The Diary of Samuel Pepys

Berkeley: University of California Press, 1979. Hardcover. Near Fine/near fine. Eleven volumes (complete), octavo size, approximately 4700 pp. "Samuel Pepys is as much a paragon of literature as Chaucer and Shakespeare. His Diary is one of the principal sources for many aspects of the history of its period. In spite of its significance, all previous editions were inadequately edited and suffered from a number of omissions—until Robert Latham and William Matthews went back to the 300-year-old original manuscript and deciphered each passage and phrase, no matter how obscure or indiscreet.

The Diary deals with some of the most dramatic events in English history. Pepys witnessed the London Fire, the Great Plague, the Restoration of Charles II, and the Dutch Wars. He was a patron of the arts, having himself composed many delightful songs and participated in the artistic life of London. His flair for gossip and detail reveals a portrait of the times that rivals the most swashbuckling and romantic historical novels. In none of the earlier versions was there a reliable, full text, with commentary and notation with any claim to completeness. This edition, first published in 1970, is the first in which the entire diary is printed with systematic comment. This is the only complete edition available; it is as close to Pepys's original as possible.

Robert Latham was Pepys Librarian at Magdalene College, Cambridge. In addition to editing the eleven volumes of The Diary of Samuel Pepys, he was the editor of the acclaimed Shorter Pepys (1985) and A Pepys Anthology (1988), both published by University of California Press. William Matthews was Professor of English at the University of California, Los Angeles" (n.b. from University of California Press website).

___DESCRIPTION: Green cloth over boards, gilt illustration on the front board, gilt lettering on the spine with a red stamped spine "label", tipped onto the rear pastedown of Volume 2 is a black-and-white reproduction of "Long bird'seye view of London from Bankside, 1647" (etching by Wenceslaus Hollar); octavo size (8 5/8" by 5"), with approx. 4700 total pp. The set is comprised of nine volumes which cover the years 1661 through 1669, the tenth volume being a Companion volume, and the eleventh the Index.

___CONDITION: Overall the set is in near fine condition, with clean boards, straight corners without rubbing, strong, square text blocks with solid hinges, the interiors are clean and bright, and entirely free of prior owner markings; Volume 1 has small 1/2" dark spot on front board in the upper left corner, else fine. The dust jackets are also near fine with minimal edgewear, Volumes IV-IX are price-clipped. Overall a very nice set of an important work.

___POSTAGE: Please note that this is a large and heavy set, and therefore additional postage will apply. We are happy to ship at cost to both domestic and international customers, please inquire for details.

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