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The Diary of John Evelyn
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The Diary of John Evelyn (1620-1706) is one of the principal literary sources for life and manners in the English seventeenth century. Evelyn was one of an influential group of men which included Wren, Pepys and Boyle; a founding member of the Royal Society, he was also a friend of Charles II, a Commissioner for sick seamen and prisoners of war during the Dutch Wars, a pri
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Paperback
Published
September 1st 2004
by Boydell Press
(first published 1818)
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May 28, 2019
Shauna
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british-history
John Evelyn lived through some turbulent times in England's history- the Cromwell parliament, the restoration of the monarchy, the Great Fire of London to name but a few. He frequently mixed with royalty and had many famous friends, including Sir Christopher Wren and Samuel Pepys. His diaries are not full of scandal and gossip (unlike Pepys) but they do give an honest account of the upper echelon of society during the seventeenth century and what it was like to be a rich and pious Protestant at
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He doesn't have the verve and indiscretion of Pepys but in Evelyn is probably a better representative of the country gentleman living away from court. Although often quotidian and rather dry in his entries, he reveals a dear love towards his children and his friends. He lived to an old age and so, unlike Pepys' journal, we see the changing landscape of England over a lifetime and not simply a decade.
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Better than Pepys, in my opinion, as Evelyn covers more years (and therefore, more events). No, he's not as naughty as old Sam, but I still prefer this diary.
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Entries prior to 1683 were compiled by Evelyn from notes, and thus tend towards being brief, and not particularly vivid. After 1683, though, quite a bit of fun to read. I enjoyed this diary as much as I did Pepys'.
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Blehhhhh. Go away Evelyn.
I loved the three years I spent with John Evelyn and his lengthy diary. But poor John Evelyn — polymath, public citizen (and official), friend to kings and scientists, but destined always to be second fiddle to his friend Samuel Pepys in the 17th century diarist derby. Pepys is the one who is (sometimes) still read, and still frequently cited whenever the English Restoration era is mentioned. Where Evelyn was a pious man and a devoted Royalist, Pepys was scurrilous and a political skeptic, makin
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Jul 11, 2020
Literary Ames {Against GR Censorship}
marked it as wishlist
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Volume 1: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/41218
Volume 2: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/42081 ...more
Volume 2: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/42081 ...more
He's not as much fun as Pepys, but I really enjoyed his account of Peter the Great. Not a good house guest the Russian Tsar.
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Read for paper for HIST 3704W
Not quite Pepys but still worthwhile
Jan 06, 2019
Bud
added it
Dude did not like papists.
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John Evelyn was an English writer, gardener and diarist.
Evelyn's diaries or Memoirs are largely contemporaneous with those of the other noted diarist of the time, Samuel Pepys, and cast considerable light on the art, culture and politics of the time (he witnessed the deaths of Charles I and Oliver Cromwell, the last Great Plague of London, and the Great Fire of London in 1666). Over the years, Eve ...more
Evelyn's diaries or Memoirs are largely contemporaneous with those of the other noted diarist of the time, Samuel Pepys, and cast considerable light on the art, culture and politics of the time (he witnessed the deaths of Charles I and Oliver Cromwell, the last Great Plague of London, and the Great Fire of London in 1666). Over the years, Eve ...more
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“This day came in his Majestie Charles the 2d to London after a sad, & long Exile, and Calamitous Suffering both of the King & Church: being 17 yeares: This was also his Birthday, and with a Triumph of above 20000 horse & foote, brandishing their swords and shouting with unexpressable joy: The wayes straw’d with flowers, the bells ringing, the streets hung with Tapissry, fountaines running with wine: The Major, Aldermen, all the Companies in their liver[ie]s, Chaines of Gold, banners; Lords & nobles, Cloth of Silver, gold & vellvet every body clad in, the windos & balconies all set with Ladys, Trumpets, Musick, & [myriads] of people flocking the streetes & was as far as Rochester, so as they were 7 houres in passing the Citty, even from 2 in the afternoon 'til nine at night: I stood in the strand, & beheld it, & blessed God: And all this without one drop of bloud, & by that very army, which rebell'd against him: but it was the Lords doing, et mirabile in oculis nostris: for such a Restauration was never seene in the mention of any history, antient or modern, since the returne of the Babylonian Captivity, nor so joyfull a day, & so bright, ever seene in this nation: this hapning when to expect or effect it, was past all humane policy.”
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