Diary of Samuel Pepys — Volume 01: Preface and Life
by Samuel Pepys
- Pages
- about 57
- Category
- History
- Language
- English
- Reading time
- 63 min at 250 wpm
From the opening
Although the Diary of Samuel Pepys has been in the hands of the public for
nearly seventy years, it has not hitherto appeared in its entirety. In the
original edition of 1825 scarcely half of the manuscript was printed.
Lord Braybrooke added some passages as the various editions were
published, but in the preface to his last edition he wrote: "there
appeared indeed no necessity to amplify or in any way to alter the text of
the Diary beyond the correction of a few verbal errors and corrupt
passages hitherto overlooked."
The public knew nothing as to what was left unprinted, and there was
therefore a general feeling of gratification when it was announced some
eighteen years ago that a new edition was to be published by the Rev.
Mynors Bright, with the addition of new matter equal to a third of the
whole. It was understood that at last the Diary was to appear in its
entirety, but there was a passage in Mr. Bright's preface which suggested
a doubt respecting the necessary completeness. He wrote: "It would have
been tedious to the reader if I had copied from the Diary the account of
his daily work at the office."
As a matter of fact, Mr. Bright left roughly speaking about one-fifth of
the whole Diary still unprinted, although he transcribed the whole, and
bequeathed his transcript to Magdalene College.
It has now been decided that the whole of the Diary shall be made public,
with the exception of a few passages which cannot possibly be printed. It
may be thought by some that these omissions are due to an unnecessary
squeamishness, but it is not really so, and readers are therefore asked to
have faith in the judgment of the editor. Where any passages have been
omitted marks of omission are added, so that in all cases readers will
know where anything has been left out.
A short sample. Read the whole book
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