Samuel Pepys was an English diarist famous for his personal and vivid diary. His account offers a lively insight into 17th-century London events, notably the Great Fire and the Great Plague, captured in The Diary of Samuel Pepys.
If you enjoy reading books by Samuel Pepys then you might also like the following authors:
John Evelyn, like Samuel Pepys, is known for his vivid diaries that provide a clear picture of 17th-century English life. Evelyn observed society closely, describing people, gardens, and politics with keen interest.
His most famous work, Diary of John Evelyn, offers readers a fascinating glimpse into Restoration England, full of engaging anecdotes, personal reflection, and thoughtful commentary on historical events.
James Boswell captures the everyday experiences and quirks of individuals in his writing, much as Samuel Pepys did. His famous biography, The Life of Samuel Johnson, brings an engaging mix of humor, detailed observation, and personal insight.
Readers who enjoy Pepys' detailed character portrayals and intimate narrative style will find much to enjoy in Boswell's lively approach to biography.
Dorothy Wordsworth, similar to Pepys, recorded daily life with exceptional clarity and attention to the small details that often go unnoticed. Her journals, especially The Grasmere Journal, are straightforward observations of her environment, family, and emotions.
Her quiet yet insightful writing invites readers into her world, sharing her experiences in a personal and unaffected way.
Virginia Woolf provides thoughtful introspection and subtle observations of daily life, a quality readers appreciate in Pepys. Her diary entries in A Writer's Diary combine personal reflection, literary experimentation, and descriptions of ordinary domestic moments.
Readers interested in the personal dimensions of diary writing, along with an exploration of the writer’s inner life, will enjoy Woolf's approachable style.
Anaïs Nin writes diaries with an openness and sensitivity that Pepys fans might appreciate. Her collection, The Diary of Anaïs Nin, explores deep human emotions, personal relationships, and artistic struggles.
While the settings differ from Pepys' world, her honest portrayal of private desires, everyday observations, and self-reflection makes Nin's writing appealing to readers who enjoy genuine personal accounts.
George Orwell offers clear, straightforward observations about everyday life, society, and politics. Like Samuel Pepys, Orwell has a natural talent for capturing the details of daily experiences.
In his book Down and Out in Paris and London, Orwell provides a personal account of poverty and hardship, showing readers the realities of urban life with sincere curiosity and honesty.
Daniel Defoe's realistic style and sharp eye for detail will appeal to readers who appreciate Pepys' vivid documentation of everyday experiences.
Defoe's A Journal of the Plague Year offers a fictionalized yet highly believable account of life in London during the plague of 1665, describing social conditions, daily life, and human reactions with precision and empathy.
Henry Mayhew documented the lives of ordinary Londoners with meticulous care, creating portraits of society as candid and insightful as Pepys' diaries.
In his book London Labour and the London Poor, Mayhew interviewed working-class people, capturing their experiences, language, and concerns, and giving readers a vivid picture of Victorian urban life.
Charles Dickens skillfully portrays everyday life in London, painting memorable characters and scenes that show the human side of urban experiences.
Readers who enjoy Pepys' detailed and personal reflections will appreciate Dickens' Sketches by Boz, a series of short observations that reveal the small dramas and colorful personalities found in ordinary city life.
Michel de Montaigne's essays share a reflective, conversational style similar to Pepys' diary entries. Montaigne honestly explores his own thoughts and experiences, observing human nature and society with curiosity and humor.
His collection Essays invites readers to reflect on the complexities of life, encouraging self-awareness and sincere exploration of ideas.
Celia Fiennes was a bold and adventurous traveler who explored England extensively in the late seventeenth century. Her travel writings offer vivid descriptions of daily life, landscapes, and social customs.
In Through England on a Side Saddle, Fiennes provides lively commentary and practical observations on the towns and countryside she visits. Readers who appreciate Samuel Pepys' attention to detail and curiosity about everyday life will enjoy Fiennes' engaging travel diary.
Fanny Burney is a sharp and witty observer of eighteenth-century English society. In her novel Evelina, Burney depicts society's manners, complexities, and absurdities through humor and insight.
Like Pepys, she skillfully captures the intricacies of social interactions, character flaws, and desires, making her work fun and enlightening for readers who appreciate Pepys' observant diaries.
Lady Mary Wortley Montagu was a keen observer and elegant writer, known especially for her insightful letters. Her collection, Turkish Embassy Letters, provides an intimate view of Ottoman customs, manners, and culture through intelligent commentary and personal reflection.
Montagu's sharp wit, cultural curiosity, and engaging narrative style will resonate with fans of Pepys' perceptive daily accounts.
Thomas Creevey was a lively and witty political diarist in early nineteenth-century England. His journals, published as The Creevey Papers, combine candid insights, humor, and gossip on contemporary political figures and society around him.
Readers who enjoy Samuel Pepys' honest reflections and vibrant observations on life in his era will also find familiarity and enjoyment in Creevey's amusing style.
Henry Crabb Robinson was an intelligent and perceptive diarist who documented conversations and interactions with prominent literary figures of Romantic-era Britain.
In his collection, Diary, Reminiscences, and Correspondence, Robinson elegantly mixes literary commentary, personal reflection, and sharp observations of his peers. Pepys enthusiasts will appreciate Robinson's engaging depiction of literary circles, society, and everyday life.