The Concise Pepys Diary

by Samuel Pepys

Samuel Pepys (1633-1703) began his celebrated diary on 1st January 1660 immediately prior to the Restoration of Charles II to the throne and the subsequent loosening of the rigid moral and social code enforced during the Puritan Commonwealth. As variously Clerk to the Council, a Member of Parliament, a prisoner in the Tower of London, twice Secretary to the Admiralty and President of the Royal Society, Pepys was in a unique position to observe and record in detail a fascinating ten-year period of English history which included not only the Restoration, but the Great Plague of 1665 and the Fire of London the following year. However it was not only the affairs of State which took up the great diarist's interest, for he was a regular attendant at the King's Theatre, was a hearty eater and drinker and delighted in recording his fondness for women, especially his own and his friends' young servant girls.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Classics, Biography, Memoir, Literature, 17th Century

804 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

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

[Stephen Hayes · Rating 3 out of 5]

It'ts taken me two and a half years to read the concise version, I hate to think how long it would take to read the full version!

One of the drawbacks of the concise version is that it doesn't really say what the basis for selection was -- what did they leave out, and what did they retain?

They seem to have retained most political bits, which I suppose would interest political historians more. It's also interesting to see how some things do not change much. Pepys had similar problems with his coach to those we have with cars nowadays. Deciding to buy one, then deciding what to buy, and then complaining about how long they took to service it. And when it was new, being concerned to see how many heads turned to look at it.

An index could be helpful, and perhaps a list of the main characters and what parts they played when. He's forever discoursing and dining with Sir W. Pen and "my Lord Brouncker" and such people, but it's hard to keep track of who they all were. Footnotes introduce new characters, but there are so many that some are soon forgotten.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love history so I loved this. It was the concise version although was still quite long. Having read some of his diary previously I found this concentrated more on the political situation rather than the social issues of the day.

The only problem with reading an abridged diary is that you constantly wonder what you are missing or you read a really interesting entry and then want to read the next one but you can't.

I loved reading his view on the Plague and the Great Fire of London. There is something very special about reading an extract written at the time.

This is best read by people with a love of history during this period (1663-1667). If you are not a fan of English History this would probably not be the book for you.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Words betimes emanating from and to the mouth, eyes, ears & pen of man (Samuel Pepys -pronounced "peeps") who shared his daily ups,downs , dalliances , inebratons , martial abuse,over 400 yrs ago in London and environs . Meet Pepys acquaintance that displays in his manor house the oven dried corpse of a young black servant as a curiosity piece. The bearded lady , the highwaymen , long gone forests ,The scientific discoveries of the time, intrigue in court , Charles II and the Duke of York .

England goes beserk following the crushing Puritanism of Cromwell with unabashed , energetic promiscuity, especially with the Royals , return of Art, plays , Taverns , Merry Making at its best

A wonderful deep dive into 10 years of the life of mid-17th century England . If you like history you'll absolutely love Samuel Pepys Diary

[Madeleine Herkes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly enjoyable once I got used to the style. Enjoyed the unexpected historical parallels to current times of proroguing Parliament, fake news and the plague.

[Mandie · Rating 4 out of 5]

800-odd pages is concise is it?
I would hate to be around Mr Pepys if he ever went into verbose mode!
That said this is one of the most vibrant accounts I have ever read of historical events. It is detailed and real and very evocative of life and times in London in the mid to late 1600s. Of course this means Samuel Pepys lived through some of the most defining moments of British history: The end of the Civil War and subsequent restoration of the Monarchy, the plague and the Great fire of London, not to mention his naval career and in the incident of the dutch sailing up the Thames. And yet we also see some tiny events recorded from his personal life. I clearly recall how he buried his precious cheese in his back garden as the fire raged. The strwberries as he took a jaunt out to Hackney, and the more life affecting experience of the removal of his stones, and his bad tempered affection for his wife.
It really is not a difficult read and is incredibly enlighenining. Put some restoration sounds on the iPOD and drift off to another century.

[Nathalie Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had heard of Pepys Diary many times during my school years so when I ran across this edition at the bookstore I decided that finally now was the time for me to read it. As in all diaries not every day is fascinating but I read every word. He started it on January 1, 1660 and wrote the last entry on May 31, 1669. I found that he was an early riser who went to work every day. He was interested in people and the larger happenings of the day. He was a careful dresser. He wrote a lot about the plague in London in 1665 and the London fire in 1666. When he quit keeping the diary he was going blind.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the edited version from the 19th century, so all the juicy stuff is missing.

[Marshanpoet2]

been quite tough going but enlightening and at times fairly humorous, not much left to read now.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exceptional documentation on historical people and events you don't learn in school.