A 1920s innkeeper's diary. He was a frightful name-dropper, something of a cross between Basil Fawlty and a celebrity chef, but tells some amusing stories, and casts an interesting light on the state of English catering then. ( )

Read the Folio Society version, but could not enjoy it ( )

An interesting look back at life in an inn in the 1920s - very different to today. And as such, it has some value in explaining life in the between war years. But only a certain type of life! Very upper middle class, and the author is so keen (too keen) to drop names into his work, which might have meant something then, but almost certainly don't now. Still, an entertaining work at times, and an easy read. ( )

Snobbish, churlish, occasionally evocative, occasionally funny, but often so peevish as to be unappealing. Fothergill was a might name-dropper, and some of those names are fun; many are unknown to an early 21st century American.