Not Just the Tudors Diary of Samuel Pepys
Oct 30, 2025
Join Dr. Kate Loveman, a Professor of Early Modern Literature, as she delves into the life of Samuel Pepys, a quintessential figure of Restoration England. They explore Pepys’ motivations for keeping a detailed diary, including venting and social self-fashioning. Loveman reveals how Pepys chronicled everything from daily life to his fears of being read by others. The discussion includes Pepys' use of shorthand for privacy and the diary's historical impact, shedding light on how his candid reflections still resonate today.
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Big Events And Small Details Matter
- Samuel Pepys' diary records both major events and intimate daily details, creating a vivid picture of Restoration England.
- This mix of public and private material makes the diary uniquely valuable for social and cultural history.
A Calculated Posthumous Bequest
- Pepys left his diary to Magdalen College deliberately, expecting sympathetic custodians and using shorthand and cipher to limit readership.
- He balanced the risk of exposure with a desire for future historical usefulness, especially for naval history.
Diary Spurs Social History
- The diary helped propel interest in social history by recording everyday life, not just political narratives.
- Its publication coincided with growing historical attention to ordinary people's experiences.
