Samuel Pepys was an English naval administrator and Member of Parliament who is most known today for the almost ten years he recorded his daily life in his diary, (1660-1169) - with unflinching honesty.  In his diary he reveals his jealousies, insecurities, trivial inconsequential concerns, and his neglectful ill treatment of his wife. His frankness is compelling.  He lays open his feelings and thoughts that few diarists, if any have ever done.

The frankness of this diary is Pepys's chief appeal. It is also important as a record of the London of the 1660's.  He chronicles the restoration of the monarchy, war with the Dutch, the great fire, and plague. Pepys was well placed to view what was happening, generally working for various high-ranking member of the government. He was curious about all round him and regularly gave into his impulses & vices.

He spent a great deal of time valuing his fortune and his station in society. Sporadically he would vow to cut down on his drinking and womanizing & to devote more time to those endeavors where he thought his time should be better spent. For example, his diary entry on Dec. 31, 1661, "I have newly taken a solemn oath about abstaining from plays and wine..." By Feb.. 17 he had lost his resolve, "And here I drank wine upon necessity, being ill for the want of it."

Pepys's job demanded that he meet with many people to and make payments and contracts. He regularly laments over how he "lost his labour" having gone for an appointment, at a coffee house or tavern, to discover that the person he was seeking was not there.  This was a constant frustration to Pepys.

Reading his diary, the pattern of his life, and certain recurring phrases become familiar to you. Some of his turns of phrase became common usage in the English language, "and so to bed," that phrase which often ends his day’s entry.