The Journal of a Disappointed Man

Bol

"The Journal of a Disappointed Man" is a deeply personal and poignant memoir written by W. N. P. Barbellion, the pseudonym of British naturalist and writer Bruce Frederick Cummings.The book is a compilation of journal entries written by Barbellion between 1903 and 1917, chronicling his struggles with illness, his love of nature, and his feelings of despair and disappointment with his life.Barbellion was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at the age of 22, and his physical deterioration is a recurring theme throughout the journal. Despite his physical limitations, however, Barbellion remained passionate about his work as a naturalist, and his journal includes many vivid and detailed observations of the natural world.The journal also offers a candid and often darkly humorous look at Barbellion's personal life, including his relationships with family, friends, and lovers. He writes about his experiences with drugs and alcohol, his struggles with depression, and his attempts to find meaning and purpose in his life."The Journal of a Disappointed Man" is a powerful and moving memoir that offers a unique perspective on the human experience. Barbellion's honest and introspective writing style, combined with his keen observations of the natural world, make for a compelling and unforgettable read. The book has been praised for its frankness and its ability to capture the essence of the human condition, and it continues to resonate with readers today.

Bol Partner

The life of Bruce Frederick Cummings, who wrote under the name of W. N. P. Barbellion, was short, tragically curtailed by multiple sclerosis. He was born in 1889 and died in 1919. Started when he was thirteen, this remarkable journal, described by Ronald Blythe as 'among the most moving diaries ever created', documents the rest of his life. Filled with devastating frankness, keen observation and a sort of stoicism, it is, in the words of the author 'a study in the nude'. One of the last entries can act as his epitaph: 'I am only twenty-eight, but I have telescoped into those few years a tolerably long life: I have loved and married, and have a family; I have wept and enjoyed, struggled and overcome, and when the hour comes I shall be content to die'.