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The Diary of Samuel Pepys: Volume III: 1667-1669

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The Diary of Samuel Pepys: Volume III: 1667-1669

By: Samuel Pepys
Narrated by: Leighton Pugh, David Timson
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About this listen

The Diary of Samuel Pepys is one of the most entertaining documents in English history. Written between 1660 and 1669, as Pepys was establishing himself as a key administrator in the Navy Office, it is an intimate portrait of life in 17th-century England, covering his professional and personal activities, including, famously, his love of music, theatre, food, and wine and his peccadilloes.

This Naxos AudioBooks production is the world-premiere recording of the diary in its entirety. It has been divided into three volumes. Volume III presents the last three years of Pepys' diary. By then he was in his mid-30s and confident in his ability to deal with differing political factions within the Navy Office; his affection for his wife, Elizabeth, grew ever stronger despite wandering eyes, and he found he was worth £6,000 and more - a considerable sum for the son of a tailor, who started with nothing. His concerns with his eyes grew, and it was with some regret that he stopped writing his diary at the end of May 1669.

Leighton Push reads from the Robert Latham and William Matthews' text; prefaces are written and read by David Timson.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

©1983 Robert Latham and William Matthews (P)2015 Naxos AudioBooks
Europe Great Britain England
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Superb narration by Leighton Pugh which really brought depth and character to the story.

Brilliant

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Clear and sensitive reading. Captured the nuances of Pepys’s emotions so well, particularly his struggles with loyalty and jealousy.

Brilliantly read

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I have now listened to all three volumes of the diaries and no wonder they have stood the test of time. I certainly think old Samuel would have made an excellent and entertaining dinner guest, intelligent, erudite, snobbish yet humble, hypocritical yet aware of it, making his way in the world from extremely humble beginnings but with a few good family connections by his sheer work ethic and a smart and curious mind. He comes across as so very human and the narration is so good it almost easy to forget it is not Pepys actually speaking. A man who did so much for the navy of the day, ideas ahead of his time but always seems to have to fight for his place because this is a world were aristocracy counted and his humble beginnings were always to an extent held against him. In his own way he was brave, stoic in illness, thoughtful and loyal, a man in many ways far above those whom he served in intelligence, foresightedness and humanity, as is so often the case. This diary is a wonderful gift he has left us, and every human emotion runs through it not to mention the insight in to the restoration world. For all his effort he never received a title in life but he has the last laugh for he has the greater honour being known as the man who wrote this most brilliant diary. Remembered where most of his peers are largely forgotten.

Enlightening and absorbing

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This audio book, along with volumes 1 and 2, opens up this famous journal to all, making it far more accessible and less challenging than it would be to read from the page. I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of this publication and would highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in this important record of English history (and who has 90-odd hours to spend listening!). I was saddened that it ends where it does, but have taken this as starting point to discover more of Pepys pre- and post journal life.

Highly Recommended

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I have listened to all of these diaries now and have truly enjoyed them. Leighton Pugh's narration is perfect and in my mind he is Samuel Pepys himself! They are very relaxing to listen to and the content is also very interesting. Because you are listening to the thoughts of a real person from centuries ago the history is so contemporary, it really comes to life. I love when he describes trying something new which is very common to us, such as orange juice. or describes something common to him at that time that we would find appalling. There were some obvious differences in society then, in the way people lived and worked, but in essence, you realise that people don't change very much. Mr Pepys was definitely not without faults but he frankly admits to them and I really got to like the man. All history lovers should find these diaries engrossing.

Living history

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