But Tomalin is great at contextualising the people, places and events wihch Pepys describes, at setting the stage for the drama of his life.

His early life and his long (but not uneventful) post-diary existence seem kinda flat in comparison. They're also Pepys' salad days, and his vigour is amazing to behold as he tears around London dispatching business and oysters in equal measure. Inevitably the best part of this book is the diary years, when Pepys' energetic prose is on tap to supplement Tomalin's narrative. Although perhaps an affection for the man is a prerequisite to enjoying the diary? In any case, this is what I come to literature for - to feel how it is to be other - and Tomalin groks how Pepys provides this service par excellence to his posthumous readers. The other great charm of this biography is its tenderness for Pepys the man, while not occulting his personal failings (many of which he owned). The subtitle 'The Unequalled Self' is perfect the book demonstrates how the diary really is a supremely high-fi transcription of person (complete with blind spots and self-deceptions) to page. Tomalin makes an excellent case for Pepys as a literary genius, and for the diary's intrinsic worth as literature over and above its value as history. The only misfortune is the diary covers only 10 years from 1660 to 1669. He was the world’s premier diarist and happily enough, he lived at the center of epic historical events that he was able to write it all down in an engaging style. Pepys wrote his diary for himself, for his own pleasure, a recollection aide for events or decisions made, and was so certain of its importance for later generations that he had it bound in several volumes, with very specific directions and sums allotted for its deposition at Magdalen College at Cambridge, when he died.

His energy was prodigious for he was up at all hours, walked everywhere in London, rose at an early hour, and returned home late having worked at his office, attended meetings, dined with friends, visited the Royal Navy shipyards, attended the theatre, or had sex with one of several mistresses. His libido knew no bounds he exhibited his ruttish behaviour with all classes of women, of all ages (near and after puberty), and in all sorts of places.

Samuel pepys biography claire tomalin