Robert Latham Knihy

Pepys diary complete for the year 1661

Samuel Pepys (1633-1703) is known as the first published diarist. His eleven-volume work, written between 1660 and 1669, has held readers' fascination. This anthology of selections from Samuel Pepys's famous diary collects passages by subject, providing a fresh look at some of the themes running through Pepys's massive work. It presents Pepys as a man of fashion, a booklover, a musician and theatergoer, as well as a husband and public servant. Through descriptions of everyday life and historic events like the Fire and the Plague, Pepys's life and times are revealed in all their richness and variety. This work offers the opportunity to rediscover favorite passages and serves as a delightful introduction for anyone unfamiliar with Pepys.

Illustrated version of selected passages from Pepys' diary between 1660 and 1669, showing his robust enjoyment of both his public and private lives

Samuel Pepys began his celebrated diary in 1660, at the age of 26, as a young and ambitious secretary. Due to his support of the king's restoration, he soon found himself in an influential position in the Royal Navy's administration. He was to keep the diary for nearly ten years, until his eye sight failed, and in it he would record many of the great events of the age, such as the outbreak of plague and the Great Fire of London, as well as many smaller, domestic and personal happenings. Although written in shorthand and principally for his own personal remembrance and pleasure, it is clear at times that Pepys had one eye on posterity. It is a large work, conveniently divided into one volume per year; here is the first, based on the first complete edition, that of Henry B. Wheatley, originally published in 1893.

This three-volume set presents the detailed diary of Samuel Pepys, a prominent figure in 17th-century England, covering the years 1660 to 1669. Pepys, a naval administrator and Member of Parliament, offers a first-hand account of daily life during a transformative period in British history, including the Restoration of Charles II and the Great Plague of London. The diary chronicles Pepys's personal experiences, social interactions, and professional challenges, providing insight into the political and cultural landscape of the time. Key themes include the complexities of public and private life, the impact of major historical events, and the evolution of societal norms. Notable characters include Pepys himself, whose candid reflections reveal his ambitions, fears, and relationships, as well as influential figures such as Charles II, various members of the court, and Pepys's friends and family. The narrative is characterized by its vivid detail and introspective nature, making it a valuable resource for understanding the era's historical context and social dynamics. The work serves as both a personal memoir and a significant historical document, reflecting the intricacies of life in 17th-century England.

With his unquenchable joy in life and endless curiosity, Pepys serves as the perfect diarist for general readers. His writings capture the public events of 1660s London—Restoration politics, the Dutch War, the Plague, and the Great Fire—while also providing a richly entertaining account of his colorful private life. Few in English history have conveyed their experiences so vividly. Pepys's diary is widely regarded as the most remarkable in the English language, yet it was previously impossible to publish it as he originally wrote it due to limited scholarly work and legal restrictions on its candid passages, particularly those detailing his active love life. In 1960, two scholars, Professor William Matthews, an expert on the diary's shorthand, and Robert Latham, a historian of the period, undertook a fresh study of the manuscript. They produced a new version published in nine volumes, making the complete text accessible for the first time. This edition, lavishly illustrated with contemporary materials, offers a representative selection, containing about one-twelfth of the original 1,300,000 words while preserving the flavor and variety of Pepys's original writings.