Samuel Pepys' Diary: A Timeless Bestseller

Samuel Pepys' diary was first published in June 1825 and became an instant success. Newspapers featured reviews quoting memorable passages, such as his descriptions of the Great Fire of London, his new wig, and his first cup of tea. Subsequent editions followed, and by the end of the 19th century, it was celebrated as a classic of British history and literature. Today, Pepys is a star of museum exhibits and historical novels, and excerpts from his diary are used to introduce students to the Restoration period and even to history itself; six-year-olds in England, following the National Curriculum, can recount how Pepys buried his expensive cheese to save it from the fire.