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The Diary


            Not long after the restoration, late 17th century London suffered two consecutive disastrous calamities: the Plague in 1665, taking the life of thousands of people and the Great Fire, devasting the old city in 1666. There are several narrations of these terrible happenings, but certainly the most important eye-witnessed recount is Samuel Peyps's Diary. It is considered as a document of social history. It reflects his real experience in his life. He is utterly frank in recording the events of his day, both public and private, the major affairs of the state or his quarrels with his wife. .
             Samuel Peyps credibility appears in the first part of his diary, which is "The Great Fire". He describes in details the state of the city and how people escape from this tremendous fire, as if we are watching this state of anxiety. Also, he, sometimes, sympathizes with those people, as he says, "poor people", and "poor wretches". He is honest in giving a real portrait about the great fire for it is a fact that it is known and witnessed through history. What is strange is his saying that he "had an extraordinary dinner", while the city is burning. This shows that Peyps does not care so much to the goings-on around the city. .
             Peyps did not intend to publish his diary for two reasons. Firstly, it includes some of his scandalous secrets which he does not want them to spread to the outside world. Secondly, he is quite rich as he describes his fortune that he saved from the fire, so he does not need money from publishing the diary. He just records his days for his future as not to forget the major events that happened during his public and private life. He records very openly some facts about his personal life admitting his affairs with his maid, Deb. .
             He keeps betraying his wife by his affairs and she forgives him every time as if she cannot do anything towards him except insulting him.


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