M ayhews London/ Diary of Samuel pepys

[skyep]

What are your thoughts on these two books?

[Decathelete]

never read the books, but was forced to do a school production on the diary of samuel pepys in primary school so i hate the thing.

not much help i no but thought i'd share that with you.

[skyep]

Hi Decathelete, I'm sure Pepys diary went totally over your head in primary, probably a bit to young to fully appreciate, thanks for your response!

[www.des-res.]

I read the Diary of Samual Pepys a few years ago and really enjoyed it. I think the fact I lived in London (but not rom there) helped. I could relate to places he mentioned.
I am a sad case anyway, and enjoy this kind of book

[skyep]

hi des-res,
your not sad! I thought the diary was brilliant! Pepys was a real flirt on the quiet. I managed to ask a french student to
translate some of the passages for me. I enjoyed reading the private thought's of Pepys the person, from all those years ago.

[jno]

Pepys is a great read; he's self-analytical as well as recording the London he knew, and he lived through exciting times - the restoration, the plague and great fire - as well as being a high naval official. He also seems to have been given to molesting the servants, not an entirely attractive trait, and writing about it in a mixture of French and Spanish in the hopes that his wife wouldn't understand.
You might also like to read John Evelyn's diaries, written about the same time, though they are drier.
I've never read Mayhew, but I believe he's more sociological in intent.

[skyep]

Hi jno, I will look up John Evelyn's diaries! I believe queen Victoria wrote a diary that is published, would love to read that! I enjoyed "Victorian London- the life of a city 1840-1870" by Liza Picard, the illustrations are fantastic.

[skyep]

Brilliant website I stumbled upon to anyone interested, www.victorianlondon.org

[jno]

Liza Picard has written several books about historic London - all very good
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/search-han dle-form/203-9832048-0751953

[skyep]

jno, thank's for that link. Yes I have another of her books, Dr Johnstones london. I love local history too & have built up
a good collection, I am waiting to receive a book on the history of old theatres past & present in my area.