The author assembles biographical information, diary excerpts, and contemporary documentation to portray Samuel Pepys’s life, career, and the social milieu of his era. Chapters follow his background before the diary, his daily activities and observations during its composition, and his later years, and address specific topics such as his time in Tangier, his books and collections, and the fabric of Restoration London. Separate sections examine his relations and acquaintances, naval and court service, public figures, social manners, and entertainments. A concluding discussion is followed by appendices offering portraits, manuscript inventories, play lists, and other documentary material that illuminate the narrative.