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The Black Death
Examines the origins, spread, and effects of the bubonic plague in fourteenth-century England and Europe, as well as the later discovery of its cause and cure.
173 pages, Hardcover
First published March 31, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 18, 2020
An engaging read. I signed this book out of the library in the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It's a collection of excerpts on the Black Death pandemic in the 14th century, each providing a different angle on the situation. There are many great looks at the Black Death pandemic from economic, religious, medical, and other angles.
I enjoyed reading it, though I'm not sure it's going to quite quench my desire to learn about that curious era. This book starts so many threads that I want to "pull" and explore further. Like the curious flagellants, Giovanni Boccaccio and other 14th century authors, the shift in power in society, the development of medical practices, and many other things. Towards the end there also is a fascinating look at some other more recent pandemics. Onward to other sources!
It's a collection of excerpts on the Black Death pandemic in the 14th century, each providing a different angle on the situation. There are many great looks at the Black Death pandemic from economic, religious, medical, and other angles.
I enjoyed reading it, though I'm not sure it's going to quite quench my desire to learn about that curious era. This book starts so many threads that I want to "pull" and explore further. Like the curious flagellants, Giovanni Boccaccio and other 14th century authors, the shift in power in society, the development of medical practices, and many other things. Towards the end there also is a fascinating look at some other more recent pandemics. Onward to other sources!
July 6, 2016
There are a number of excellent works on the Black Death, but if you are looking for a summary of excerpts from the top authors in this category (Gottfried, Nohl, Tuchman, etc.), this slim (174 pages) compilation that appeared in 1999 fits the bill.
Short easy-to-read chapters from selected authors and works cover the history of the plague and other early European diseases, their spread, treatment, impact and death toll. A chronology, recommended further reading, and excerpts from documents of the times are all useful tools for continued reading.
My own interest in the subject was its association with early trade routes; scholars now know that the plague (actually, plagues as there were three main varieties: bubonic--transmitted by flea bite, pneumonic--transmitted directly from person to person, and septicaemic--insect-borne but less understood, always fatal but very rare) most likely began in the Asian steppes and spread via the land route to the Crimea to the Black Sea region and thereby by the ships of the Venetian and Genoese traders to Sicily, Venice and Genoa, and thereby throughout the Mediterranean.
Short easy-to-read chapters from selected authors and works cover the history of the plague and other early European diseases, their spread, treatment, impact and death toll. A chronology, recommended further reading, and excerpts from documents of the times are all useful tools for continued reading.
My own interest in the subject was its association with early trade routes; scholars now know that the plague (actually, plagues as there were three main varieties: bubonic--transmitted by flea bite, pneumonic--transmitted directly from person to person, and septicaemic--insect-borne but less understood, always fatal but very rare) most likely began in the Asian steppes and spread via the land route to the Crimea to the Black Sea region and thereby by the ships of the Venetian and Genoese traders to Sicily, Venice and Genoa, and thereby throughout the Mediterranean.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews