Product Description

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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #271391 in Books
• Published on: 1995-11-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 384 pages

Review
Evelyn's social life, his contacts with public figures, his accounts of the Royal Society, his personal reflections, his comments on current events... his playgoing (of Hamlet he writes 'but now the old playe began to disgust this refined age') - all these are here in full. For those who go to Evelyn for his literary qualities and his picture of his life and times, this is a well made selection, excellently presented. (Austin Woolrych) HISTORY The diary's record of Evelyn's own life and that of his family, and the entries giving his comments on current events and on the great and good of his day...are what most readers are likely to value in the diary, and this readable volume should therefore serve its purpose well. ENGLISH HISTORICAL REVIEW

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.

Historical Treasure Trove, yes; easily readable, no!
The introduction to this book warned me - it is not as immediately readable as Pepys, with less personal material or description of the diarist's feelings. But given that this diary was written for all to see, as opposed to Pepys' who encoded his diary, this is understandable. What Evelyn's diary does wellis fill in a lot about the viewpoints and detailed history of the Seventeenth century in England. It has a comprehensive time-line at the front, and a useful mini-bio of the main characters at the end.