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Inside Pepys' London by Jonathan Bastable
'Inside Pepys' London' reveals a vivid picture of London at a critical point in history - poised to become a major centre of international commerce and culture. It provides accounts of all aspects of contemporary life, from the arts and entertainment, to politics and religion.
Hardcover
First published October 1, 2011
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About the author
Jonathan Bastable
19 books4 followersIn 1982, just after I turned 20, I went to live in Leningrad for a year. I was cold and hungry most of the time, and most of my Russian friends were miserable or scared or both. The winter was dark and long, and the regime was oppressive. It was by far the happiest year of my life.
That year, and subsequent years spent at Moscow University as a postgrad, provided much of the core material for Devil's Acre. But I wasn' t then a writer, not yet. After returning to Britain I got a job as a feature writer on The Sunday Times Magazine, and in 1991 I was sent back to Moscow as the newspaper's Russian Affairs correspondent. I covered the slapstick Yeltsin years, and was present at the shelling of the Russian parliament building in 1993 – the moment when Russia's last best hope of a democratic future went up in smoke.
I have written many works of non-fiction, including a history of the Battle of Stalingrad based on eyewitness accounts. I am now, among other things, a travel writer, and I often go back to Russia on assignment for Conde Nast Traveller and other magazines. Devil's Acre is my first novel, and my proudest achievement.
That year, and subsequent years spent at Moscow University as a postgrad, provided much of the core material for Devil's Acre. But I wasn' t then a writer, not yet. After returning to Britain I got a job as a feature writer on The Sunday Times Magazine, and in 1991 I was sent back to Moscow as the newspaper's Russian Affairs correspondent. I covered the slapstick Yeltsin years, and was present at the shelling of the Russian parliament building in 1993 – the moment when Russia's last best hope of a democratic future went up in smoke.
I have written many works of non-fiction, including a history of the Battle of Stalingrad based on eyewitness accounts. I am now, among other things, a travel writer, and I often go back to Russia on assignment for Conde Nast Traveller and other magazines. Devil's Acre is my first novel, and my proudest achievement.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 18, 2018
Pepys was a remarkable man. He didn’t exactly rise from nothing (a well connected relative got him his start), but he showed himself to be honest, hard working, a capable administrator of huge projects, and someone who moved easily among the great and powerful. His diary, kept from 1660-1669, covers some of the most momentous years in English history, including the Restoration of the king, the Great Fire of London, and the Plague Year. He knew kings Charles II and James II, as well as Isaac Newton and Christopher Wren.
On top of all that, he was an astute observer of people and events, and his diary entries describe London and its inhabitants in vivid detail. This is as close as any of us will ever get to understanding London in the 17th century.
This book does a good job of introducing Pepys and his times. It provides context so that the reader can make sense of the situations Pepys describes. It also provides biographical detail on some of the people that are mentioned, so readers can place them within the scope of the diary. Finally, although the diary covered only about ten years of his life, this book gives a look at his earlier and later years, as well as information from third party sources commenting on Pepys and his work.
For anyone interested in reading the diaries, this is a good introduction to them, and will help make sense of an England that is now 350 years past.
On top of all that, he was an astute observer of people and events, and his diary entries describe London and its inhabitants in vivid detail. This is as close as any of us will ever get to understanding London in the 17th century.
This book does a good job of introducing Pepys and his times. It provides context so that the reader can make sense of the situations Pepys describes. It also provides biographical detail on some of the people that are mentioned, so readers can place them within the scope of the diary. Finally, although the diary covered only about ten years of his life, this book gives a look at his earlier and later years, as well as information from third party sources commenting on Pepys and his work.
For anyone interested in reading the diaries, this is a good introduction to them, and will help make sense of an England that is now 350 years past.
October 7, 2016
I enjoyed this, provided a nice snapshot of the mid/ late 17th Century as well as a look at Samuel Pepys himself. Pepys himself was something of a scamp, but although flawed a good man for his time.
Although his diary only ran for just under 10 years of his 70 year life, it is crammed full of not only invaluable personal insights but also chronicles the Restoration, the Great Plague, the Great Fire, and war with the Dutch. Pepys personally knew Charles II and James II, many political bigwigs , and people like John Evelyn, Christopher Wren, and Isaac Newton.
My only reservation is that the book relies extensively on reprinting of firsthand sources, so perhaps a third of the book is just reprinting of contemporary accounts, and only about half of these being Pepys diary itself.
On balance though, a very worthwhile read.
Although his diary only ran for just under 10 years of his 70 year life, it is crammed full of not only invaluable personal insights but also chronicles the Restoration, the Great Plague, the Great Fire, and war with the Dutch. Pepys personally knew Charles II and James II, many political bigwigs , and people like John Evelyn, Christopher Wren, and Isaac Newton.
My only reservation is that the book relies extensively on reprinting of firsthand sources, so perhaps a third of the book is just reprinting of contemporary accounts, and only about half of these being Pepys diary itself.
On balance though, a very worthwhile read.
November 28, 2021
What a Great Saunter about London
I loved this book, particularly the chapters covering the Great Fire of London, and the aftermath, as Christopher Wren implemented his plans to rebuild St Paul’s Cathedral and other major structures about London, destroyed by the fire. This book captured the spirit of the gigantic strides made by science during the Restoration Period—the discoveries by Robert Boyle, Isaac Newton, and Robert Hooker. I had no idea that Pepys was President of the Royal Scientific Society, responsible for the publication of Newton’s Principia Mathematica. This book also clearly sets forth the day to day living in Restoration England— the enormous amounts of meat and beerser Ed in the taverns, the entertainment furnished by attending church sermons, and the enormous pleasure Pepys and others derived watching repeatedly. We see what row the city went through when the Black Plague swept through its streets. This book is a good introductory a study of the period. I’ll venture that its a great starting point from which to embark upon a reading of Pepys’ Diary.
I loved this book, particularly the chapters covering the Great Fire of London, and the aftermath, as Christopher Wren implemented his plans to rebuild St Paul’s Cathedral and other major structures about London, destroyed by the fire. This book captured the spirit of the gigantic strides made by science during the Restoration Period—the discoveries by Robert Boyle, Isaac Newton, and Robert Hooker. I had no idea that Pepys was President of the Royal Scientific Society, responsible for the publication of Newton’s Principia Mathematica. This book also clearly sets forth the day to day living in Restoration England— the enormous amounts of meat and beerser Ed in the taverns, the entertainment furnished by attending church sermons, and the enormous pleasure Pepys and others derived watching repeatedly. We see what row the city went through when the Black Plague swept through its streets. This book is a good introductory a study of the period. I’ll venture that its a great starting point from which to embark upon a reading of Pepys’ Diary.
February 2, 2019
A Great Overview of Samuel Pepys' Diary, His Life and Times
This is an excellent introduction for those interested in reading excerpts of Samuel Pepys' remarkable seventeenth century diary of his life and career during the the reigns of Charles I & II, the Great Plague and London Fire in 1666 and the inter-regnum Cromwell-led republic. The historical commentary is helpful and illuminating and provides helpful background and context for all the incredible events that occurred during his lifetime.
This is an excellent introduction for those interested in reading excerpts of Samuel Pepys' remarkable seventeenth century diary of his life and career during the the reigns of Charles I & II, the Great Plague and London Fire in 1666 and the inter-regnum Cromwell-led republic. The historical commentary is helpful and illuminating and provides helpful background and context for all the incredible events that occurred during his lifetime.
March 24, 2019
Five stars to this robustly researched narrative of Pepys' life within the social and political context of London and England. This work shines with excerpts from the works of Pepys and other individuals, both influential and unknown. Bastable's chapters on the plague, the Great 🔥 Fire put things into such perspective. I especially loved the chapter about the New Learning, starring Isaac Newton and a host of contemporaries, often expressed in their own words. Very cinematic!
June 2, 2018
Particularly enjoyed different figures diary entries observing Charles I's trials, the chapter called Mr Pepys abroad where we get a real visual idea of what back street bear and cock fighting looked like. Finally the chapter of the new learning and how different men of science of the time rebuild London and St Paul's after the Fire of London.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews