Product Description

The 1660s represent a turning point in English history, and for the main events - the Restoration, the Dutch War, the Great Plague, the Fire of London - Pepys provides a definitive eyewitness account. Along with lively descriptions of his socializing, his amorous entanglements, his theatre-going & music-making. Unequalled for its frankness, high spirits & sharp observations, the diary is both a literary masterpiece & a marvellous portrait of 17th-century life.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #24408 in Books
• Published on: 2003-05-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 1152 pages

About the Author
Samuel Pepys (1633-1703) achieved fame as a naval administrator & a friend & colleague of the powerful & learned. For nearly 10 years he kept a private diary in which he recorded life in Restoration London. Robert Latham edited the 11 volume edition of Pepys diary

Customer Reviews

Way Above Five Stars
Anyone wishing to know what it was like to live in Restoration London should go to the primary source, Samuel Pepys (pronounced "Peeps"). He is to 17th century England what Boswell was in the next century, a marvelously candid interpreter of customs, manners and mores in a less-than-gilded age. Pepys is perhaps the most conversational and engaging diarist that has ever written. He reveals himself intimately, warts and all, recording personal, city, court and national history in a journal that was never meant to be seen by the public at-large. Rousseau, in his Confessions, professed to tell the truth about himself. Pepys actually does. Added to this is the fact that the period dealt with is one of the most fascinating in English history, full of court intrigues, pivotal naval battles, the Great Fire, plague, etc., one comes away with an appreciation for the era as well as the man.

Branaugh is the perfect vehicle for introducing listeners to this idiosyncratic author. No living actor has as great a command of spoken English. He is the successor to Gielgud, Olivier, Guiness, Richardson, Redgrave, etc. This is an abridged version, but still runs to well over six hours, and not a minute feels as if it's wasted. Pepys, as interpreted by Branaugh, is excellent company, whether you are on a long road-trip in your car or sitting beside the fire on a winter night.

Samuel Pepys
There could never be a better translation and publication of Pepys' wonderful diary. Lanthem and Matthews have put a lot of time into translating this series.

In the first book there is an introduction of several essays - a short biographical piece and information on the use the diary has for both literature and history, as well as a history of previous publications of the diary. These come in very useful and are also extremly interesting foreground reading before beginning the actual diary itself.

The editors explain how they have translated the diaries and the difficulties and have tried to present the diary how Pepys' would have wanted it. They have tried to make it authentic as possible - only changing bits they absolutely have to and the reader is always informed of such changes.

Pepys is an extremly important part of English history as he was witness to the restoration of the king after the death of Cromwell as well as the plague and the fire of London. His diary is wider then that - it is a record of humanity. It is unique in that it is very honest - a graphic detailed account on a man's life both public and private.

Such history from a first hand account and not regergitated by modern day historians is invaluable for anyone interested in the history during this period.

Branagh Brings Pepys to Life
Just as Pepys brings Restoration London to life in his famous diary, Branagh brings Pepys to life in this series of highly interesting and entertaining recordings. Part One covers the years 1660 to 1663 (two ninety-minute tapes) in which Pepys establishes himself in his career and provides a fascinating description of the coronation of Charles II. Part Two (1664 to 1666) provides Pepys's vivid eyewitness accounts of the Plague and the Great Fire. The final tapes (1667 to 1669) focus in large part on Pepys' domestic life and his position as a high official in the navy. I've listened to these tapes regularly since they were first released in 1994 and continue to learn new things about this remarkable period of British history and the remarkable individual who described it so well. I just wish Hodder Headline would offer these recordings on compact disc before my tapes wear out.