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The Confessions of Samuel Pepys: His Private Revelations
'A brilliantly entertaining and revealing new transcription of Pepys's diary' Claire Tomalin
A collection of the most personal aspects of Samuel Pepys' diaries, to celebrate the 200th anniversary of their publication
The Diary of Samuel Pepys is the most celebrated personal journal in the English language. His candid revelations as he forged his career as a civilian naval official in Restoration London have fascinated readers ever since the first selection was published in 1825.
The Confessions of Samuel Pepys focuses on Pepys's controversial private life for a contemporary readership, by charting his varied and complex relationships with women. They included his wife Elizabeth whom he both loved and treated abominably, their domestic servants, the mistresses whom he secretly visited in Westminster and Deptford and other places, a host of other opportunistic encounters, the great ladies of the court whom he ogled, and the actresses and other female friends whose company he delighted in and combined with casual flirting and petting. All these he recounted in shorthand, often disguising the more salacious occasions in his own cryptic Franco-Latino polyglot or with a primitive system of extraneous consonants.
Most of these controversial entries were excised from 19th century editions, but all are featured here in completely new transcriptions and Pepys's secret code translated, following fresh forensic examination, from the original shorthand diary. The Confessions of Samuel Pepys also reveals how all previous transcribers of the diary and many of his biographers have deliberately massaged Pepys's reputation.
A collection of the most personal aspects of Samuel Pepys' diaries, to celebrate the 200th anniversary of their publication
The Diary of Samuel Pepys is the most celebrated personal journal in the English language. His candid revelations as he forged his career as a civilian naval official in Restoration London have fascinated readers ever since the first selection was published in 1825.
The Confessions of Samuel Pepys focuses on Pepys's controversial private life for a contemporary readership, by charting his varied and complex relationships with women. They included his wife Elizabeth whom he both loved and treated abominably, their domestic servants, the mistresses whom he secretly visited in Westminster and Deptford and other places, a host of other opportunistic encounters, the great ladies of the court whom he ogled, and the actresses and other female friends whose company he delighted in and combined with casual flirting and petting. All these he recounted in shorthand, often disguising the more salacious occasions in his own cryptic Franco-Latino polyglot or with a primitive system of extraneous consonants.
Most of these controversial entries were excised from 19th century editions, but all are featured here in completely new transcriptions and Pepys's secret code translated, following fresh forensic examination, from the original shorthand diary. The Confessions of Samuel Pepys also reveals how all previous transcribers of the diary and many of his biographers have deliberately massaged Pepys's reputation.
- GenresBiography
408 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 7, 2025
About the author
Guy de la Bédoyère
55 books110 followersGuy de la Bédoyère is author of a widely admired series of books on Roman history. He appeared regularly on the UK’s Channel 4 archaeology series Time Team and is well known in the United States for his volume The Romans for Dummies. His latest books are Gladius. Living, Fighting, and Dying in the Roman Army (2020), and Pharaohs of the Sun. How Egypt's Despots and Dreamers Drove the Rise and Fall of Tutankhamun's Dynasty (2022). He lives in Grantham, Lincolnshire, UK.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
November 8, 2025
Wish I’d had this book when I read the diary. When it came to the polyglot some of it was easily deciphered, some with a little thought, but most of it completely beyond my abilities. Usually I had to resign myself to knowing that Pepys had done something so appalling he could barely manage to admit it to himself. Here for the first time is a complete translation of all those passages. There’s also a glossary if you want to try translating them for yourself. Very glad to have it for next time I read the Diary. I might make time for it in the coming year.
If you haven’t read the Diary I’m not sure I’d recommend this as a selection unless you’re some sort of pervert. It can be pretty grim reading. You’d come away with the impression that Pepys was only some kind of violent sex fiend, yet reading the whole Diary you come to care about the man and hope that he’s going to be ok.
On the other hand, Pepys performed/committed so many sex acts with so many people it can be hard to keep track with exactly what he’s done to whom. This book can be used to remind yourself that, oh yes, it wasn’t Bagwell’s wife he made wank him off in the coach in front of her husband.
A funny book at times, whether that be because of what Pepys says (11th May 1664), or because of de la Bédoyère’s sarcastic commentary. Speaking of his commentary, he has a very particular viewpoint. This is after all the Confessions. I don’t always agree with his analysis. Just to take one example. 20th December 1664:
‘Alone with her I tried to do what I would and against her resistance I did it, although not to my satisfaction.’
De la Bédoyère says ‘The clear implication was that Pepys had raped Elizabeth Bagwell’
I’m not sure that is the clear implication. What Pepys ‘would do’ is not always intercourse. Often he likes to make them touch his willy or sometimes he likes to poke their bosoms with it. Obviously it’s a sexual assault of some kind. Quite apart from her resistance, Mrs Bagwell is being prostituted against her will by her husband and in-laws.
This isn’t really a criticism of the author. In a book like this, filled with original thought that is seeking to revise our understanding of history I think it’s the author’s responsibility to adopt an extreme position and our responsibility as readers to quibble with it. This is a book by a man who has thought deeply about the subject and is full of incisive analysis. He can also write one hell of an introduction.
If you haven’t read the Diary I’m not sure I’d recommend this as a selection unless you’re some sort of pervert. It can be pretty grim reading. You’d come away with the impression that Pepys was only some kind of violent sex fiend, yet reading the whole Diary you come to care about the man and hope that he’s going to be ok.
On the other hand, Pepys performed/committed so many sex acts with so many people it can be hard to keep track with exactly what he’s done to whom. This book can be used to remind yourself that, oh yes, it wasn’t Bagwell’s wife he made wank him off in the coach in front of her husband.
A funny book at times, whether that be because of what Pepys says (11th May 1664), or because of de la Bédoyère’s sarcastic commentary. Speaking of his commentary, he has a very particular viewpoint. This is after all the Confessions. I don’t always agree with his analysis. Just to take one example. 20th December 1664:
‘Alone with her I tried to do what I would and against her resistance I did it, although not to my satisfaction.’
De la Bédoyère says ‘The clear implication was that Pepys had raped Elizabeth Bagwell’
I’m not sure that is the clear implication. What Pepys ‘would do’ is not always intercourse. Often he likes to make them touch his willy or sometimes he likes to poke their bosoms with it. Obviously it’s a sexual assault of some kind. Quite apart from her resistance, Mrs Bagwell is being prostituted against her will by her husband and in-laws.
This isn’t really a criticism of the author. In a book like this, filled with original thought that is seeking to revise our understanding of history I think it’s the author’s responsibility to adopt an extreme position and our responsibility as readers to quibble with it. This is a book by a man who has thought deeply about the subject and is full of incisive analysis. He can also write one hell of an introduction.
Displaying 1 of 1 review