The Plot Against Pepys: The Untold Story of Espionage and Intrigue in the Tower of London - Hardcover

James and Ben Long are father and son. Ben brought his academic qualifications as a historian to this project and James brought his experience as an investigative journalist and novelist, learning a lot from his son in the process. On investigation, they discovered a vast quantity of relatively unknown original material which proved to contain much that was remarkable and exciting and extended the project for some years.

Pepys is best known for his erudite diaries, which revealed so much about seventeenth-century England as well as his personal life. But Pepys was also a very able administrator, particularly when he served as secretary of the Admiralty. Unfortunately, Pepys, a strong advocate for controversial government reforms, became an easy political target for powerful interests. In 1679 he was charged with popery and treason and imprisoned in the Tower.  The charges were trumped up, and Pepys and his supporters responded with their own vigorous defense characterized by relentless investigation. The authors recount how the investigation revealed the seamy underside of English political culture that included anti-Catholic hysteria, corruption, and betrayal. The story unfolds like a well-constructed detective novel, as each discovery leads to another layer of deceit. The Longs navigate the murky waters of the plot effectively, despite the large cast of characters and the narrative’s twists and turns. The result is an absorbing chronicle of political intrigue set against a tumultuous period in English history. --Jay Freeman