London 1666. Elizabeth ‘Bird’ Carpenter has a wonderful singing voice, and music is her chief passion. When her father persuades her to marry horse-dealer Christopher Knepp, she suspects she is marrying beneath her station, but nothing prepares her for the reality of life with Knepp. Her father has betrayed her trust, for Knepp cares only for his horses; he is a tyrant and a bully, and will allow … allow Bird no life of her own.
When Knepp goes away, she grasps her chance and, encouraged by her maidservant Livvy, makes a secret visit to the theatre. Entranced by the music, the glitter and glamour of the surroundings, and the free and outspoken manner of the women on the stage, she falls in love with the theatre and is determined to forge a path of her own as an actress.
But life in the theatre was never going to be straightforward – for a jealous rival wants to spoil her plans, and worse, Knepp forbids it, and Bird must use all her wit and intelligence to change his mind.
Based on events depicted in the famous Diary of Samuel Pepys, this is a historical novel bringing London in the 17th Century to life. It includes the vibrant characters of the day including the diarist himself and actress Nell Gwynne, and features a dazzling and gripping finale during the Great Fire Of London.
The third in Deborah Swift’s atmospheric trilogy, bringing to life the women in Pepys’ Diary. Each novel features a different character and can be read as a stand-alone book.
PRAISE FOR THE PEPYS TRILOGY:
‘Swift is a consummate historical novelist, basing her books on immaculate research and then filling the gaps between real events and real people with eloquent storytelling, atmospheric scene setting and imaginative plot lines’ — The Visitor
‘A novel that transports readers with astonishing and engrossing detail’ — Readers Favorite 5*
‘Pepys and his world spring to vibrant life…Gripping, revealing and stunningly imagined’ — Lancashire Evening Post
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I’ve read and enjoyed other novels written by Deborah Swift, but Entertaining Mr. Pepys is my hands-down favorite of her books to date. I knew nothing about Samuel Pepys before reading this book, though I’ve always been fascinated by London. Now I feel as if I had a front-row view of daily life there in the 17th-century, through the eyes of an unforgettable heroine. Mary Elizabeth “Bird” Knepp, a talented singer who had a relatively genteel upbringing, is thrust into another world when her father marries her off to a cold, taciturn man with a struggling horse-carriage business. More an indentured servant than a wife, she endures constant physical labor and zero affection from her husband, and when she discovers a theatre nearby, she becomes determined to escape the drudgery of her daily life by becoming an actress. Women actresses were not seen as respectable at that time, especially not married ones, so Bird has to construct an ingenious plan to get her husband to agree to the idea. Soon her path crosses that of Samuel Pepys, and sparks fly. Complications multiply quickly as Bird makes one bold decision after another. Her friendship with a former servant who works for a rival horse-carriage business, her attempts to avoid motherhood, her painful relationship with her father, her conflicts with a fellow actor, all conspire to build tension that kept me eagerly turning the pages. Then, when the Great Fire of London threatens the lives and livelihoods of Bird and everyone in her world, the action builds to a galloping climax. The historical detail is rich and the settings felt so real I felt I could hear, smell, and see the bustling streets of 17th-century London. Bird’s inner life is beautifully drawn. Women were essentially property at that time, and despite her powerlessness, she uses wit and courage to achieve her own dreams and somehow maintain her compassion. I particularly appreciated the relationship between Bird and Livvy, a woman whose black skin makes her especially vulnerable. Entertaining Mr. Pepys brings history to life in vivid and breathtaking detail, and shows us a lost world through the eyes of a strong, flawed, but ultimately heroic woman. I highly recommend this novel.
What an excellent trilogy this is! Three books set in the Restoration era London of Samuel Pepys, with him as a secondary character. I think #2 is still my favourite (actually one of my favourite books of the past ten years), but I loved this one too.
This is the story of Mary Elizabeth ‘Bird’ Knepp, a young woman stuck in a ghastly prison of a marriage, until one day she goes to the theatre, and knows straight away that this is where she is meant to be. But this is no drudgery-to-diamonds historical romance, despite her flirtations with Pepys; it’s 17th century London at its most filthy, squalid and hungry. Each time I read one of Ms Swift’s books set in London during this time, I think ‘I really must read Pepys’s diary – I really AM going to, this time!
The book is not just about Bird, but also Livvy, her Dutch maid, living in England at a time when being Dutch is almost as bad as being Catholic. Then there is Stefan, a young theatre player who realises something about himself when he is no longer allowed to play female parts – and Christopher Knepp, Bird’s taciturn husband. There are some other wonderful secondary characters, too, such as Knepp’s cantankerous old mother, and Bird’s horribly superficial father – and 17th century theatre itself; such a vivid, fascinating picture is painted.
The climax of covers the last twenty per cent, with the Great Fire of London – I was utterly gripped all the way through; it brought the horror of those days to life in the way that no other account I’ve read ever has.
The books intertwine but are complete stand-alones, so you can read them in any order. They’re SO worth reading; I read this in three days because I didn’t want to put it down. Do give this series ago – you’ll feel as if you’re in Pepys’s London with the turn of every page. Honestly.
I normally reserve five stars for really, really topnotch reads – but this one certainly deserved the rating. Perfectly plotted and beautifully written to weave the stories of real-life characters Mary Elizabeth ‘Bird’ Knepp, her largely undesirable husband Christopher Knepp and the eponymous Samuel Pepys, together with those of fictional protagonists Livvy (Bird’s black Dutch maid) and Stefan, the young Catholic player and theatre-hand. All set against the backdrop of Restoration England and, finally, the Great Fire. Superb! And a page-turner? Yes, indeed.
Entertaining Mr Pepys is the third and sadly the final installment from Deborah Swift’s Women of Pepys’ Diary series. Since I have enjoyed the first two book of the series, I was looking forward for this book to release. I was not disappointed. It is probably my favorite of the three. Bird is a great character I loved getting to know. The author’s talent really shines through with her vivid historical details.
Entertaining Mr Pepys gets five stars from me. I highly recommend this book and the rest of the series for readers who love a compelling historical fiction.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
Entertaining Mr Pepys is a glorious rollicking adventure through Restoration London with a colorful group of players and a backdrop of aristocratic patrons, detestable husbands and delightful, rascally Mr Pepys. Starring in this novel, 17th Century London is the real entertainer, introducing horse thieves and actors, maids and mistresses into its melting pot of character-filled alleyways and candle-lit theatres. I honestly couldn’t put this down, for not only did I love the people, I became immersed in the setting. Knowing that the Great Fire was going to combust the entire cast, I loved how the author made this catastrophe a cleansing of not just the plague-ridden tenements, but offered even the nastiest of characters a chance to reform.
Ms Swift’s background in theatre brings a beautiful creative angle to her writing, for her eye for detail and glorious descriptions illuminate her story lines, until the words dance on the page and her characters sing aloud. Bird, Livvy, even Knepp, will remain with me for a while.
Brava, for the final novel in a wonderful series. Such a joy to read for the first time, and a pleasure to keep on my shelves for many encores to come.
Entertaining Mr. Pepys begins in 1659 when Mary Elizabeth “Bird” Carpenter enters a loveless marriage that has been arranged by her father. It is also when she first meets Livvy, a blackamoor, and a very special friendship begins between Bird and her maid. Bird’s life with Christopher Knepp isn’t easy and and it is Livvy who helps her through these times. Bird even considers going back to her father’s house and when she does, she finds that ‘Dorcas was putting her ‘woman’s touch’ on her family home, eliminating her father’s former life, and by doing it, claiming if for her own. It was clear enough to Bird that she could never be able to come back here.’ Recognizing the inevitable, Bird returns to her husband Christopher Knepp and it is only after many tragedies, including the fire that destroyed London, that she sees him in a new light. ‘So this is what it is, to be married, Bird thought. To lean on each other in times of hardsip and know the other will always be there. A comforting quietness fell over her.’
This book is large in its number of pages and it is huge in content. I enjoy historical fiction but I haven’t read any books centered on this time period and it is apparent that author Deborah Swift has done extensive reseach to portray London as it was in the 17th century. Her description of The Great Fire of London is riveting and I also enjoyed learning about Bird’s introduction to the theatre and her eventual success as Elizabeth Knepp, the actress who enjoyed a friendship with Samuel Pepys. The final chapter relates Bird’s successful appearance at The King’s Playhouse in March, 1667, when The King himself was in the audience, along with Pepys, his wife Elizabeth, and Bird’s husband and father. This woman, who had witnessed so many tragedies and experienced so many hurts, was finally able to feel love, acceptance, and forgiveness.
This is the third book in Swift’s trilogy centered around Samuel Pepys. I haven’t read the first two but my enjoyment wasn’t diminished by this and I hope to read the first two. I appreciate that at the end of this book, there are historical notes so that we understand what was true and what was fictional during this famous man’s life. I recommend Entertaining Mr. Pepys to all who enjoy historical fiction.
I appreciate the chance to read an advance copy of this book and I am voluntarily sharing my thoughts. These are my honest thoughts and I received no monetary compensation for this review.