Perfect for fans of Philippa Gregory, Alison Weir, Anne O’Brien and Elizabeth Chadwick, Deborah Swift brings a unique period in history to vivid, fascinating life in her acclaimed Pepys trilogy.
‘An immersive and rich imagining of a mysterious woman from Pepys’ life that will hold readers until the very end’ Historical Novel Society
‘A novel that transports readers with astonishing and engrossing detail’ Readers’ Favorite 5*
1665 and The Great Plague has London in its grip.
As the summer heat rises, red crosses mark the doors, and wealthy citizens flee. Only the poor remain to face the march of death…
Ambitious and attractive Bess Bagwell is determined her carpenter husband, Will, should make a name for himself. So she schemes to meet Samuel Pepys, diarist, friend of the King, and an important man in the Navy shipyards.
But Pepys has his own motive for cultivating Bess, and it is certainly not to benefit her husband.
With pestilence rife in the city, all trade ceases. Will is forced to invest in his unscrupulous cousin Jack’s dubious ‘cure’ for the pestilence. But this only horrifies Bess and leaves them deeper in debt. Now they are desperate for money, and the dread disease is moving ever closer. Pepys’s help seems to be the only answer.
But as with all bargains, there’s a price to pay. A price that could cost more than Bess has to give.
The second in Deborah Swift’s atmospheric trilogy, bringing to life the women in Pepys’ Diary. The books can be read in any order as each stands alone.
‘An intriguing and exceptionally beautifully written book’ Carol McGrath, author of The Woman in The Shadows
Praise for Pleasing Mr Pepys:
‘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
‘Laced with emotional intensity and drama’ Readers’ Favorite
‘Pepys and his world spring to vibrant life…Gripping, revealing and stunningly imagined, Pleasing Mr Pepys is guaranteed to please’ Lancashire Evening Post
Don’t miss Deborah Swift’s other enthralling tales of Samuel Pepys – Pleasing Mr Pepys Pepys and Entertaining Mr Pepys – out now!
‘An immersive and rich imagining of a mysterious woman from Pepys’ life that will hold readers until the very end’ Historical Novel Society
‘A novel that transports readers with astonishing and engrossing detail’ Readers’ Favorite 5*
1665 and The Great Plague has London in its grip.
As the summer heat rises, red crosses mark the doors, and wealthy citizens flee. Only the poor remain to face the march of death…
Ambitious and attractive Bess Bagwell is determined her carpenter husband, Will, should make a name for himself. So she schemes to meet Samuel Pepys, diarist, friend of the King, and an important man in the Navy shipyards.
But Pepys has his own motive for cultivating Bess, and it is certainly not to benefit her husband.
With pestilence rife in the city, all trade ceases. Will is forced to invest in his unscrupulous cousin Jack’s dubious ‘cure’ for the pestilence. But this only horrifies Bess and leaves them deeper in debt. Now they are desperate for money, and the dread disease is moving ever closer. Pepys’s help seems to be the only answer.
But as with all bargains, there’s a price to pay. A price that could cost more than Bess has to give.
The second in Deborah Swift’s atmospheric trilogy, bringing to life the women in Pepys’ Diary. The books can be read in any order as each stands alone.
‘An intriguing and exceptionally beautifully written book’ Carol McGrath, author of The Woman in The Shadows
Praise for Pleasing Mr Pepys:
‘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
‘Laced with emotional intensity and drama’ Readers’ Favorite
‘Pepys and his world spring to vibrant life…Gripping, revealing and stunningly imagined, Pleasing Mr Pepys is guaranteed to please’ Lancashire Evening Post
Don’t miss Deborah Swift’s other enthralling tales of Samuel Pepys – Pleasing Mr Pepys Pepys and Entertaining Mr Pepys – out now!
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Reviews
Swift's re-imagining of the life of Bess Bagwell and what drove her to become one of Samuel Pepys' most enduring trysts is remarkable. Her characters are so alive that you either want to reach out and lovingly save them from themselves or angrily shake them until they realize the messes they are creating. An immersive and rich imagining of a mysterious woman from Pepys' life that will hold readers until the very end.
A harrowing, emotional yet satisfying page turner
Grabs our attention from the very start and keeps us riveted. We learn what a farthing would buy, what people wore, how guilds were organised and so on, and this is all really interesting. A wonderful read
This was a very well-written tale, descriptive, exciting, and with exceptionally rendered characters
Excellent book! I'm a huge fan of historical fiction, and I've really enjoyed this book. Set in the 17th century, the characters are nonetheless highly relatable - they have family problems (deadbeat relatives, embarrassing relatives, strained relationships with parents and children - that contemporary readers can identify with. I also enjoyed the rich social history in this novel. The author did a terrific job of showing how people actually lived in England during this time period
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
A novel that transports readers with astonishing and engrossing detail
Pepys and his world spring to vibrant life... Gripping, revealing and stunningly imagined'
