ssilvers (talk) 15:55, 15 January 2015 (UTC)
 * Not especially notable. I'd say. There's also the question of balance: the article is primarily about the book, with info added about stage and screen adaptations as an addendum. Already the Adaptations section mentions four stage productions, three TV films and a couple of radio broadcasts – I think genug ist genug (as Tim might say). Brianboulton (talk) 16:23, 15 January 2015 (UTC)

Missing word
"are invited to dine and where they Murray's sister, known as "Lillie Girl", "

They what ? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.36.157.208 (talk) 13:47, 22 July 2016 (UTC)

A note about deleting a note
The note about Mrs Wilson's Diary links it to the novel, but it's much more likely to be a parodic nod to a long-running BBC radio serial, Mrs Dale's Diary, with Mrs Wilson being perpetually "worried about Harold." Probably better to delete the note, as it of questionable relevance to the novel. Theonemacduff (talk) 18:15, 20 October 2017 (UTC)
 * The reference cited in the note doesn't mention The Diary of a Nobody, so I see no problem deleting the note. JezGrove (talk) 19:34, 20 October 2017 (UTC)