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The Diary of Samuel Pepys (Modern Library Classics) Paperback – Abridged, September 9, 2003

by Samuel Pepys (Author), Richard Le Gallienne (Editor), Robert Louis Stevenson (Contributor)

4.3 568 ratings

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Richard Le Gallienne’s elegant abridgment of the Diary captures the essential writings of Samuel Pepys (1633–1703), a remarkable man who witnessed the coronation of Charles II, the Great Plague of 1665, and the Great Fire of 1666. Originally scribbled in a cryptic shorthand, Pepys’s quotidian journal of life in Restoration London provides an astonishingly frank and diverting account of political intrigues; naval, church, and cultural affairs; and the sexual escapades and domestic strife of a man with a voracious, childlike appetite for living. “As a human document the Diary is literally unique,” notes Le Gallienne. “It will have a still greater value for its historical importance.”

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Editorial Reviews

Review

“One of our greatest historical records . . . a major work of English literature.” —Paul Johnson

From the Inside Flap

Richard Le Gallienne s elegant abridgment of the Diary captures the essential writings of Samuel Pepys (1633 1703), a remarkable man who witnessed the coronation of Charles II, the Great Plague of 1665, and the Great Fire of 1666. Originally scribbled in a cryptic shorthand, Pepys s quotidian journal of life in Restoration London provides an astonishingly frank and diverting account of political intrigues; naval, church, and cultural affairs; and the sexual escapades and domestic strife of a man with a voracious, childlike appetite for living. As a human document the Diary is literally unique, notes Le Gallienne. It will have a still greater value for its historical importance.

From the Back Cover

Richard Le Gallienne's elegant abridgment of the "Diary captures the essential writings of Samuel Pepys (1633-1703), a remarkable man who witnessed the coronation of Charles II, the Great Plague of 1665, and the Great Fire of 1666. Originally scribbled in a cryptic shorthand, Pepys's quotidian journal of life in Restoration London provides an astonishingly frank and diverting account of political intrigues; naval, church, and cultural affairs; and the sexual escapades and domestic strife of a man with a voracious, childlike appetite for living. "As a human document the "Diary is literally unique," notes Le Gallienne. "It will have a still greater value for its historical importance."

About the Author

Richard Le Gallienne (1867–1947) was one of Britain’s leading literary critics. His abridgment of The Diary of Samuel Pepys is considered a triumph of editing.

Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894) is one of the most widely read and admired novelists of the nineteenth century.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

1660

Blessed be God, at the end of the last year I was in very good health, without any sense of my old pain, but upon taking of cold. I lived in Axe Yard, having my wife, and servant Jane, and no more in family than us three. My wife . . . gave me hopes of her being with child, but on the last day of the year . . . [the hope was belied]. The condition of the State was thus; viz. the Rump, after being disturbed by my Lord Lambert, was lately returned to sit again. The officers of the Army all forced to yield. Lawson lies still in the river, and Monk is with his army in Scotland. Only my Lord Lambert is not yet come into the Parliament, nor is it expected that he will without being forced to it. The new Common Council of the City do speak very high; and had sent to Monk their sword-bearer, to acquaint him with their desires for a free and full Parliament, which is at present the desires, and the hopes, and expectation of all. Twenty-two of the old secluded members having been at the House-door the last week to demand entrance, but it was denied them; and it is believed that [neither] they nor the people will be satisfied till the House be filled. My own private condition very handsome, and esteemed rich, but indeed very poor; besides my goods of my house, and my office, which at present is somewhat uncertain. Mr. Downing master of my office.

January 1st (Lord's day). This morning (we living lately in the garret,) I rose, put on my suit with great skirts, having not lately worn any other clothes but them. Went to Mr. Gunning's chapel at Exeter House, where he made a very good sermon upon these words:-"That in the fulness of time God sent his Son, made of a woman," &c.; showing, that, by "made under the law," is meant his circumcision, which is solemnized this day. Dined at home in the garret, where my wife dressed the remains of a turkey, and in the doing of it she burned her hand. I staid at home all the afternoon, looking over my accounts.

2nd. In the morning before I went forth old East brought me a dozen of bottles of sack, and I gave him a shilling for his pains. Then I went to Mr. Sheply, who was drawing of sack in the wine cellar to send to other places as a gift from my Lord, and told me that my Lord had given him order to give me the dozen of bottles. Thence I went to the Temple to speak with Mr. Calthropp about the £60 due to my Lord, but missed of him, he being abroad.

4th. Early came Mr. Vanly to me for his half-year's rent, which I had not in the house, but took his man to the office and there paid him. Then I went down into the Hall and to Will's, where Hawly brought a piece of his Cheshire cheese, and we were merry with it. Then into the Hall again, where I met with the Clerk and Quarter Master of my Lord's troop, and took them to the Swan and gave them their morning's draft, they being just come to town. I went to Will's again, where I found them still at cards, and Spicer had won 14s. of Shaw and Vines. Then I spent a little time with G. Vines and Maylard at Vines's at our viols. So home, and from thence to Mr. Hunt's, and sat with them and Mr. Hawly at cards till ten at night, and was much made of by them. Home and so to bed, but much troubled with my nose, which was much swelled.

5th. I went to my office. Then I went home, and after writing a letter to my Lord and told him the news that Monk and Fairfax were commanded up to town, and that the Prince's lodgings were to be provided for Monk at Whitehall. Then my wife and I, it being a great frost, went to Mrs. Jem's, in expectation to eat a sack-posset, but Mr. Edward not coming it was put off.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Random House Publishing Group; Abridged edition (September 9, 2003)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 310 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0812970713
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0812970715
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.3 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.19 x 0.8 x 8 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #799,120 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,029 in Historical British Biographies
- #1,756 in Literary Diaries & Journals
- #18,186 in Classic Literature & Fiction

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4.3 568 ratings

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DavidM

A diary translated from the shorthand he used

Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2022

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This is a diary of about 10 years of his life as he was building his career. He wrote it in a shorthand for his private use. It is an incredible portrayal of life in the middle/upper class of his time. He writes about his activities for evening entertainment. I never realized that almost everyone could play an instrument and sing to entertain people that dropped by. They attended plays very frequently -- even seeing the same play over and over.

The health situation was incredible. The upper crust wore wigs so that their heads could be shaved to combat the lice with typhus and typhoid. He details hair combing sessions to get rid of the lice. Smallpox was rampant.

The dark side is that he would take the family to see the latest hangings and worse for entertainment. Also, no woman was safe when he was separate from the wife. He describes the plague and the London fire.

His diary is not like John Evelyn's which was written to increase his stature i.e., somewhat a work of fiction.

16 people found this helpful

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Mr.E.

Quick prompt delivery. Good service. Good quality item. Good condition. Good price. Good people!

Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2023

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Bought it for the contents (to read.)
Excellent for the purpose and price.
Thanks! 5-Stars! (I'd give you 10 if I could!)

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Kindle Customer

A good diary of 10 years of Samuel Peyps from 1662 to May 1669

Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2022

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I found this book while looking for plague diaries but learned so much of English life during this time. Samuel Pepys is 27 when he starts this journal and has just gotten !arried. His career begging at the eschewed office at the Navy. Samuel Peyps likes music, art, writing and wine. The diary is peppered with his love of plays at the Duke of York playhouses and the Kings playhouses and his impressions of them. He talks about finaces, politics including his dealings with William Penn, Coventry and Captain Cooke. His mentor is the Duke of Sandwich during the reign of Charles Ii. The plague is 1666 and burning of London in 1667. He wrote a history of the Navy in 1669. There is an account of his family in the beginning of 1666 Overall, an interesting account of normal life iin court. He wrote until he couldn't and went blind and said pray for my soul.

6 people found this helpful

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Heather A. Teysko

A fascinating reminder of why I keep a journal

Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2009

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Ever since I found a circa 1950's diary in an old attic rummage sale on a vacation in Maine when I was about 8, I've been fascinated by old diaries. It also helps that I'm fascinated by history in general. So bring together great historical periods (ie the Great Fire of London) with diaries (and such honest ones as this are rare) and you have a classic. The language was a bit challenging at first - but like reading Shakespeare, if you just get used to it, it suddenly seems normal (reading it out loud also helped me get in the 17th century zone). It was interesting to see so much history witnessed by a normal person (albeit one of the upper class). His personal life was quite "colorful" too, which added some flavor to it, too. Definitely worth the effort.

15 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Great diary, not the best edition

Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2018

Verified Purchase

The typeface in this book is ridiculous. I'm 34 and read all the time, I don't have eye issues but this is too small and cramped. It takes me a long time to get through even one page. I also mainly ordered this for the annotations, as I already own Pepys Diary, but without proper annotations. I was disappointed in this as well, the annotations are few and far between, and I was hoping for much more detail in the specifics of everyday life, not just occasional broad explanations of politics at the time. I will continue searching for a well-annotated Diary of Pepys.

25 people found this helpful

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barame

Read Pepys and Be Ever So Grateful

Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2019

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First-person accounts are like being there and I can assure you that in the 1660s, I wouldn't have wanted to be there! Pepys is a difficult read and I tried on Kindle but couldn't do it. This paperback edition makes it so much easier and I'm glad to have read it.

5 people found this helpful

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Execelsior

An Exceptionally Good Dramatisation of Master Pepys' Diaries

Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2015

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This was a highly entertaining dramatisation of The Diaries of Samuel Pepys. I listened to each episode when it was repeated by the BBC on Radio 4 Extra each day and enjoyed every minute. I will enjoy listening to it again and again in the future. This production is an example of the BBC at its best.

8 people found this helpful

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Lady of K

Good primary source but Pepys is a bit of a Frustrating guy

Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2020

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I did not read all of the diary. What I did read was fascinating. His attention to stupid annoying social details of the 17th century are priceless even if they can grate on your nerves after several hundred pages. His tiny descriptions of random famous people (including his opinions or catty observations) bring you right into the life of London during this time. Like his characterisations of the awkward mannerisms of the royals that would never make it into the history books. I definitely think you should read it, but skip around to periods of interest to you.

7 people found this helpful

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NotThatPeggy

Funny, sad, informative and hugely entertaining

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 14, 2015

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I only managed to catch the odd episode of this when it was on Radio 4 and thoroughly enjoyed it, so when the boxed set of the series came out I had to have it to listen again. 11 discs, nicely presented on a spindle in a tough plastic box and what a treat it was. Pepys kept his diaries through most of the 1660s and was an eye witness to the Restoration, the Plague and of course the Great Fire which is beautifully illustrated on the front of the box, with Old St Pauls in the centre.

Kris Marshall makes an attractive and well acted Pepys. Even his soliloquies where he is being either a hypocrite or unfaithful to his wife and often both together don't put you off him - he is human, fallible and very funny. Whether it is staying out of the house on washday or his trials with in laws and domestic as well as natural disasters, Marshall doesn't put a foot wrong in presenting a vivid and interesting character. The real Pepys has an arresting turn of phrase so that events you know from history become real - for example he describes grass growing between the stones in the street at the height of the Plague for lack of people walking the city.

Catherine Jakeways as Elisabeth Pepys is a brilliant foil for Samuel, whether arguing with the servants, nagging about her dress allowance or flirting with her dancing master. Will their servant also gives a fine performance - all three have the gift of comic timing and making a non committal noise carry at least 3 different meanings.

I felt by the end that Elisabeth and Samuel were not so very different from those of us in the present day. Next time I'm in London I shall stop by St Olaf's church and pay my respects.

This dramatization brings the 1660s alive, through music, social history and of course eye witness events. A lovely series, particularly suitable for listening in the car.

4 people found this helpful

Rpir

Lebendige Geschichte

Reviewed in Germany on January 13, 2014

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Das ist ein ausgesprochen spannendes Tagebuch eines hohen Beamten im England des 17. Jh. Von den Lebensumständen der Bewohner Londons vor und zur Zeit der Pest und des Großen Feuers bis zu intimen Frauengeschichten eines Dreißigjährigen mit allen möglichen, auch verheirateten Frauen bekommt der Leser eine unglaublich direkte und authentische Schilderung des Lebens der damaligen Zeit. Das Tagebuch hat Pepys übrigens in einer "Geheimschrift" verfasst, die angeblich erst in den Zwanzigerjahren des vorigen Jahrhunderts entschlüsselt worden sein soll.

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Lisa G

Interesting read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 4, 2015

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Once you get used to the difference in English - this is an amazing first hand account of 1600s England. The stories are facinating, full of intrigue and the intricacies of daily life in the higher echelons of British society. The main gripe I have relates to how the work is transcribed on kindle - is not possible to move from year to year or month to month in terms of the diary. So although I've had the book for some months now even though I don't read it all the time - I am still only 30% through as I am not able to dip in and out very easily ie.. to specific points in time such as the Great Fire.

4 people found this helpful

Wolfgang Grabsch

Unklare Maßstäbe für die Textauswahl

Reviewed in Germany on October 26, 2013

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Das Vorwort ist sehr gut und allein wegen ihm lohnt sich der Kauf des Buchs. Die Textauswahl finde ich seltsam: in meiner alten Reclam-Ausgabe gibt es seitenweise kritische Bemerkungen zu den Verhältnissen am englischen Hof, da ist man in der englischen Ausgabe doch sehr zurückhaltend und das ist schlicht, obwohl das Wort etwas pubertär klingt, doof.

One person found this helpful

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Parvenu

Enjoyable

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 25, 2016

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Really very good. Every disc is divided into 25, or so, 2-4 minute dramas woven from days entries in the great diarists life, making about 12 hours in all. It's historically informative, interesting, funny and sad, dealing with King Charles II and his many women troubles, Samuel Pepys and his many women troubles, The Plague, the Great Fire of London, war with the Dutch and many great and small scandals of the day.

Because of the format each drama sits on it's own as piece of entertainment so you can listen to five minutes of it or two hours at a sitting and still enjoy it. You will listen to it more than once.

2 people found this helpful

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