If you don’t believe me, look up the word ‘lithotomy’ and then think ‘without anaesthetic’. The author cleverly incorporates elements of this into a plot that involves murder, conspiracy, treachery and political intrigue whilst at the same time being a rip-roaring adventure.Īs imagined by the author, Samuel Pepys is not only a diligent diarist but an intrepid investigator, a faithful friend and someone who, in the course of the book, discovers a perhaps surprising taste for adventure. As a result we have the author to thank for giving us an insight into an unsettled period in English history following the Restoration of Charles II, a time when war with the Dutch was a real fear and whose side you had been on in the Civil War still mattered. The Lost Diary of Samuel Pepys imagines what events in Pepys’ life he might have recorded in his diaries had he continued. The characters in here were amazing.Īs the author explains in the Historical Notes, Samuel Pepys kept a diary for almost ten years but then suddenly stopped for reasons that can only be speculated upon. If you love a ridiculous duo trying their best, this one is for you. It has a million twists along the way, and some great banter. It was fast paced, with a plot that will keep you guessing. It was ridiculously fun to read, and the writing was so engaging. It’s part comedy, part adventure, part mystery with a whole lot of tragedy thrown in. Whatever you think this book will entail, you’ll probably guess wrong. I was kind of transported back in time and really taken somewhere else when I was reading. I have no idea if that makes sense, but it genuinely enhanced the reading experience for me. Jewers just had an almost rustic (?) air to his writing that really made me feel like I was reading an old piece of literature. Though this book is a new release set in the past, it read like a classic somehow. I went into this completely blind, and I had a great time. I honestly had no idea what to expect from this, I’ve heard the name ‘Samuel Pepys’ many times in passing but I actually have no clue who he really is or anything about his life. *Thank you Moonflower for sending me a copy of this book to review!*

The diary of samuel pepys