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Many of us have read at least excerpts from the amazing diaries of Samuel Pepys. Even so, much of his life, even though so truthfully revealed in the pages of his diary, remains hidden . the social milieu, the historical events and prominent figures (amongst whom Pepys is quite prominent) . his love life . his tastes . all these are touched on in detail in the Diary, but through this biography, John Drinkwater reveals and clarifies even more for the modern reader the brilliance of Pepys' life and the England of his time. ******************************************* The dust-jacket's statement explains all very clearly : "If it is very true that no man is a hero to his valet, then poor Samuel Pepys has been one of the most unheroic figures in literary history, for his inimitable Diary puts the whole world into the position of his valet. From this condition Mr. Drinkwater's illuminating biography rescues Pepys and restores him to his true position as, not only a great diarist, but distinctly a great man as well. The figure that the Diary has imposed is a little man devoted to money, pigeon pies, female servants, music, worldly goods, physical ills, words from the King, and the lively minutiae of his navy office. *************************************** "Mr. Drinkwater discovers a man who, in the seventy years that saw Cromwell rise and fall, the Stuart dynasty decay and disappear, London burnt, and England nearly annihilated by Holland, managed to found a great navy under infinite difficulties. An astute statesman who could make a three-hour speech in Parliament that shook all England, a quiet and determined executive who laid the foundations for England's dominance of the seas, he was, withal, a genial soul, a stately figure, a gentleman of parts." **************************************** TITLE : Samuel Pepys, His Life and Character / AUTHOR : John Drinkwater (1882 - 1937) / IMPRIN : Doubleday, Doran and Company / PLACE : Garden City, New York / DATE : 1933 / EDITION : Later printing / STATUS : OP - Out of Print / PHYSICAL DETAILS : Illustrated Trade Hardcover; Contains 16 monochrome illustrations, including frontispiece; Contains a brief bibliography and an index; [xii] + 374 pages; approximately 5 1/2" x 8 1/8"; black cloth-covered boards with title, etc stamped in gilt on spine; pictorial dust-jacket. Photograph of John Drinkwater on jacket's rear panel. ************************************ CONDITION BOOK : VERY GOOD ; JACKET : VERY GOOD - This is a previously owned book that remains clean and presentable, with the following noted :: EXTERIOR -- Moderate rub to spine surface, title just slightly effaced; spine extremities compressed; board corners softly bumped - else clean. Text-block edges toned but clear. / BINDING -- Solid / INTERIOR -- Clean and unmarked with but negligible signs of handling / DUST-JACKET - Spine is somewhat darkened; Modest surface rub; a few small closed edge tears; nicking to edges is most noticeable at spine panel head - No price on flaps, thus may be a book club edition (although there is no such identifying marks). The whole looks very nice under an archival mylar cover. Seller Inventory # 1656
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Bibliographic Details
Title: Samuel Pepys, His Life and Character by John...
Publisher: Doubleday Doran
Publication Date: 1933
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Very Good
Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good
Edition: Book Club Edition
