This is a charming little piece of Victoriana. The diary is in a format more like a modern day-planner than a blank book. Adelaide Pountney was around 25 when she created these diaries, upper middle-class, the unmarried daughter of a deceased clergyman.

She will certainly not compete with Pepys as a diarist. Her written comments are generally brief and laconic. The delightful thing about the book is her drawings of her daily life, which actually take up most of the space.

The book is elaborately done with embossed end sheets and an elaborate cover (no dust jacket) and would probably make a good gift for someone interested in Victoriana. ( )