Product Description

John Evelyn (1620-1706) is best remembered for Sylva - his magnum opus - and his Diary. Alongside Pepys', Evelyn's is as well known now as anything else written in their time. A connoisseur of architecture, painting, music, coins, and sermons, Evelyn was renowned for his practical knowledge on horticulture and arboriculture, and he was one of the original Fellows of the Royal Society. His Diary begins with an account of his early life and travels in Europe. In addition to his own jottings of events, Evelyn drew on contemporary newspapers and pamphlets.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #717494 in Books
• Published on: 1995-11-02
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 384 pages

Synopsis
The Diaryof John Evelyn (1620-1706) is one of the principal literary sources for life and manners in the English seventeenth century. Evelyn was one of an influential group of men which included Wren, Pepys and Boyle; a founding member of the Royal Society, he was also a friend of Charles II, a Commissioner for sick seamen and prisoners of war during the Dutch Wars, a prime mover behind Chelsea and Greenwich Hospitals, and a prolific author who wrote about architecture, art, arboriculture, fashion, and pollution. In his Diary he recorded the events and experiences of his long and remarkable life; there are also extensive references to his family, including his poignant recollections of the children who predeceased him. This edition has been based on the only comprehensive and accurate transcription, by E.S. de Beer, published by Oxford University Press in 1955, but the text has been reworked into individual years and months while retaining the original spelling and grammar throughout. GUY DE LA BEDOYERE holds degrees in history and archaeology from the Universities of Durham and London.

From the Publisher
Introduced by Sir Roy Strong. The Everyman edition of John Evelyn's Diary is published to coincide with the tercentenary of Evelyn's death in 1706. There is no other edition currently in print.

About the Author
The introduction is written by Sir Roy Strong, formerly Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum, he is the author of many books about art history and gardens.

Customer Reviews

17th Century genius
At the time I am writing this I have this particular copy of the diary in my possesion at my side, and what can I say about it? just fantastic, a remarkable portait of life under King Charles I, Charles II, James II, William III and Mary II and Queen Anne
in all five monarchs that represented a turning point in English History, a break away from the old secular medieval order and into the age of oppulence and full steam towards the industrial revolution and Empire, Evelyn unlike Pepys lets us in on so much of the 17th Century, whereas pepys diary only lets us in on just
10 years (though it should not be forgotten 10 important ones, but it is not his diary i am reviewing)Outside of the absolute full diary this is perhaps
the fullest and covers two volumes and 832 pages, something is lost in any selection but to concentrate on that thought is to miss the the beauty and vigour of this wonderfull book, buy it now it is worth more than any other 17th Century history book.