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Diary of a Provincial Lady - request for more diary books

36 replies

Trills · 20/12/2014 16:08

I was recommended this by a friend while on holiday and loved it.

Full set 77p on Kindle

I'd be very surprised if Helen Fielding has not read it - some of the turns of phrase are rather Bridget-Jones-ish.

I'd now really like to read more only-mildly-fictional diary-style books, because I very much enjoyed hearing more about everyday life in the 20s and 30s, and think it a fun way to learn more "history".

Any suggestions?

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Lilymaid · 15/01/2015 15:39

Love Lessons and Love is Blue by Joan Wyndham. Wartime diary of a posh bohemian girl. Not yet on Kindle, unfortunately.

BestIsWest · 15/01/2015 15:33

Asta's Book by Barbara Vine. Part diary, part murder mystery. Probably my second favourite book ever.

BestIsWest · 15/01/2015 15:27

Agree with Diary of an Ordinary Lady by Margaret Forster.

tobee · 15/01/2015 15:25

Just started Provincial Daughter - already love it!

WhiteHairReally · 08/01/2015 23:43

The Diary of Augustus Carp by Himself. V V funny. I haven't checked whether it's in print/available electronically though. First came across it on Radio 4 back in the 80s. A favourite of Robert Robinson. Set in late C19th.

Takver · 08/01/2015 14:51

Following the fanfic thread, Provincial Lady lovers might be amused by this

TwoAndTwoEqualsChaos · 06/01/2015 19:48

Thegoose I am sure the edition of The Diary of a Farmer's Wife (sic) I gave my mother some twenty-five years ago had a preface which gently debunked its authenticity, with the "editor's" daughter remembering her mother writing it as much as editing it?

In a similar vein, The Diary of a Young Lady of Fashion 1763-65 by Cleone Know.

emeline · 26/12/2014 22:55

Found one episode of The Eliza Stories on YouTube. Loved it!

They don't seem to be on iplayer anymore.

chopinbabe · 26/12/2014 22:52

The Eliza Stories are by Barry Pain written at the turn of the last century. They aren't diaries as such but a selection of consecutive events told in the first person by Eliza's husband.

A bit more bite than the gentle Mr Pooter but excellent. Nothing much happens but they are very funny.

toothlessoldhag · 26/12/2014 10:43

OK. I've heard a snippet. Ignore me. I've heard better readings!

toothlessoldhag · 26/12/2014 08:45

Great question OP - I hadn't heard of some of these. Nb. I just found 'diary of a nobody' as a radio podcast:
itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/diary-nobody-by-george-grossmith/id866416774?mt=2 no idea if it's good, but I'll report back Wink

DuchessofMalfi · 24/12/2014 19:55

Diary of a Provincial Lady is currently being read on Radio 4 Book at Bedtime by Clare Skinner. Have been catching up with it on iPlayer. Enjoying it so far. Tempted to buy the books on kindle.

ZombieApocalypse · 24/12/2014 19:33

Hmm. I really enjoyed Diary of a Provincial Lesbian by VG Lee but it's contemporary rather than historical.

meandjulio · 24/12/2014 19:21

The Eliza Stories? I'll be honest, I haven't actually read them, but I heard them a few years ago on Radio 4 with Mark Heap - they may still be on iplayer somewhere. I thought they were hilarious.

tobee · 24/12/2014 19:21

Thanks btw. Just ordered Provincial Daughter and downloaded Margaret Forster on Kindle. My Christmas present to me.

tobee · 24/12/2014 19:19

And also there's Angela Thirkell. Similar era not a diary.

tobee · 24/12/2014 18:51

Ooooh yes to "Can Any Mother Help Me?" But also the Mrs Tim books by D E Stevenson. They are quite similar in era and style to Diary of a Provincial Lady. That might be a good thing or too much the same.

Also "Life With Mother - To the Very End" not a diary but selection of weekly columns from The Guardian by Michelle Hanson. Set in modern times and true but be prepared for tears if you like it.

LizzieVereker · 21/12/2014 19:39

Second Diary of a Nobody, it's very funny - you can't believe how old it is.

NCIS · 21/12/2014 19:30

Human Voices by Penelope Fitzgerald looks good too. Mrs Miniver isn't on kindle yet unfortunately.

NCIS · 21/12/2014 19:25

Diary of a Provincial Lady has got me through three labours and numerous train journeys/colds general in need of comfort times. It is my favourite book of all time.
Try Henrietta's War or Mrs Miniver for similar types of book.

iseenodust · 21/12/2014 19:16

My War Diary just given to a friend for Christmas, looked good & not too heavy going.

Quangle · 21/12/2014 19:05

Love diaries of a provincial lady and a nobody. Don't forget Adrian Mole

And yes to Can Any Mother help Me.

Also quite enjoyed Love Nina which is a series of letters from a nanny in Primrose Hill to her sister. Laughing at posh bohemian folk.

Thegoosenotthegander · 21/12/2014 11:05

Just had to say that I LOVE diary of a PL! It is my all time favourite book. I have read and reread it. Thanks so much mmmack for the daughter's book. Will track it down.

I also like diary of a farmer's wife which is a real diary written by a farmer's wife in the late 1800s ( if I remember right). Interesting and often funny too.

Takver · 21/12/2014 10:59

mmack, thank you so much for the Provincial Daughter suggestion. I've been a massive Provincial Lady fan since my teens (spent hours hunting down an original copy Bricks Without Straw through the library system in the 80s before it was republished as PL in Russia) but I'd never run into this one :)
(btw to anyone else interested, lots of copies on Abebooks for £2.04 inc shipping . . . )

AllMimsyWereTheBorogoves · 21/12/2014 09:09

riverboat, you got in before me! Diary of a Nobody is one of my all-time favourite books. I've read it innumerable times and it never fails to make laugh and laugh and laugh. Whenever I find myself in the Camden/Holloway area I'm always looking out for the Pooters' house.

Of course, the daddy of them all when it comes to diaries is Pepys. There are all sorts of selections available or the BBC dramatisation is excellent. I'm sure that must be available to buy.

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