Plagues, Poisons And Potions: Plague Spreading Conspiracies in the Western Alps c.1530-1640

by William G. Naphy

With the 16th and 17th Century outbreaks of the Plague, came the arrests and executions of many hospital workers who were accused of conspiring to spread the disease. Plagues, Poisons and Potions contains a detailed study of this fascinating phenomenon associated with the Plague. It examines the courts and the part played by torture, as well as considering the socio-economic conditions of the workers, highlighting an early modern form of 'class warfare'.

Genres: History

242 pages, Paperback

First published May 3, 2002

About the author

Professor Naphy received his doctorate (in Reformation History) from the University of St Andrews in 1993. He was appointed a lecturer at the University of Manchester in 1993 and, in 1996, at Aberdeen where he was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 1999. He was awarded a personal chair in 2007. He is the author of six books with translations into six languages (including an up-coming translation into Bosnian for an NGO raising awareness of homosexuality in Bosnia) as well as numerous edited volumes and articles in scholarly journals.