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288. Samuel Pepys Was Not “A Man of His Time” with Guy de la Bédoyère | Gloucester History Festival Special #4
Wednesday, 15 April, 2026
Samuel Pepys exposed: secrets, suppression, and the truth behind his diary. Samuel Pepys Was Not What You Think…EXPLICIT CONTENT WARNING - NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED!For generations, Samuel Pepys has been portrayed as a witty observer of Restoration London — a charming administrator who documented plague, fire, and naval reform.But what if that version of Pepys wasn’t the full story?In this explosive Gloucester History Festival Special, historian and author Guy de la Bédoyère joins History Rage to challenge the long-standing myth that Pepys was simply “a man of his time.”Drawing on decades of research — including learning Pepys’s original shorthand — Guy reveals how editors suppressed, mistranslated, and obscured disturbing passages from the diary for over 200 years. What You’ll Discover in This EpisodeThis episode goes beyond familiar Pepys anecdotes and digs into the hidden layers of his diary — and the people who shaped how history remembers him.Inside this episode:Why large sections of Pepys’s diary were deliberately removed or mistranslated How 19th- and 20th-century editors shaped the public image of Pepys The truth behind Pepys’s secret use of foreign languages and coded shorthand Why the phrase “a man of his time” can dangerously excuse behaviour Why Pepys’s record remains unique in early modern history Guy explains how Pepys deliberately buried controversial actions within routine daily entries — making them easy to overlook unless carefully decoded. Why This Episode MattersPepys’s diary is one of the most important personal records in English history — documenting events like:The Great Plague of 1665 The Great Fire of London The Restoration of monarchy after the English Civil Wars But Guy argues that understanding Pepys properly means confronting the uncomfortable details — not sanitising them.This episode challenges the idea that historical figures should be excused simply because of the era in which they lived — and asks what happens when historians uncover what earlier editors chose to hide.About the Guest — Guy de la BédoyèreGuy de la Bédoyère is a bestselling historian, broadcaster, and former Time Team presenter.He is widely known for his work on Roman Britain and historical biography, and his latest research focuses on uncovering suppressed truths within Pepys’s writings.📖 Buy the book here: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9780349147406Purchasing through the History Rage Bookshop helps support both the podcast and independent booksellers.See Guy Live — Gloucester History Festival🎟 Live Event AnnouncementGloucester History Festival 📅 Saturday 18th April 2026 🎤 The Confessions of Samuel PepysGuy will be speaking live about the hidden realities behind Pepys’s diary and answering audience questions.🎟 Get tickets: https://www.gloucesterhistoryfestival.co.uk/events/the-confessions-of-samuel-pepys/Follow History RageStay connected with the podcast and never miss an episode.📱 Follow History RageTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/HistoryRage Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyrage Website: https://www.historyrage.com Newsletter: https://historyrage.substack.com/Support the PodcastIf you enjoy History Rage and want to keep the show going, there are several ways to help:⭐ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it helps others discover the show. 🎧 Share the episode with friends and fellow history lovers. ☕ Support via Patreon — early access, livestreams, and exclusive extras.👉 Join here: https://www.patreon.com/historyrageSubscribers receive:Early episode releases Monthly livestream access Opportunities to submit questions to guests Exclusive History Rage rewards Listen NextIf you enjoyed this episode, you may also like:Episode 241 — Quakers weren’t peaceful outsiders Episode 284 — The forgotten women of the Restoration court Both continue the theme of challenging historical myths and misconceptions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
