He lived through one of the most exciting and troubled periods in English history, but Samuel Pepys (1633-1703) is known to us because he was the master chronicler of his era. In his voluminous diaries, Pepys documented the execution of King Charles I, an outbreak of the plague, the Great Fire of London, and the "Glorious Revolution" of 1688. With 260 illustrations—including a rich variety of paintings, engravings, and artifacts—and an introduction by biographer, Claire Tomalin, this collection of essays comments on every aspect of Pepys's life and world pays tribute to a talented man who rose from modest beginnings to become the greatest naval administrator of the age.