Gentleman Jim

Raymond Briggs’s Gentleman Jim (published by Hamish Hamilton in 1980) is a single-issue graphic novel that follows the quiet, daydreaming life of a middle-aged lavatory attendant named Jim. Written and illustrated entirely by Briggs, the book is a poignant, gently humorous character study that explores the gap between ordinary existence and romantic ambition. Though it stands alone, Gentleman Jim endures as a warm, understated gem from a master of British comics, showcasing his signature blend of tender observation and melancholy wit.