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The Diary of Samuel Pepys
- The BBC Radio 4 Full-Cast Dramatisation
- Narrated by: Kris Marshall, Katherine Jakeways, Full Cast
- Length: 12 hrs and 14 mins
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The Diary of Samuel Pepys
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Summary
Kris Marshall and Katherine Jakeways star as Mr & Mrs Pepys in this BBC Radio 4 dramatisation of the world famous diaries.
Samuel Pepys was 26 when he decided to start keeping a diary, in January 1660. For the next 10 years he faithfully recorded the day's events and confessed his innermost thoughts. That diary has since become one of our most important, and fascinating, historical documents. Pepys gave us eyewitness accounts of some of the great events of the 17th century, including the Great Fire of London and the Second Dutch War. He also told us what people ate and wore, what they did for fun, the tricks they played on each other, what they expected of marriage, and even how they conducted love affairs. He described London - the frozen river Thames, the rising crime rate and the poverty - and recorded the details of his own life: his wife, rivals, lovers and friends, his work for the Navy, his drinking and social life.
Over 350 years may have passed since Pepys first put pen to paper, but the man and his preoccupations feel surprisingly familiar. In this major BBC Radio dramatisation of the journals, the sights and sounds of his world are vividly conjured. This collection comprises all 10 radio series plus a special Saturday Drama centring on the Great Fire of London.
What listeners say about The Diary of Samuel Pepys
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mr
- 14-08-16
Great adaptation
Addictive. Great performances. The only thing (as previously mentioned in other reviews) is that the music gets rather annoying. This is because originally the piece was made for radio in stand alone episodes. My tip would be to set your skip to 20secs and then tap it when the 'gather ye rosebuds' song begins. You will clip it out.
That is my only quibble. Other than that a most excellent programme.
And so, to bed.
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12 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Philippa Considine
- 06-07-16
Excellent
Wonderful in every way, a real treat which truly transports you back to the time of the plague and the fire if London, when life was far more precarious.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Katy Skelton
- 02-10-17
best thing I've ever listened to
I would give more than 5 stars if I could, best purchase ever. thankyou audible!
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Highlight
- 31-12-14
Absolutely Love This
I have all the diaries & one of Mrs Pepe's & this play is an excellent transcribe of the life & times of this couple. I listen to this anytime I feel I need cheering up or if I am busy & need 12 hours of a play in the background to keep me company whilst I write. This play is like a friend there when you need it & you can dip in & out of the different years & still enjoy it. You can not go wrong with Pepe's if you like a good audio drama. You will love it. Enjoy !
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Beyners
- 07-02-22
The past comes alive
I felt, having heard this wonderful audiobook, that I had gained a new family. I am saddened by their departure. It’s nice to know that I can meet with them again by going back to the start! Marvellous.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- TeamPalmer
- 20-03-15
engaging
Really rewarding listen. Brought 17th C London to vivid life with real vibrancy and colour.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- a connery
- 26-05-18
bringing history alive
really really love listening to this Kerr hearing about Sam and his wife and all his servants and friends best book so far
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kirkules
- 29-02-24
Factual, fascinating & VERY entertaining!
This BBC production is so atmospheric. Every time I listen, I am transported; a journey into 1660's London - a living museum of filth, wit & wenches!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mark H
- 13-12-16
A first rate dramatization of a seminal diary
As other reviewers have said, this is a very enjoyable listen that transports you back to the middle of seventeenth century London. It covers the decade 1660 to 1670, which was a time when lots of important things were happening. There was ongoing naval warfare with the Dutch, the Black Death and the Great Fire of London. The dramatization brings Pepys diary to life and does not seem to take liberties with his text. This diary is a real insight into what London was like in 1660, its sensibilities, daily goings on, political intrigue, brutal punishments for law breakers and basic medicine. It does well in covering big issues, as well as covering the day to day life of a fairly well-off professional (and perhaps rather flawed) working man.
Enormous praise must go to the cast and production team who have excelled in the verisimilitude of this adaptation. It really is first rate. If you are interested in English history and enjoy dramatizations, then I thoroughly recommend this audio book.
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13 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jacqi
- 27-09-14
Brilliant Dramatisation
Would you listen to The Diary of Samuel Pepys again? Why?
I have been listening to this on BBC4 Extra and was captivated, not just for the excellent interpretation, the humour, the darkness, the historic value, it has also given my 13 year old son an almost first hand experience of those historic times. I have listened to it again, at home, in the car and at work.
What did you like best about this story?
I loved how the characters were, although obviously from a time gone by, the conversations could have been from today's times, I love how Elizabeth Pepys was a fiesty stand up for herself (and others) lady, that doesn't always come across in the book for me.
What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?
I felt more connected to those bygone times, I felt I knew the key character
Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
I did laugh often, I'm not a cryer but i did get the occasional lump in throatage.
Any additional comments?
This is BBC at it's best, Kris Marshal and Katherine Jakeways bring Sam & Lizzie back to life.
The only thing that got on my nerve endings a little was the song... over and over in many guises but grrr too much 'gather ye roses while you may..... '
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9 people found this helpful