The Diary of John Evelyn

by John Evelyn, William Bray, John Forster

Book Overview

These diaries span most of Evelyn's long life--from the reign of James I in 1620 to the reign of Queen Anne in 1706. This selection, based on the Oxford Standard Authors edition, comprises nearly one third of the Diaries and is the only edition now in print.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0192815296
• ISBN13: 9780192815293
• Release Date: October 1985
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Length: 500 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.6" x 7.3"

Customer Reviews

Not as spicy as Pepys

Evelyn is very different from Pepys, whom he knew. Unlike Pepys, Evelyn was a strait-laced fellow, so we get no juicy stories of his amours. He hardly speaks of his wife and consequently never mentions any arguments they might have had. He tells few personal anecdotes. He also has little to say about the great plague year or the great fire of London. Pepys gives a lot more detail on these subjects.What he does deal with rather extensively are the meetings of the Royal Society, of which he was a member. It was hard for me to get excited about these. Nevertheless, it is good to have this book available.

A terrific source for the 17th Century

John Evelyn's diary is a wonderful source-book for 17th Century England. It covers far more of the period than Peyps' diary (but is a little drier!)and gives a comprehensive picture of life in those turbulent times. Guy de la Bedoyere has done a fine job of editing this diary.