Kate Loveman
@kateloveman
Mostly posting about Samuel Pepys’s diary, and other strange 17th-century stuff
Pelicans looked different in the 17th century (drawn by Peter Mundy)
1066 And All That (1930): “Among the famous characters in the Restoration were Samuel Pepys, who is memorable for keeping a Dairy, and going to bed a great deal, and his wife Evelyn who kept another memorable Dairy but did not go to bed in it.”
200th anniversary of the first passenger railway this weekend. Also 200th anniversary of the publication of Pepys’s diary. Not actual footage
The John Lewis Christmas theme this year seems to be alcoholic mice.
Hellblazing and necromancy going on at my local library next weekend
Just received a contract for the use of recordings “in perpetuity, throughout the universe in all forms of media now known or hereafter developed” Holodeck here I come.
Pepys’s list of “Publique Depravity of Manners” from 1692 always cheers me up. “Plays and Stage — profane” 🧐 “Bookes — Atheisticall” (he buys them) “Publique Mistresses” (he has one) “Universitys debauched”
Amazingly cutting-edge fashion on display when Dream visited 1670s London.
🎉🎉This week is the 200th anniversary of the publication of Pepys’s diary.🎉🎉 On 2 July 1825 the Literary Gazette announced the diary was out. The paper printed excerpts on drama, including a “curious entry”… @magdlibs.bsky.social
“Mr. Will Pen … is a Quaker again, or some very melancholy thing… he cares for no company, nor comes into any, which is a pleasant thing, after his being abroad so long, and his father such a hypocritical rogue and at this time an Atheist” (29.12.67)
25 June 1825: the public were awaiting the 1st edn of Pepys’s diary. It was ‘not yet in general circulation, the noble Editor presenting those which were earliest ready to his friends, and the mass for publication being delayed’. Here’s the Noble Editor Lord Braybrooke @magdalenecollege.bsky.social
26 Jan 1660 ‘Home from my office …where my wife had got ready a very fine dinner — viz. a dish of marrow bones, a leg of mutton, a joint of veal, a dish of fowl, three pullets, and a dozen of larks all in a dish, a great tart, a neat’s tong, a dish of anchovies; a dish of prawns and cheese’
200 years ago today, the Literary Gazette reported: “The Pepysian Diary and Correspondence, edited by Lord Braybrooke, is expected with much impatience”. @magdalenecollege.bsky.social
I’m bringing up the rear in this month’s issue of Literary Review, talking about a cunning undergrad, 19th-century publishing shenanigans and, you know, Pepys
Battlestar Galactica spoiler… Chief Tyrol, a 150,000-year-old cylon, turns up in the first scene of Stick. As he was last seen in Scotland, I’m guessing he’s been perfecting his golf game and has come to hustle Owen Wilson’s character. He has a plan.
Just seen the latest issue of @historytoday.com featuring my article on the publication of Pepys’s diary in the 19thC and @richardfallon.bsky.social on dinosaurs in the 19thC 🎉
Fleet Street Festival of Words starts next week! I’m be talking about Samuel Pepys and his diary at on Thursday 50% off festival tickets with the code FOW50 Tickets here: www.eventbrite.com/e/in-convers...
Come and find out about the distinctly weird history of Samuel Pepys’s diary! 🪶Fleet Street Festival of Words, Thursday 15 May at 1pm www.eventbrite.com/e/in-convers...
Pepys-themed Gin & Tonic has been a thing since 1936. Though according to Schweppes it’s Elizabeth Pepys who drinks G and T. 🧐
Pepys book goes well with Pepys gin. Always choose your research project based on the availability of author-related grain alcohol.
Yikes! Advanced copies of my book have arrived. No unboxing video but here’s a box and the book. Released into the world on 24 April