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The Harold Nicolson Diaries 1907-1964
Harold Nicolson is one of the three great political diarists of the 20th century. Nicolson was an MP who attended the Paris Peace Conference in 1919. He never achieved high office, but rarely a day went by when he didn't record what was going on at Westminster. He socialized widely, was married to the poet and author Vita Sackville-West, and together they created the famous garden at Sissinghurst. The diversity of Harold Nicolson's interests and the irony in his writing make his diary a highly entertaining record of his life and times, as well as a document of great historical value.
496 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2004
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About the author
Harold Nicolson
191 books29 followersSir Harold George Nicolson KCVO CMG was an English diplomat, author, diarist and politician. He was the husband of writer Vita Sackville-West, their unusual relationship being described in their son's book, Portrait of a Marriage.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 25, 2017
Sir Harold Nicolson (November 21,1886 – May 1, 1968) was a British diplomat, writer, and politician. He was the husband of writer Vita Sackville-West - yes, that Vita, the close friend of Virginia Woolf. Nicolson was born in Tehran, Persia, the youngest son of diplomat Arthur Nicolson, 1st Baron Carnock. He was educated at Wellington College and Balliol College, Oxford.
Fortunately for those interested in history, politics and celebrities, he kept a lively and detailed diary for decades which he gladly published once it was cleared by those in London responsible for making sure no top secrets were revealed.
Because of his friendships and upper-class associations, as well as his very insider connections, Nicolson was an eyewitness to many of the major events of 20th century - World War I and World War II in particular. He met and worked with Winston Churchill, as well as most members of the Royal family, and other important European politicians, military leaders and celebrities. He had colorful opinions, gentle reader.
The years of Hitler’s rise and how he began his war on Europe and later Russia were very interesting to me. Nicolson could not know what direction the future would take as he wrote a daily page in his diary about events, but he had a catbird's seat as to how Parliament viewed Hitler’s rise to power in Germany and later when Hitler began to invade various European and African countries. The urge of almost everyone in English politics was to minimize the significance of Hitler’s invasions for far longer than I knew! They watched nervously to be sure, but British politicians were very reluctant to mobilize.
He also describes the constant German bombing of London during World War II with sharp clarity in brief but revealing descriptions. For the first time I fully understood the horror of rocket attacks. I also was unaware that Germany and Japan had literally attacked almost every country and territory in the world! Nicolson wrote of dispatches Parliament agencies received from everywhere detailing battle losses and wins and invasions. Almost no country was untouched or unaffected by war. I also marveled at the frank appraisals and opinions of politicians behind closed doors which we citizens usually never know they have.
When America was finally drawn into the conflict, Britain had run out of resources to defend most of its and its allies’ territories. Nicolson’s descriptions of various American politicians and celebrities are very fun to read as he wasn’t very impressed with Americans generally (he thought us vulgar, simple and undereducated - still true, I am sure of it).
The daily life and interests of the aristocracy is also revealed in Nicolson’s diary. Nicolson was aware World War II was seriously eroding the privileges of the upper- classes, and he suspected those privileges were never to be recovered. He felt his upper-class world and genteel lifestyle was under attack by the lower classes mostly because of the growing political participation and political power of the Communists and commoners. His wife Vita in her letters was very upset by the rise of commoners, and she blamed education. Joking, yet not really joking, she wondered if it was possible to discontinue the educating of commoners.
I have always felt education is key to gaining economic parity with wealthy people - and they feel it, too. Take note, gentle reader - if it seems the upper classes and politicians are holding down the lower classes by design, making education hard to get or they are crippling schools by imposing curriculums which overemphasize stupefying religious obedience while underemphasizing science, liberal arts and math, they probably are.
Anyway.
I highly recommend reading the diaries of Harold Nicolson. Although he was what I would call a minor official, he apparently was a man of much curiosity, sociability and charisma, with a lot of luck to be able to participate in matters of importance. Lucky for us, he was an honest man with an ability and willingness to describe what he saw and felt.
Fortunately for those interested in history, politics and celebrities, he kept a lively and detailed diary for decades which he gladly published once it was cleared by those in London responsible for making sure no top secrets were revealed.
Because of his friendships and upper-class associations, as well as his very insider connections, Nicolson was an eyewitness to many of the major events of 20th century - World War I and World War II in particular. He met and worked with Winston Churchill, as well as most members of the Royal family, and other important European politicians, military leaders and celebrities. He had colorful opinions, gentle reader.
The years of Hitler’s rise and how he began his war on Europe and later Russia were very interesting to me. Nicolson could not know what direction the future would take as he wrote a daily page in his diary about events, but he had a catbird's seat as to how Parliament viewed Hitler’s rise to power in Germany and later when Hitler began to invade various European and African countries. The urge of almost everyone in English politics was to minimize the significance of Hitler’s invasions for far longer than I knew! They watched nervously to be sure, but British politicians were very reluctant to mobilize.
He also describes the constant German bombing of London during World War II with sharp clarity in brief but revealing descriptions. For the first time I fully understood the horror of rocket attacks. I also was unaware that Germany and Japan had literally attacked almost every country and territory in the world! Nicolson wrote of dispatches Parliament agencies received from everywhere detailing battle losses and wins and invasions. Almost no country was untouched or unaffected by war. I also marveled at the frank appraisals and opinions of politicians behind closed doors which we citizens usually never know they have.
When America was finally drawn into the conflict, Britain had run out of resources to defend most of its and its allies’ territories. Nicolson’s descriptions of various American politicians and celebrities are very fun to read as he wasn’t very impressed with Americans generally (he thought us vulgar, simple and undereducated - still true, I am sure of it).
The daily life and interests of the aristocracy is also revealed in Nicolson’s diary. Nicolson was aware World War II was seriously eroding the privileges of the upper- classes, and he suspected those privileges were never to be recovered. He felt his upper-class world and genteel lifestyle was under attack by the lower classes mostly because of the growing political participation and political power of the Communists and commoners. His wife Vita in her letters was very upset by the rise of commoners, and she blamed education. Joking, yet not really joking, she wondered if it was possible to discontinue the educating of commoners.
I have always felt education is key to gaining economic parity with wealthy people - and they feel it, too. Take note, gentle reader - if it seems the upper classes and politicians are holding down the lower classes by design, making education hard to get or they are crippling schools by imposing curriculums which overemphasize stupefying religious obedience while underemphasizing science, liberal arts and math, they probably are.
Anyway.
I highly recommend reading the diaries of Harold Nicolson. Although he was what I would call a minor official, he apparently was a man of much curiosity, sociability and charisma, with a lot of luck to be able to participate in matters of importance. Lucky for us, he was an honest man with an ability and willingness to describe what he saw and felt.
July 16, 2012
One the great diarists and letter writers of his day, Harold Nicolson (1886-1968) was an invaluable witness to 20th-century history. This volume includes previously unpublished entries from his earliest diaries and condenses material included in the three-volume Diaries and Letters, also edited by his son. Nicolson knew many of the century's principal political figures, Winston Churchill and Charles de Gaulle among them, and his accounts of the Munich and Suez crises are riveting and reliable, since he not only reports his opinions but also captures the context in which historical events occurred. Nicolson was also an accomplished biographer and literary critic, and he knew many of the most important writers of his day. Accordingly, Virginia Woolf, H. G. Wells, and of course Nicolson's wife, Vita Sackville-West, figure in his ruminations and observations. As Nigel Nicolson suggests, his father did not merely report, he provided a portrayal of these personalities and their period in history. An introduction and illustrations complete this compact yet capacious view of British society.
September 20, 2016
He never fails to surprise. A very unassuming writer who was present at so many important events. And not to mention his interesting and lively marriage with Vita Sackville West. A fascinating read. They include contacts with so many politicians and convey the nation's atmosphere in peace and wartime and the machinations of government. They also include the purchase of the now famous Sissinghurst Castle in Kent in 1930. Described by Horace Walpole and quoted by Nigel Nicolson, son and editor, ' a house in ruins and a park in ten times greater ruins' , it was transformed by Vita Sackville-West into the beautiful garden it is now. All three volumes are wonderful books for the bedside table for 'easy dipping' once a first reading has been completed.
October 26, 2025
First of all, let me say that I have not finished this yet! I am a great believer in reading combinations of biographies that cover the same time period - so am also reading diaries of Thom, and biographies of George V and Queen Mary. This period is fascinating and very relevant to what is going on today in international diplomacy and politics. I am also reading Peter Fleming’s books. I do feel that currently we lack such a plethora of accurate commentaries, and although these books are all written by people who were elements of the “institution” they do have much to show us today. Mainly of how we have got here to our current problems - and perhaps we might have been able to avoid them. Nicolson was a guide to me as to the problems of the Versailles treaty and to the problems this has caused in the long term. What might we have gained from his insight into today’s problems??
Difficult as it is to divest oneself of privilege- I think he managed to do that to a certain extent.
Very few people had his insight.
Difficult as it is to divest oneself of privilege- I think he managed to do that to a certain extent.
Very few people had his insight.
April 3, 2013
Very engaging diaries, especially for the wartime period, and also for the rather sui generis marriage he had to Vita Sackville-West.
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August 31, 2014Definitely worth reading. quite entertaining.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews