I was very honoured last month to be awarded an Order of Australia Medal for Services to Literature. I share this award with all of you who attend my talks, come on my tours, and read this newsletter. It was such a thrill to receive it. And on top of that I was also last month made a Fellow of the Royal Society of NSW. This is primarily a scientific body, but they are extending into the arts and I was lucky enough to be chosen as a Fellow.
Samuel Pepys
What particularly delights me is that one of my great literary favourites, Samuel Pepys, was a member and President of the Royal Society in the UK. My first talk to the Royal Society in NSW will be about Pepys and his achievements. Have you read Claire Tomalin’s superb biography of Pepys, Samuel Pepys: The Unequalled Self, or the book about the time he spent in prison, accused of being involved in a Popish plot: The Plot Against Pepys by James Long and Ben Long? Pepys’ diary is one of the great delights of literature. You can buy an audio version of extracts from the diary, read by Kenneth Branagh. You can read an abridged version of the diary, edited by Robert Latham, but better still is to read the whole wonderful journal.
Pepys was an incredibly able man – founder of the modern English navy, administrator, President of the Royal Society, MP, Secretary to the Admiralty, Governor of Christ’s Hospital, and of course the greatest diarist ever! He wrote without any view to publication, so his diary is wonderfully honest – a warts and all picture of an imperfect man, with an extraordinary gift for words. I am beyond excited to be following in his footsteps and look forward to presenting a lecture on ‘Pepys, his Library and the Enlightenment’, to the Royal Society.
The thrill of these awards has been tremendous – I am feeling, like Mrs Bennet, that any more excitements will be too much for my nerves. Share your comments below.
Susannah Fullerton: Samuel Pepys
Susannah Fullerton: HAPPY BIRTHDAY Samuel Pepys
Susannah Fullerton: Pepys Library
Susannah Fullerton: A Book Collector’s Pleasure
Susannah Fullerton: Plague Literature
Samuel Pepys: The Unequalled Self by Claire Tomalin
The Plot Against Pepys by James Long and Ben Long
The Diary of Samuel Pepys by Samuel Pepys
The Shorter Pepys by Samuel Pepys, Robert Latham (edited by)
I only recommend books I have read and know. Some of these links are my affiliate links. If you buy a book by clicking on one of these links I receive a small commission. It doesn’t cost you anything extra, but does help cover the cost of producing my free newsletter.
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Rosna Storey
Congratulations on your awards..could not have gone to a more deserving person. You have given me so much pleasure over the years and broadened my love of reading.
Susannah Fullerton
Thanks so much for your message, Rosna, and also for ordering my book. It will be in the post tomorrow.
Donald Nairn
congratulations. Homours richly deserved.
Susannah Fullerton
Thanks so much, Donald. The awards were such a thrill!
trevar tvarich langlands
Congratulations of your award…well done!!you deserve it!!
Plus- how nice to see Literary involvement and not just sports and pollies
Susannah Fullerton
Thanks Trevar. I am thrilled to have the award.
trevar tvarich langlands
Congratulations Susannah on your award….good to see literature etc being awarded
Susannah Fullerton
I totally agree. It is nice when the arts are recognised as important.
Margaret Debenham
Very hearty congratulations on your honours – very richly deserved.
Susannah Fullerton
Many thanks. I am thrilled to have both awards.
Marisa Cano
Dear Susannah:
What can I say? You deserve all that and more! What you have been doing for Literature in Australia is simply outstanding, and your many, many followers attest to this. My warmest congratulations and may you continue to do what you so wonderfully do -teach us, inspire us, entertain us, open up windows into the world of literary works and their authors for us – well into the future.
Susannah Fullerton
Oh Marisa, I am so touched by your lovely comments. I am doing what I love, and if my talks, tours and books bring others pleasure, that is a bonus. Thanks you so much!