Wednesday 5 september 1666 the diary of samuel pepys. Pepys great diary lays bare the terrors, horrors and abyss of ignorance prevailing almost four. Historians have been using his diary to gain greater insight and understanding of life in london in the 17th century. The 1660s represent a turning point in english history, and for the main events the restoration, the dutch war, the great plague and the fire of london pepys provides a definitive eyewitness account. The great fire of london by samuel pepys goodreads. Hewers, quilt, being mighty weary, and sore in my feet with going till i was hardly able to stand. The diary of samuel pepys 16331703 gives us a flyonthewall account of life during the 17th century from the devastation of war and plague, to the triumphant return of charles ii. About two in the morning my wife calls me up and tells me of new cryes of fire, it being come to barkeing church, which is the bottom of our lane. Roleplay scenes from the great fire of london that were captured in diary entries at the time. Soon the flames were visible from seething lane, near the tower of london, where samuel pepys first noted them without concern. It was an event that changed the face of london forever. But going to the fire, i find by the blowing up of houses, and the great helpe given. The diary of samuel pepys provides many detailed insights into the daily life of both noblemen and regular citizens of the 17th century in london. Samuel pepys and the great fire of london part 3 bbc teach.
This was originally part of a 7week unit looking at the great plague of london, the great fire of london, and samuel pepys as a famous person the children had posed their own questions about the fire. Isbn 97818579952 the section wednesday is based on tinniswood, 10110, unless otherwise indicated. Pepys great diary lays bare the terrors, horrors and abyss of ignorance prevailing almost four centuries ago, matching those that threaten our own society. I up, and finding it so, resolved presently to take her away, and did, and took my. Listen to parts of samuel pepys diary about the end of the great fire of london. Personal diary of samuel pepys is one of the primary sources. It was a small mistake, but with great consequences. Retrace samuel pepys steps in the great fire of london. It is widely used as a primary source of how life was during several significant events, such as the great plague of london, the second dutch war, and the great fire of london. Samuel pepys witnesses the great london fire of 1666 duration. Samuel pepys i made myself ready presently, and walked to the tower, and there got up upon one of the high places, sir j. Samuel pepys 16331703 was an important english politician who had many different duties in the government of king charles ii. Curator kristian martin on samuel pepys and the great fire of london, and how to bury your parmesan cheese. The diary of samuel pepys audiobook by samuel pepys.
He highlights the selfish and the greedy in society. He also talks about how poor people and animals wait until the last minute to abandon their homes because that is all they have. Written between 1660 and 1669, as pepys was establishing himself as a key administrator in the naval office, it is an intimate portrait of life in 17thcentury england. The diary of samuel pepys by samuel pepys goodreads. What does pepys think about the great fire of london. It is widely used as a primary source of how life was during several significant events, such as the great. Seeing that the wind was driving the fire westward, he ordered the boat to go to whitehall, and became the. Bubonic plague raged, killing thousands a week in a london with a population of only 450,000. The bureaucrat was, of course, samuel pepys, and the year was 1665. Sep 02, 2016 it was an event that changed the face of london forever.
Written between 1660 and 1669, as pepys was establishing himself as a key administrator in the naval office, it is an intimate portrait of life in 17thcentury england covering his professional and personal activities, including, famously, his love of music, theatre, food, wine and his peccadilloes. Howard timberlake retraces the footsteps of samuel pepys during the great fire of london through his vivid and detailed diary entries. Feb 23, 2018 the diary of samuel pepys provides many detailed insights into the daily life of both noblemen and regular citizens of the 17th century in london. The diary of samuel pepys is probably the most famous diary in the english language. The question and answer section for the diary of samuel pepys is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. The great fire of london in the words of samuel pepys. While the king and most welltodo folk skipped london during the great plague of london in 1665, pepys stayed on and gave us a detailed account of the suffering and superstitions of the time. Others recorded in journals, letters and official reports the key events and aftermath, but pepyss diary is uniquely human, honest and heartfelt. He is best known for his famous diary, which he kept between 1660 and 1669. Begun in january 1660 and finishing in may 1669, it offers a richly detailed account of some of the most turbulent events of the nations history, including the coronation of king charles ii, the great plague and the great fire of london.
The great fire of london and the diary of samuel pepys printed. Pepys was an extremely observant commentator and his diary is an. Its supposedly an excerpt from the diary of samuel pepys, sometimes dated london 1664. Samuel pepys, 23 february 1633 26 may 1703 was an english administrator at the admiralty and member of parliament. Still, his accounts of both the black death and the great fire show that he was less than in awe of persons holding high office. Together with the epidemic of bubonic plague that hit the city the previous year, the great fire had an unimaginable impact on london and its people. The diary of samuel pepys 16331703 gives us a flyonthewall account of life during the 17th century from the devastation of war and plague, to the. Samuel pepys writes in his diary of houses marked with a red cross in londons drury lane, meaning somebody inside is.
The diary of samuel pepys opens with an entry dated january 1, 1660. Not only was most of the city engulfed by what soon became known as the great fire of london in september 1666, but months before the most infamous outbreak of disease in. The diary of samuel pepys is one of the most entertaining documents in english history. This 50page book contains two extracts from the diary of samuel pepys. Plague, fire, revolution at the national maritime museum, greenwich 020 8312 6565. The great fire of london began in 1666 and caused extensive destruction. One person who stayed in london throughout the 1665 plague was samuel pepys. Likewise, his description of the great fire of london the following year is without doubt our most important record of what happened and pepys played an. His great uncle talbot pepys was recorder and briefly member of parliament mp for cambridge in 1625. Retrace samuel pepys steps in the great fire of london bbc. The question and answer section for the diary of samuel pepys is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and. Samuel pepys witnesses the great london fire of 1666 youtube.
He began his diary in january 1660 and continued writing it until may 1669, when eye sight became to deteriorate too much for him to write. On september 2, 1666, thomas farrinor, baker to king charles ii of england, failed, in effect, to turn off his. He is famous for his diary pepys rose to be the chief secretary to the admiralty under charles ii, and later under james ii. John evelyn was an english writer best known for his diary, which, along with that of samuel pepys, provides us with our best glimpse into the social world of 17th century london. Samuel wrote about events in 17th century england such as the plague. Find out about famous diarists samuel pepys and john evelyn.
Mar 27, 2020 its supposedly an excerpt from the diary of samuel pepys, sometimes dated london 1664. Max on samuel pepys brilliant take on the 1665 london. Diary entries from september 1666 the diary of samuel pepys. Max on samuel pepys brilliant take on the 1665 london plague. We know lots about these two events from his diary. Pepys was a careful observer of events and especially people, using his own shorthand to record them in vivid detail and with compassion. Explore the diary of samuel pepys and learn all about the fire of london from someone who experienced it firsthand. He tells of coming across sick people and corpses, his horror at the sheer numbers of dead, and then how the toll started to decrease as the weather grew cold at the end of the year. Although pepys had no maritime experience, he rose by patronage, hard work and his talent for administration. But lord, to see, among other things, how all these great people here are afeared of london, being doubtful of anything that comes from thence or that hath lately been there, that i was forced to say. Pepys diary is particularly well known for its vivid descriptions of the great plague and the great fire of london.
The great fire of london in the words of samuel pepys the old vic. Selected extracts are supported by a complete transcription of his shorthand text. The 1660s represent a turning point in english history, and for the main events the restoration, the dutch war, the great plague and the fire of london pepys provides a. Set their chronometers to 1666 to travel back in time once again. Ks1 the diary of samuel pepys reading comprehension activity. Personal diary of samuel pepys is one of the primary.
Samuel pepys the great fire of london 1666 literary. This was the start of the great fire of london which went onto devastate a large area of london. Heres a virtual movie of the great london diarist samuel pepys 1633 1703 reading from his diary 1666 and early 1667 giving his recollections of the great fire of london. Samuel pepys 16331703 is most famous for the diary he kept for almost a decade while living in 17th century london. Richard le galliennes elegant abridgment of the diary captures the essential writings of samuel pepys 16331703, a remarkable man who witnessed the coronation of. Mar 30, 2011 heres a virtual movie of the great london diarist samuel pepys 1633 1703 reading from his diary 1666 and early 1667 giving his recollections of the great fire of london. Samuel pepys writes in his diary of houses marked with a red cross in london s drury lane, meaning somebody inside is infected with the plague and must be locked in for 40 days or until death. Samuel had a successful career with the royal navy and the british government, but is best remembered for his frank and honest diary. The great fire of london diaries key stage 1 teaching. But did you know that pepys rescued a cheese during the great fire of london and once kept a lion as a pet.
Samuel pepys diary with information about his life and the 17th century background. Jun 22, 2012 samuel pepys s diary and thomas sheltons shorthand tachygraphy. The great fire of london and the diary of samuel pepys. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Samuel pepys was responsible for the administration of the navy for the english government, and was 33 when the fire. Wednesday 5 september 1666 i lay down in the office again upon w. Pepys diary entry, september 2 1666 some of our maids sitting up late last night to get things ready against our feast today, jane called up about three in the morning, to tell us of a great fire they saw in the city. Originally scribbled in a cryptic shorthand, pepyss quotidian journal of life in restoration london provides.
This edition focuses on the period of the great plague of london and the great fire of london and contains all the entries from 1 st june 1665 to 30 th april 1666 and 1 st8 th september 1666 and selected. Richard le galliennes elegant abridgment of the diary captures the essential writings of samuel pepys 16331703, a remarkable man who witnessed the coronation of charles ii, the great plague of 1665, and the great fire of 1666. Historical novelist deborah swift reveals seven fascinating facts about the diarist. Pepys was born in salisbury court, fleet street, london on 23 february 1633, the son of john pepys 16011680, a tailor, and margaret pepys nee kite. Samuel pepys witnesses the great london fire of 1666. Your pupils will love this educational insight into one of. The author was twentyseven years old and already well on his way to a lucrative career in the service of the english crown. Explore samuel pepys account of the fire and the locations it affected. Walter george bell 1929 the story of londons great fire. The fire, which broke out in the house of the kings baker, thomas farynor, early in. Samuel pepys was responsible for the administration of the navy for the english government, and was 33 when the fire occurred. It didnt make me want to read the full diary, thats for sure. Well connected, and often in the right place at the right time, pepyss diary offers a vivid and insightful picture of such events as the great plague, the great fire of london he famously buried his cheese in an effort to save it from melting and the restoration of.
Samuel pepys and the great fire of london ks1 historical. He began keeping a diary in 1660, the year charles became king, and only stopped in 1669 when his eyesight became weak. Dec 17, 2018 pepys diary is particularly well known for its vivid descriptions of the great plague and the great fire of london. Samuel pepyss diary and thomas sheltons shorthand tachygraphy. Pepys describes in detail how the fire consumed london, a year after it was ravaged by the plague.
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