1666: A FIRE NEXT TIME - Having survived and reported on the Great Plague of 1665, Pepys shows his luck and resilience by also surviving the Great Fire of London in 1666. Every pages seems to hold amazing tidbits. He unlocks so much about the enlightenment, the native curiosity of the times, the post Cromwell rationality and bureaucracy that starts to creep into government. Although the various episodes of Pepys behaving badly do spice the diary up, it isn't the reason I keep getting drawn further into this massive work. If there hasn't already been a PhD written on status, sex, and the mid-seventeenth century, Pepys' diary would be fertile ground for one. Sometimes I think the only reason Pepys learned basic French and Spanish was so he could write in code all the opportunities he takes to grope, fondle, kiss, and seduce the local wives and wenches. Not much slows Pepys down, however, when it comes to the ladies. The Plague peaks during the Summer and begins to pull back as Winter freeze comes on. Those who can move their families out of the city. His skill and work ethic have earned him not just the attention and favor of Lord Sandwich, but also the Duke of Yorke and occasionally the King. He sees his fortune triple, due largely to multiple roles he is playing in the government (Treasurer of Tanger, Surveyor of the Victuals) in addition to his day job as Clerk of the Acts to the Navy Board. 1665: A PLAGUE ON BOTH YOUR HOUSES - 1665 has been one of the most eventful years of Pepys' diary. Oh, and the year ended with a big comet, so next year might not end as well as this one.
He loves books, loves his job, loves food, loves theatre, and just happens to also like the occasional strange. However, his genuine curiosity, his integrity (minus the occasional small graft and dalliance with the ladies) reminds me that there is an actual heart beating in that social climber.
There are times when I read about his multiple affairs with women, his fixation on money and status, that I think Pepys, while interesting, is just a son-of-a-bitch who would do well and fit in wherever he landed. However, music and women I cannot but give way to, whatever my business is." - Samuel Pepys, Diary, 9 March 1966 1664: LIKE A BLAZING COMET, I'VE TRAVERSED INFINITE NIGHTS - The fifth volume (1664, with 132,000 words) contains such an amazing blend of those very human desires, human follies, and human wisdom that it keeps pulling me back volume after volume, day after day, page after page. ".and God forgive me, I do still see that my nature is not to be quite conquered, but will esteem pleasure above all things though, yet in the middle of it, it hath reluctantly after my business, which is neglected by my fallowing pleasure. but will esteem pleasure above all things
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