- so why shouldn't he? His only regret is that he had not begun the diary sooner. When part of the way through this hilarious story related through his daily entries it seems that someone ripped out several pages to use for fire kindling, he says to his loyal wife and impudent son that he had hoped the diary would be a fond remembrance of him after he died and possibly that having it published could bring them some remuneration. His loved ones cannot suppress their laughter.

The biggest joke is that in fact, this diary of a dedicated clerk in an old-fashioned accounting firm, who has done little else in his life and is quite comfortable with the status quo, is eternally priceless on for its comedy and what it reveals about the Victorian middle-class life and preoccupations that it satirizes. If Mr. Pooter and his friends represent a culture that has grown complacent and overly interested in its own hobby horses and etiquette, his adult son Lupin is the brash younger generation that seeks entertainment and gratification without apology, shaking off musty traditions. The Grossmith brothers--George largely wrote this and Weedon illustrated it as a magazine serial--had no idea that they were creating a historical document as much as a giddy entertainment.

The comedy is absolutely winning. The Grossmiths don't sell Mr. Pooter down the river entirely--they allow him competence at work, some self awareness and wounded dignity--but every diary entry usually sets up his hopes and schemes only to be reported as dashed in the next. Long before Rodney Dangerfield complained that he didn't get respect, Mr. Pooter had every right to cry that out as younger clerks, the neighbors, his son, his son's friends and the servants feel free to regularly contradict and insult him. There is plenty of physical comedy and fashion gone bad. And there is that voice of Mr. Pooter, at once plaintive, hopeful, clueless, sweet but not stupid, who always picks himself up after a fall.

Dagboek van een onbenul (originele titel The Diary of a Nobody), is een Engelstalig humoristisch dagboek geschreven door George Grossmith en zijn broer Weedon Grossmith met tekeningen van Weedon Grossmith, verscheen in het tijdschrift Punch in 1888-'89, en in 1892 in boekvorm. Het wordt beschouwd als een klassieker onder de humoristische romans.

Het dagboek is dat van Charles Pooter, een gewone bediende in de City van Londen die graag belangrijker zou zijn dan hij in werkelijkheid is. De andere personages zijn Carrie (zijn echtgenote), zijn zoon Lupin, zijn vrienden Mr Cummings and Mr Gowing, en de ongeschikt bevonden verloofde van Lupin, Daisy Mutlar. De humor komt vooral voort uit de eigendunk van Pooter, de onbewuste stommiteiten welke hij begaat en de minachting waarmee hij behandeld wordt door mensen die hij als zijn sociale minderen ziet. Uit het boek is zelfs een nieuw Engels woord ontstaan, "Pooterish", dat gebruikt wordt wanneer iemand zichzelf erg serieus neemt.