The Diary of Samuel Pepys 1668

by Samuel Pepys, Henry Morley (Edited by)

The Diary of Samuel Pepys is probably the most famous diary in the English language. Begun in January 1660 and finishing in May 1669, it offers a richly detailed account of some of the most turbulent events of the nation’s history, including the coronation of King Charles II, the Great Plague and the Great Fire of London. Pepys was an extremely observant commentator and his diary is an important historical document. It was written in shorthand, and is now housed at Magdalene College, Cambridge.

Genres: History

Hardcover

First published May 11, 1976

About the author

Samuel Pepys was an English naval administrator and Member of Parliament, who is now most famous for his diary. Although Pepys had no maritime experience, he rose by patronage, hard work and his talent for administration, to be the Chief Secretary to the Admiralty under King James II. His influence and reforms at the Admiralty were important in the early professionalization of the Royal Navy.

The detailed private diary he kept during 1660–1669 was first published in the nineteenth century, and is one of the most important primary sources for the English Restoration period. It provides a combination of personal revelation and eyewitness accounts of great events, such as the Great Plague of London, the Second Dutch War and the Great Fire of London.

His surname is usually pronounced /'pi:ps/ ('peeps').

Reviews

[Vivian Chen (Vivian's Book Pavilion) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is post originally on Vivian's Book Pavilion Literature Page

What’s the main part of this diary? His dishonor behavior toward the maid! Such a scandal!!!! But, to our surprise, he really gave us the detail of everything. Yes, EVERYTHING. How he flirted with the maid and how he managed to find her after his wife sent her away. To be honest, none of us will write in such a detail, especially for such thing. But Samuel Peps did, and according to our discussion, it’s because it’s a way for him as atone for his dishonor behaviors. And whether his diary was all true words or not, we can’t deny that this is an unusual way for as to read, and an interesting topic for us to discuss “diary.” Why he started his diary in this way? To give us the truth? A way to express his feeling? Nonetheless, Pepy’s diary might be one of the most…direct diary I’ve ever seen.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

From BBC Radio 4 Extra:
Sam does some great work for the Navy, but ends the year in disgrace when Elizabeth discovers him 'in flagrante' with the maid. Stars Kris Marshall, Katherine Jakeways.

Free download available at Project Gutenberg.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The years of being philanderer finally catch up with Pepys in October of this year when his wife catches him with a maid and is mad at him and makes him pay for a month. I was pretty pleased with this turn of events. Otherwise it's a year filled with work related items. This is the first year there is actually missing sections (the first couple of weeks of October), Pepys seems somewhat disorganized at this time. His eyesight, he claims, is getting worse. Half a year to go...

[Frances Sebesta · Rating 1 out of 5]

don’t download

I wanted to read this so I purchased it on my Kindle and immediately had trouble. The font size is too small and can’t be increased. The layout and line spacing is uneven. Impossible to read. I have had to restart my Kindle because it stopped responding and it now seems to have gone into hibernation still stuck on the opening pages of the book.