Does Diarist Samuel Pepys Deserve The Adoration? His Biographer Explains

Samuel Pepys’ meticulous diaries (1660–1669) enjoyed a resurgence during Covid.

Pepys lived through London’s Great Plague, and his writing brought comfort to people around the world who were confined by lockdowns.

But his life also had much darker sides—details he recorded in his diary using a kind of code or mash-up of languages.

Historian and author Guy de la Bédoyère has painstakingly decoded these passages.

What he uncovered is a man who stands as a chilling embodiment of male privilege.

De la Bédoyère, known for his regular appearances on the BBC, Channel 4, and UKTV History, is visiting Tasmania for a short time only.

The Confessions of Samuel Pepys: His Private Revelations by Guy de la Bédoyère was published in 2025.

If you are not available to attend in person, this event will be livestreamed here.

Image: Detail of a painting of Samuel Pepys by John Hayls. Public domain.

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