
Samuel Pepys is one of the most famous figures in English history, thanks to the diary he kept for nearly a decade in the 1660s. But there was much more to his life than the private confessions that have made him a household name. In this biography, Richard Ollard provides a full account of Pepys's life, from his humble beginnings to his rise as a key figure in the administration of the Royal Navy. Drawing on a wealth of primary sources, Ollard paints a vivid picture of a man who was at the center of some of the most important events of his time, including the Great Plague and the Great Fire of London.
How did Samuel Pepys navigate the complex political and social landscape of Restoration England while maintaining his meticulous record of daily life? Richard Ollard, a noted historian and biographer, utilizes the extensive primary source material of the Pepys diaries alongside official naval records to construct a comprehensive portrait of the man behind the famous entries. The book argues that Pepys was not merely a passive observer of his time, but a highly effective administrator whose career was inextricably linked to the development of the British Navy.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Historians frequently cite this work as a balanced and scholarly account that successfully bridges the gap between the private diarist and the public servant. Readers note the prose is accessible yet rigorous, making it a standard reference for those interested in 17th-century administrative history.
Page Count:
0
Publication Date:
1984-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford Univ. Press
ISBN-10:
0192814664
ISBN-13:
9780192814661
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