It was 350 years ago this month that the diarist Samuel Pepys seemed to be rather enjoying the Great Fire of London. Having taken pride in advising King Charles II about the blaze he’d observed from the tower of All Hallows, he took to the river, watching proceedings with his wife, before retiring to the Anchor pub for safety and refreshment. But soon the fire became less of a novelty and, as the reality of the disaster began to unfold, Pepys, the King and many others took to the streets to save what they could of the capital. And that’s just the beginning. Read on from page 28.
How did the Sphynx lose its nose? Find out on page 81