The book dialog game

[pdurrant]

It is indeed a diary. But not John Woolman nor Benjamin Franklin.

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin?

That would have been my third guess, pooh. Like me, you're probably thinking you read this in Volume I of The Harvard Classics.

Some Fruits of Solitude by William Penn?

[poohbear_nc]

Diary of Sojourner Truth?

[orlok]

Sounds like The Diary of a Nobody by the Grossmith brothers. Read it not that long ago, and it was wonderful.

[pdurrant]

No to all.

"April 16, Saturday... Mr Cary brought my News &c. from Norwich. A Reward or 100 Pound offered on one of the London Papers for apprehending one Richard Parry (eldest Son of John Parry that formerly kept Ansford Inn) for running away with a Miss Clarke (about 14 Years of Age) from a boarding school at Bristol. Her fortune great £6000 per Annum."

[pdurrant]

OK, another slightly more revealing extract.

"Feb. 20, Sunday... I read Prayers and Preached this Afternoon at Weston Church—Mr. and <rs. Custance at Church. I was rather out of temper this Aft. on Account of my Maid's Banns being not published this Afternoon by me, as she never mentioned it to me before I went to Church. Pray God! forgive me."

[pdurrant]

Goodness - does no-one know this one?

September 28, 1787: "I spent a good part of the Morning at the Church and in the Church Yard, my People being busy in laying some Gravel upon the Walks there and making the Church Yard more decent."

August 6th,1801: "Had a large Parcel of Papers brought to me this Evening by a Stranger containing directions in case of an Invasion with a Letter from the Bishop requesting the Clergy to be attentive and active in the same. If hurried and affected me a great deal indeed. It contained directions what is to be done in case of a real Invasion - An Account of all Stock to be taken & to be removed &c. &c."

[orlok]

Not one I know, I'm afraid. Can't even guess.

[pdurrant]

OK, if no-one got it from the clues:

A Diary
Second half of 1700s
Set in Norfolk, England
By someone in charge of a church

Then no-one's going to get it.

It's "The Diary of a Country Parson" by James Woodforde (1740-1803) who kept a diary from 1758 until just before his death in 1802. He was Parson for the village of Weston Longeville in Norfolk from 1776 until his death.

Would someone else like to provide the next one?

[icantbebothered]

Jolly well. Here's a quote:

'Knight to E4!'

[WT Sharpe]

Every book on chess strategy ever written. Did I win?

Wait! E4? Where is that on the chessboard?

[HomeInMyShoes]

It's like battlechess or is that chesship?

An Astronaut in King Aurthur's Court? Was that a book? Can I ask more questions trying to answer one?

[icantbebothered]

No and no.
Not even close.

[orlok]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

Wait! E4? Where is that on the chessboard?

It's five along and four up, from white's perspective .

Originally Posted by icantbebothered

Jolly well. Here's a quote:

'Knight to E4!'

The Harry Potter story with the live chessboard? Can't be bothered to look up which on it is - I'd rather have a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.

[icantbebothered]

Yes, it's the harry potter story with the chessboard. Another quote:

'There's a troll in the dungeons!'