Diary of Samuel Pepys — Volume 62: February 1667-68 by Samuel Pepys

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Diary of Samuel Pepys — Volume 62: February 1667-68 by Samuel Pepys

(4 User reviews) 1083

By Elizabeth Adams Posted on Mar 30, 2026

In Category - Wholesome Magic

Authors: Pepys, Samuel, 1633-1703 Published By : Pepys, Samuel, 1633-1703

Book Language: English

Hey, you know how we always say 'I should write that down' about our daily lives? Samuel Pepys actually did it—for nearly ten years. This volume covers February 1667-68, and it's wild. London is still rebuilding after the Great Fire, the Dutch and English are locked in a tense naval standoff, and Pepys is right in the middle of it all as a top naval administrator. But here's the thing: the real drama isn't just in the state meetings. It's in his living room. His wife has discovered his long-running affair with their maid, Deb. The political tension of a nation at war is about to collide with the explosive personal tension in his marriage. This isn't a dry history book. It's the raw, unfiltered diary of a man trying to hold his career, his reputation, and his home together while everything threatens to fall apart. You get the big history through the lens of one deeply flawed, fascinating person who can't keep his own secrets. It's addictive.

File: Diary of Samuel Pepys — Volume 62: February 1667-68 by Samuel Pepys

This isn't a novel with a plotted storyline, but the real-life narrative that unfolds is gripping. Samuel Pepys was a senior official in the Royal Navy, and his diary for February 1667-68 captures a critical moment. England is in the aftermath of the catastrophic war with the Dutch. The Medway disaster—a humiliating Dutch raid up the Thames—is a fresh wound. Pepys is scrambling at the Navy Office, dealing with a lack of funds, repairing ships, and navigating political blame for the navy's failures. The fate of the nation feels precarious.

The Story

The 'plot' here has two parallel tracks. Publicly, Pepys is a dedicated civil servant working to prevent another military disaster. He attends tense meetings, argues over budgets, and inspects shipyards. Privately, his world is imploding. His wife, Elizabeth, has finally found concrete proof of his affair with their young maid, Deb Willett. The diary becomes a record of domestic siege. Elizabeth is furious and heartbroken. Pepys writes in a panic, trying to placate her, sending Deb away, and fearing both public scandal and the collapse of his marriage. The diary entries swing wildly from naval logistics to tearful confrontations at home, creating an incredible tension.

Why You Should Read It

You should read it because it destroys the idea that people in the past were somehow more proper or simple. Pepys is entirely, embarrassingly human. He's brilliant at his job and painfully weak in his personal life. His guilt, his excuses, his genuine love for his wife mixed with his selfishness—it's all there in plain, anxious prose. Reading this volume feels like overhearing a private confession. You see the birth of modern bureaucracy through his work stress, and you see timeless marital strife in his home life. The history feels immediate because it's filtered through one man's very bad week (or month).

Final Verdict

This is perfect for anyone who thinks history is about dates and treaties. Pepys shows it's about people—their ambitions, fears, and private messes. If you enjoy reality TV or true crime for the raw human psychology, you'll love this. It's also a goldmine for fans of London's history, giving you the gritty, smoky, post-Fire city in intimate detail. A word of caution: the old English spelling and shorthand can take a page or two to get used to, but once you're in, you won't want to leave. It's the most compelling 350-year-old gossip column you'll ever read.