Diary of Samuel Pepys — Volume 01: Preface and Life
by Samuel Pepys (1633–1703)
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"Diary of Samuel Pepys — Volume 01: Preface and Life" by Samuel Pepys is a historical account written during the mid-17th century. This book serves as a comprehensive record of Pepys's daily life as a prominent naval administrator, detailing his experiences and observations in a rapidly changing England post-Commonwealth. The diary touches on various topics including government affairs, social life, scientific discoveries, and personal reflections, providing readers with a vivid glimpse into the era. In the first volume, readers are introduced to Pepys's early life, his rise to important positions within the naval administration, and his keen observations of events such as the Restoration of Charles II, the Great Plague, and the Great Fire of London. Through his entries, Pepys candidly expresses insights into his daily work as the Clerk of the Acts and later as Secretary to the Admiralty. The diary reveals his personal ambitions, domestic life, and the cultural fabric of 17th-century England, enriched with details that bring to life the complexity of his character and the society in which he lived. Not only does it serve as a historical document, but it also showcases Pepys’s remarkable narrative style, blending the personal with the public.
- Pepys, Samuel, 1633-1703 · Diaries
- Cabinet officers · Great Britain · Diaries
- Diarists · Great Britain · Diaries
- Great Britain · Social life and customs · 17th century · Sources
- Great Britain · History · Charles II, 1660-1685 · Sources
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Clerk of the Acts and Secretary to the Admiralty
TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SHORTHAND MANUSCRIPT IN THE PEPYSIAN LIBRARY MAGDALENE COLLEGE CAMBRIDGE BY THE REV. MYNORS BRIGHT M.A. LATE FELLOW AND PRESIDENT OF THE COLLEGE
Although the Diary of Samuel Pepys has been in the hands of the public for nearly seventy years, it has not hitherto appeared in its entirety. In the original edition of 1825 scarcely half of the manuscript was printed. Lord Braybrooke added some passages as the various editions were published, but in the preface to his last edition he wrote: "there appeared indeed no necessity to amplify or in any way to alter the text of the Diary beyond the correction of a few verbal errors and corrupt passages hitherto overlooked."
The public knew nothing as to what was left unprinted, and there was therefore a general feeling of gratification when it was announced some eighteen years ago that a new edition was to be published by the Rev. Mynors Bright, with the addition of new matter equal to a third of the whole. It was understood that at last the Diary was to appear in its entirety, but there was a passage in Mr. Bright's preface which suggested a doubt respecting the necessary completeness. He wrote: "It would have been tedious to the reader if I had copied from the Diary the account of his daily work at the office."
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About this edition
This free edition of Diary of Samuel Pepys — Volume 01: Preface and Life by Samuel Pepys comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #4117, released 2004-11-29. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Biographies, History - British, History - Early Modern (c. 1450-1750).
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