Title: The Black Death: The Great Mortality of 1348-1350: A Brief History with DocumentsAuthor: John Aberth
First Published: March 8, 2016
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Pages: 216
Genre: History, Non-Fiction
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased
Rating:
Synopsis:
A fascinating account of the phenomenon known as the Black Death, this volume offers a wealth of documentary material focused on the initial outbreak of the plague that ravaged the world in the 14th century. A comprehensive introduction that provides important background on the origins and spread of the plague is followed by nearly 50 documents organized into topical sections that focus on the origin and spread of the illness; the responses of medical practitioners; the societal and economic impact; religious responses; the flagellant movement and attacks on Jews provoked by the plague; and the artistic response. Each chapter has an introduction that summarizes the issues explored in the documents; headnotes to the documents provide additional background material. The book contains documents from many countries - including Muslim and Byzantine sources - to give students a variety of perspectives on this devastating illness and its consequences. The volume also includes illustrations, achronology of the Black Death, and questions to consider.
Get the Book: AmazonReview
The Black Death is a collection of documents primarily written while the black plague was spreading across Europe. The book provides a comprehensive view of the events of the plague from different perspectives on a wide range of topics like medicine, religion, politics, and beyond. The introductions and notes provided throughout the book helped with understanding the context for each section.
I read this book as part of my undergraduate studies in European history and I ended up really enjoying it. It was fascinating reading first hand accounts of the devastating impact of the disease and how it reshaped people’s understanding of disease. I didn’t know much about the black death beyond the basics before reading the book, and much of what I read has stuck with me. This book is an excellent choice for any reader that has even a mild interest in the history of the Black Death and a great source of primary sources for research.
Quote
“They brought with them a plague that they carried down to the very marrow of their bones, so that if anyone so much as spoke to them, he was infected with a mortal sickness which brought on an immediate death that he could in no way avoid.”
Content Warnings
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About John Aberth
John Aberth was born in New York City and grew up in Yonkers, N.Y., and (during the summer) in Roxbury, VT. He attended Hamilton College in New York for his B.A. in Creative Writing and also did a junior year abroad at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, where he studied Medieval History. He received his M.A. in Medieval Studies from the University of Leeds in England and his Ph.D. in Medieval History from the University of Cambridge, England. He has taught full-time at Norwich University in Vermont, Skidmore College in New York, and at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, and part-time at various colleges in Vermont, including Middlebury College, the University of Vermont, St. Michael’s College, Castleton University, and Champlain College. He is the author of ten books on Medieval History, mostly focusing on the Black Death of the late Middle Ages. He lives in Roxbury, VT with his wife, Laura, and a dozen horses.
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