Seldom does one pick up a literary book expecting to discover history. Typically one envisions a literary work to move the soul, or facilitate a grand adventure of the mind. Odder yet would be a student of history delving into a historical document in anticipation of a soul search. However, thanks to Samuel Pepys we have an un-edited, un-filtered first hand account of what it was like to be in the midst of some of the most momentous events in English history. Pepys bore witness to and recorded the second Anglo-Dutch war, the Great Fire of London, and what the Restoration or even the Great Plague was like experience. And while these events can be found in history books, Samuel Pepys’ diary brings something to the table that a group of
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And this time it didn’t just affect the poor and downtrodden. The scale of this outbreak affected neighbors and communities Samuel Pepys was directly involved with. This outbreak was hitting close to home, and Pepys was concerned. “This day I am told that Dr. Burnett, my physician, is this morning dead of the plague” (Pepys August 25 1665). Pepys would write about entire streets being closed off, and how people he knew would fall to the sickness. Overall 68+ thousand lives were lost during the “Great Plague” as it was called, and Samuel Pepys shares what it was like to live through it. He shared what it was like to watch in horror as an unseen foe struck down indiscriminately. He watched this all happen as his country was losing a war with the Dutch. With the uncertainty of not only his family, but also his country, this citizen hero bravely fought on. And thank goodness, he survived the plague to save …show more content…
His diary spans the Restoration period, a war, the Great Plague, the Great Fire of London, and what life was like 350 years ago. Samuel Pepys gives students of his diary a raw, un-edited view into the life on an 17th century Londoner in every aspect of his life with his superbly detailed accounts. Surprisingly, one discovers that 350 years ago, even though conditions were drastically different; human nature is easily related to across the centuries. Compassion, sorrow, and happiness in the little things are still the same. And that is the real magic of Samuel Pepys diary; it is the ease at which readers can instantly relate to the emotions and situations Samuel was witness to. This ease permits the experience of living the historical adventures of a citizen hero who battled his fears and overcome some frightening times and find pleasure in the joys of survival. And while Samuel Pepys never intended for his diary to ever be read, it sure is refreshing to read about how the average person handled the events of that
And this time it didn’t just affect the poor and downtrodden. The scale of this outbreak affected neighbors and communities Samuel Pepys was directly involved with. This outbreak was hitting close to home, and Pepys was concerned. “This day I am told that Dr. Burnett, my physician, is this morning dead of the plague” (Pepys August 25 1665). Pepys would write about entire streets being closed off, and how people he knew would fall to the sickness. Overall 68+ thousand lives were lost during the “Great Plague” as it was called, and Samuel Pepys shares what it was like to live through it. He shared what it was like to watch in horror as an unseen foe struck down indiscriminately. He watched this all happen as his country was losing a war with the Dutch. With the uncertainty of not only his family, but also his country, this citizen hero bravely fought on. And thank goodness, he survived the plague to save …show more content…
His diary spans the Restoration period, a war, the Great Plague, the Great Fire of London, and what life was like 350 years ago. Samuel Pepys gives students of his diary a raw, un-edited view into the life on an 17th century Londoner in every aspect of his life with his superbly detailed accounts. Surprisingly, one discovers that 350 years ago, even though conditions were drastically different; human nature is easily related to across the centuries. Compassion, sorrow, and happiness in the little things are still the same. And that is the real magic of Samuel Pepys diary; it is the ease at which readers can instantly relate to the emotions and situations Samuel was witness to. This ease permits the experience of living the historical adventures of a citizen hero who battled his fears and overcome some frightening times and find pleasure in the joys of survival. And while Samuel Pepys never intended for his diary to ever be read, it sure is refreshing to read about how the average person handled the events of that