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nathanjhunt's review against another edition
challenging
funny
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
4.25
This was my 3rd book finished in 2022.
A fascinating diary that required a lot of dedication. Conquering this 1100 page book was no easy feat, as you have to quickly adapt to the way Pepys writes; I inadvertently taught myself Early Modern English this way. He uses a lot of words and phrases which I had to look up, including a mixture of French, Spanish and Latin! Very satisfying to decode his misdemeanours.
Pepys is not a good person. He was very much praised in the 20th century, but this personal diary reveals all his huge faults. Was this typical of the time? Probably. But to see it written so frankly is quite a shock.
If you're like me and have an interest in history, London, 17th century language and fashion, the restoration era and Charles II... Then this is definitely a must read.
Many passages are brief, but he goes into detail on occasions regarding tragic events and deaths. These sections are captivating.
This is a very funny book, and I have tabbed hundreds of passages which made me burst out with laughter.
There are many dull passages about his work, but that's to be expected.
By and by with much ado, the diary was endeed finished with exceeding mirth. And so to bed.
A fascinating diary that required a lot of dedication. Conquering this 1100 page book was no easy feat, as you have to quickly adapt to the way Pepys writes; I inadvertently taught myself Early Modern English this way. He uses a lot of words and phrases which I had to look up, including a mixture of French, Spanish and Latin! Very satisfying to decode his misdemeanours.
Pepys is not a good person. He was very much praised in the 20th century, but this personal diary reveals all his huge faults. Was this typical of the time? Probably. But to see it written so frankly is quite a shock.
If you're like me and have an interest in history, London, 17th century language and fashion, the restoration era and Charles II... Then this is definitely a must read.
Many passages are brief, but he goes into detail on occasions regarding tragic events and deaths. These sections are captivating.
This is a very funny book, and I have tabbed hundreds of passages which made me burst out with laughter.
There are many dull passages about his work, but that's to be expected.
By and by with much ado, the diary was endeed finished with exceeding mirth. And so to bed.
theknittinggoose's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
dee9401's review against another edition
3.0
The Diary of Samuel Pepys is an interesting book, especially in the edited, single-volume version I had from Modern Library. If I were doing research, I would grab the full edition. But this condensed volumes provides a wonderful sampling of an upper middle class life from 1660 through mid-1669. Pepys is witness to several important events, including the Restoration of the monarchy with the coronation of Charles II, the Great Plague (1665-66), the Great Fire (1666) and the second war with the Dutch (1665-67).
His entries on the plague are haunting. His first entry that I remember was of a Dutch plague ship with 300-400 dead (9/24/1664). By mid 1665, there are plague houses popping up in London, marked with red crosses. On June 15th, 112 are reported dead for that week. By the 21st, people begin to flee London. He writes on August 31st that there were 6,102 deaths this week. Thankfully, by November 15th of 1665, the deaths were down to about 1,300 per week. By spring 1666, the plague had mostly subsided.
This was just in time for the Great Fire, which came on Sept. 2nd. Pepys, his wife and her maid all could see the fire burning the first night. The fire burned until Sept. 8th. A French shop owner was accused of the fire and hanged shortly afterward. By February 24th, 1667, Pepys still believed that man had done the fire, but modern research suggests that it was likely started accidentally by a baker’s oven.
While Pepys documents some of the greater events of his day, he also gives us an insight into the everyday life of a businessman with ties to the Admiralty, the upper class and his community. He is an avid reader, collecting books and having them bound in the same style bindings (1/18/1665). He studies Latin (6/21/1663) and music, even taking lessons on many different instruments. Many of the things that happened day to day there still go on today: getting mad at a dog pooping in the house (2/12/1660) or being awakened by your sleeping partner elbowing you in the face (1/1/1662). During the Great Fire, he buried his parmesan cheese and wine in a hole in the ground, to protect it from the flames (9/4/1666). By 1668, his vision is getting weaker, he thinks due to his constant diary keeping. For this, he takes a doctor’s cure, having 14 ounces of blood let out (7/13/1668).
Pepys is a bit of a shallow man. He covets his money, regularly making entries about how much he is worth. He regularly yells at and often strikes his few servants. He is perpetually lusting after other women, following them around, having affairs with some, and getting caught and not showing much remorse. He was supposedly a supporter of Oliver Cromwell, but eagerly gets behind Charles II when he was to come to power.
Overall, this diary provides an impressive, daily insight into one man’s life in London during the 1660s and was well worth the time to read it.
His entries on the plague are haunting. His first entry that I remember was of a Dutch plague ship with 300-400 dead (9/24/1664). By mid 1665, there are plague houses popping up in London, marked with red crosses. On June 15th, 112 are reported dead for that week. By the 21st, people begin to flee London. He writes on August 31st that there were 6,102 deaths this week. Thankfully, by November 15th of 1665, the deaths were down to about 1,300 per week. By spring 1666, the plague had mostly subsided.
This was just in time for the Great Fire, which came on Sept. 2nd. Pepys, his wife and her maid all could see the fire burning the first night. The fire burned until Sept. 8th. A French shop owner was accused of the fire and hanged shortly afterward. By February 24th, 1667, Pepys still believed that man had done the fire, but modern research suggests that it was likely started accidentally by a baker’s oven.
While Pepys documents some of the greater events of his day, he also gives us an insight into the everyday life of a businessman with ties to the Admiralty, the upper class and his community. He is an avid reader, collecting books and having them bound in the same style bindings (1/18/1665). He studies Latin (6/21/1663) and music, even taking lessons on many different instruments. Many of the things that happened day to day there still go on today: getting mad at a dog pooping in the house (2/12/1660) or being awakened by your sleeping partner elbowing you in the face (1/1/1662). During the Great Fire, he buried his parmesan cheese and wine in a hole in the ground, to protect it from the flames (9/4/1666). By 1668, his vision is getting weaker, he thinks due to his constant diary keeping. For this, he takes a doctor’s cure, having 14 ounces of blood let out (7/13/1668).
Pepys is a bit of a shallow man. He covets his money, regularly making entries about how much he is worth. He regularly yells at and often strikes his few servants. He is perpetually lusting after other women, following them around, having affairs with some, and getting caught and not showing much remorse. He was supposedly a supporter of Oliver Cromwell, but eagerly gets behind Charles II when he was to come to power.
Overall, this diary provides an impressive, daily insight into one man’s life in London during the 1660s and was well worth the time to read it.
lars64's review against another edition
All the details and references (over)took their toll
skylarh's review against another edition
3.0
I had to read this during my senior year of high school. The only thing I recall is that I was amazed that people would write like this in their diaries, and wondered, as I did when I read Civil War letters, what happened to the state of writing in the West.
kendallishere's review against another edition
5.0
Wonderful escape-reading. He kept such detailed accounts of his daily life that I find it possible to become absorbed in his world and to forget completely where I am, who I am, or that I left something on the stove. Hilarious, bawdy, and tender.
steven_nobody's review against another edition
5.0
My husband spent 25 years promoting Pepys diary as something to read, and I finally did it, it taking three months to do so. There was so much from this we got to talk over, and everyday as well. I listened to the audiobook, read along at times, and referred to the notes in the complete Latham and Matthews edition. Pepys blew my mind, and one thing I like about him is how every good play he sees is the best play ever he saw in all his life. That is how I feel about good books, and it is completely how I feel about this project, which when all is done is the best thing that ever I read in my life. Or, it will be so until I finish the next great book.
imyourmausoleum's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
The personal diaries of Samuel Pepys. I had read another book that was about this, so I was familiar with a lot of the writings already. Good for context of the time period though.