The Letters of Samuel Pepys [Hardcover]

Guy de la Bedoyere (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 184383197X | ISBN-13: 978-1843831976 | Publication Date: April 20, 2006

The correspondence included here represents the first selection of Pepys's letters drawn from all possible sources to be published since 1933. Since the Diary does not cover this period, the letters enable the reader to follow Pepys' early career on the staff of the Earl of Sandwich, his rise to greatness as Secretary of the Admiralty, and his retirement after the Glorious Revolution. Along the way Pepys fought battles with opponents of his naval reforms and enemies who tried to implicate him in the Popish Plot, while taking care of his various relatives and keeping up with an array of friends and acquaintances who included many of the great and famous of late-seventeenth-century England. The letters have been chosen to reflect all these aspects of Pepys's varied and fascinating life, and include 30 never before published. They are accompanied by a running commentary, biographies of persons mentioned, a glossary, a chronology, and an introduction that explains how the letters have survived and analyses how they were written. GUY DE LA BÉDOYERE is an historian and archaeologist with numerous books to his credit. His specialist field is Roman Britain but he has published three books for Boydell on the 'other' seventeenth-century diarist, John Evelyn (1620-1706), including the widely-acclaimed Particular Friends: The Correspondence of Samuel Pepys and John Evelyn which features all the letters exchanged by the two men over a period of 38 years.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Allows a solid and revealing reflection of the man over the full span of his life. (...) The Pepys of these letters is a rounded, conscientious and surprisingly troubled character - a useful counter-balance to the man who is so easily seen only in his prime, the diary years. Guy de la Bédoyère's informative editorial comments and linking passages could almost stand alone as a brief history of the period. THE LITERARY REVIEWWell edited and interesting...throw(s) light on incidents that were important to his career. (...) One finished the book with a stronger conviction of his kindness and good nature. --Spectator

About the Author

GUY DE LA BÉDOYERE is an historian and archaeologist with numerous books to his credit. His specialist field is Roman Britain but he has published three books for Boydell on the 'other' seventeenth-century diarist, John Evelyn (1620-1706), including the widely-acclaimed Particular Friends: The Correspondence of Samuel Pepys and John Evelyn which features all the letters exchanged by the two men over a period of 38 years. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 296 pages
• Publisher: Boydell Press (April 20, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 184383197X
• ISBN-13: 978-1843831976
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,328,637 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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