Pepys (1633-1703) kept a private diary for the years 1660-69 that has become one of the most important sources of information about the period. He did not intend for it to be published, but by preserving it, must have believed it would be of some interest. He stopped keeping the diary when he believed his eyesight was deteriorating to the point where he might go blind.

This volume of selections is, like the entire diary, not only intensely interesting but highly entertaining. He recorded some of the most important events of the Restoration period all blended with details of his personal life. He used a form of shorthand and many of the "naughty" bits are in French, thought to prevent his wife from sharing. The straightforward frankness of the text is very appealing whether he is describing momentous national events or intimate incidents. His account of the the Great Plague and the Great Fire of London is unmatched.

This gets the same five-star rating that I gave to the full version of the diary read many years ago. ( )

Pepys kept detailed accounts of his life - from the high court governmental circles to which he had access by virtue of his position to the low and common husband at home with his wife and their servant. His high, important connections make interesting reading as glimpses into the human and personal workings of history. But for me, the most interesting parts are the everyday details, the minutiae of daily life. The technology and specific tools change, but human nature - its needs, wants, hopes, and dreams are persistent. ( )