The Diary of Samuel Pepys is a British historicaltelevision series which was originally broadcast on the BBC in 1958.[1] Based on the diaries of the naval administrator Samuel Pepys, it portrays life at the court of Charles II from the year 1660 to 1669.
The series debuted on Friday 7th March 1958 and the series was based on the diaries of Samuel Pepys from the age of 27 to 36. The series portrays life at the court of Charles II from 1660 to 1669. With 162 speaking parts, The Diary of Samuel Pepys was one of the largest BBC productions to date.[2]
Review
This series was Peter Sallis's first appearance as a principal character on television as well as his first extended television role. A reason for this was that he bore a resemblance when compared to contemporary picture portraits of Samuel Pepys. The series was dramatised by A R Rawlinson for Chloe Gibson. Chloe Gibson was one of the first female producers for BBC television.[3]
Using the diaries as a template, Sallis captured the wit, verve and cheeky humour of Pepys and was lauded for his performance.[4]
Episode status
The series was a 14 episode part series that ran from 7 March 1958 - 13 June 1958 on BBC Television with each episode being 30 minutes long. Out of all 14 episodes produced for the series, episodes 1, 7, 8 and 13 are available to watch on TV Brain. As for the other 10 episodes from the series it's believed they are now missing.[5]
Samuel Pepys begans his famous diary and records a bonfire celebration happening in Westminster in 1660, marking General Monk's arrival as well as the restoration of the monarchy.
King Charles II is going through restoration, meanwhile Samuel Pepys is serving as a naval administrator, socialized in the taverns, and is also participating in the restoration of King Charles II.
During April of 1661, Samuel Pepys attends King Charles II's coronation to witness a grand procession of bishops, noblemen, and other dignitaries in Westminster Abbey.
Samuel Pepys becomes deeply concerned about Lord Sandwich when he has an affair with a young woman in Chelsea, which ends up leading to a temporary rift in their relationship.
During March of 1665 Samuel Pepys gets actively involved in preparing the English fleet for a war, following King Charles II's orders to ready the navy with the Dutch.
With the outbreak of the Second Anglo-Dutch War between England and Holland, Lord Sandwich leads the English fleet during the early stages of the war. Meanwhile Samuel Pepys gets deeply involved in the naval administration in June 1665.
It is September of 1665 and Lord Sandwich is still at sea fighting the Dutch. Meanwhile Samuel Pepys is managing naval logistics at the London docks, overseeing prize goods, provisioning the fleet, and coordinating care for the sick sailors and prisoners. At the same he finds out that the court and some people from the Navy Board have fled.
During January of 1666, Samuel Pepys becomes actively engaged in naval administration and political maneuvering across Hampton Court in the City of London, and at the Whitehall Palace. Around the same time period Lord Sandwich has returned from the sea with valuable Dutch prizes.
Samuel Pepys responded to Lord Sandwich's disgrace by carefully navigating political tensions, and continuing his work as a naval administrator during their joint command of the Royal Navy fleet lead by the Duke of Albemarle and Prince Rupert partly during September of 1666, but things then go downhill when the Great Fire of London brakes out.
In February of 1667, Samuel Pepys continues working for the Navy Office in Seething Lane, which had been spared by the great fire while London is still trying to recover from the devastation. At the same time Samuel ends up suffering from professional pressure, political anxiety, and personal unease.
After peace has been negotiated with the Dutch, following the naval disaster when the Dutch fleet sailed up the Medway and burned the English ships at their moorings, Samuel Pepys visits Westminster Hall in February of 1668 as part of his deep duties involvement in the post-war naval administration.
In January 1669, Samuel Pepys successfully manages to defended the Navy Board before Parliament and won great renown. Although his eyesight starts to fail and he decides to stop writing his diary. He also try's to mend his love life to save his marriage with Elisabeth Pepys.
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