''The Journal of a Disappointed Man'' is the first volume of published journal entries by English naturalist and
diarist Bruce Frederick Cummings, writing under the
pen name
A pen name, also called a ''nom de plume'' or a literary double, is a pseudonym (or, in some cases, a variant form of a real name) adopted by an author and printed on the title page or by-line of their works in place of their real name.
A pen na ...
W. N. P. Barbellion
Wilhelm Nero Pilate Barbellion was the pen name of Bruce Frederick Cummings (7 September 1889 – 22 October 1919), an English diary, diarist who was responsible for ''The Journal of a Disappointed Man''. Ronald Blythe called it "among the most m ...
.
Production
''The Journal of a Disappointed Man'' was described by its author as "a study in the nude".
[T. Jock Murray (2005) ]
Multiple Sclerosis: The history of a disease''
Demos Medical Publishing: New York, USA. The book was originally optioned by Collins, who eventually rejected the book because they feared the "lack of morals" shown by Barbellion would damage their reputation. An editor's note at the very end of the book claims Barbellion died on 31 December 1917, but Cummings in fact lived for nearly two more years.
[
The first edition bore a preface by H.G. Wells, which led some reviewers to believe the journal was a work of fiction by Wells himself;][ Wells publicly denied this but the true identity of "Barbellion" was not known by the public until after Cummings' death.][
]
Reception
After its publication, ''The Journal of a Disappointed Man'' became the best known personal account of multiple sclerosis. It was variously regarded "with undisguised contempt, damned as immoral, or acclaimed a work of genius, hailed as a masterpiece."[ The strong early sales and the admiration received by the book are largely forgotten by the wider reading public today, but the book has been frequently reprinted in paperback and is regarded as a minor classic of English literature.][James Mildren, ''Literary limbo engulfs Devon journalist'', Western Morning News, 29 January 1985]
References
External links
''The Journal of a Disappointed Man'' (1920 edition) at Internet Archive (free e-book download)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Journal of a Disappointed Man, The
Diaries
English non-fiction books
1919 non-fiction books