Article: Diary of a nobody; James Lees-Milne was an unashamed snob and social climber. The 11th volume of his journals has just been published - and it makes surprisingly addictive reading.

Byline: DAVID SEXTON

JAMES Lees-Milne was absurd.

He was an utter snob. He loved to frequent people with ancient titles, living in great houses. His lifetime's achievement was to enable more of these people with ancient titles to carry on living in their great houses through that strange English institution whereby the masses support the nobles - the National Trust.

He was primarily homosexual but he got married, nonetheless, to a lesbian, in an arrangement similar to that created by his hero, Harold Nicolson, with Vita Sackville West (with whom his wife had an affair). He doted on his dog Folly but he loathed children and their noisiness. As ...

Related newspaper, magazine, and journal articles:

 
 
Newsweek Harper's Magazine The Washington Post Chicago Tribune Crain's Chicago Business PRNewswire Pediatric News The Nation Advertising Age The Economist (US) A FREE trial gives you access to over 80 million articles! Access over 6,500 publications with a FREE trial!