Have Mercy on Us All, Vargas. Yes. This was an enjoyable, briskly moving read. The only item I found truly remarkable was the perfect use of the objective case:

Up and walked with my little boy (whom because of my wife’s making him idle, I dare not leave at home) … to excuse my not being at home at dinner to Mrs T; who I perceive is vexed because I do not serve her in something against the great feasting for her husband’s reading in helping her to some good penn’orths, but I care not.

Turns out it was not Vargas (or her translator), but Pepys who understood the language (though I don’t think Vargas or her translator got it wrong anywhere, either). I haven’t chosen to read any more Vargas, but I have nothing against the idea in principle.