Pip's Diary (Samuel Pepys' Diary)

In Cambridge: A History and a Culture, Peter Sager of Germany writes: “I prefer Samuel Pepys, a contemporary of Dryden’s, and not because he admired Cambridge University more. Samuel visited Cambridge University many times, and in the end donated his private library, a treasure trove of lost paintings, to his alma mater, Magdalene College. Unlike Dryden, Pepys’s work still fascinates us today just as it did its original readers. He was the son of a tradesman who rose to the highest ranks of the Navy Board. He described everyday life so vividly that we feel as if he were standing right before us. We can see him visiting Magdalene College on May 25, 1668: ‘I drank a bellyful of ale there, which pleased me, and it was the best ale I had ever drunk.’”

Samuel Pepys (1633–1703)

Not only did he leave his private library to his alma mater, Magdalene College, he also left behind the diary that made him famous, more than 3,000 pages of shorthand. After graduating from university, he returned to his native London and became an organizer of a powerful fleet. Pepys was a naval expert, president of the Royal Society, a member of Parliament, an art lover, and a “merry man.” He loved life, was well-informed, curious, and vain: ideal qualities for writing a classic diary. Pepys recorded his marriage and national events in meticulous detail, and was an exceptionally candid and witty chronicler. He visited Cambridge many times, and a phrase repeated throughout his diary seems to sum up his life: “We are very happy.”

Friends, if you don’t know Samuel Pepys (1633–1703), that’s all right. I translated Samuel Pepys’ Diary precisely so Chinese readers could get to know him. If you’d like to learn more about him, take a look here: http://www.douban.com/group/SamuelPepys/. Pepys’s Diary is known for its gentle “charm from the old world” and is a famous bedside book in households across the West. Original text: http://www.pepys.info/

P.S. Gold and silver coins from the reign of Charles II: http://www.ukcoinpics.co.uk/c2/index.html

I’ve managed to get hold of various electronic editions, including both the complete works and selected editions. I found many of them on Gutenberg. I bought an abridged edition of the diary. Though abridged, it’s still a brick of a book thick enough to kill someone, and it has that lovely, sweet scent of an old book. I also have a biography of Pepys. Sigh, the two books cost quite a lot~ I love them to death. The original is over three million Chinese characters long, and with the notes it’s even longer. I really hope I can finish translating it in my lifetime~

My skills are limited, so mistakes are inevitable. Criticism and corrections are very welcome. Plagiarism will be dealt with. Do not repost without permission; if I catch you, I’ll flatten you. I’ll translate at my own pace, and you can read at yours.