The son of a London tailor, Samuel Pepys (1633–1709) rose to political and social prominence in the latter half of the 17th century. A member of Parliament and the trusted confidant of Charles II, Pepys' (pronounced "peeps") unabashed curiosity in all things and a commitment to recording his innermost thoughts allow readers to experience firsthand accounts of the Great Fire of London, the horrors of the Plague, as well as such details as the exhumation and display of the head of Oliver Cromwell at Westminster Hall, along with suggestive accounts of the author's sexual dalliances. One of the most important historical records of Restoration England, the anthology is highly recommended for all collections.