Blindness by jose saramago shows that an epidemic doesnt have to be deadly for society to quickly fall to pieces. Easytoread, compelling text explores the history of the disease, how it spread, key players and happenings during the black death, and the events effects on society up through modern times. Five books about plagues and pandemics and five books to make. The novel uses a widespread outbreak of a constantly mutating. It is a turbulent time in northumbria, but edgar tends to his. I think there must be two kinds of bubonic plague, the real thing and the state quarantine plague, he quipped to a newspaper reporter. The 20 best pandemic books to read during coronavirus. The black death, also known as the pestilence and the plague, was the most fatal pandemic recorded in human history, resulting in the deaths of up to 75200 million people in eurasia and north africa, peaking in europe from 47 to 51. Aug 01, 2014 books blog books plague fiction why authors love to write about pandemics from michael crichton and dan brown to shelley and boccaccio, the theme of infectious disease is not a new affliction. Finalist for the pulitzer prizeone of the washington post book worlds 10 best books of. Whereas we examine an uncommonly coldhearted man in a normal world in the pages of the stranger, in this novel it is a harsh outside world which closes in on a group of fascinating characters.
Less comfortingly, though, the appeal of pandemic fiction has also increased. Edgar is a churl on a small farm in england during the seventh century. A haunting tale of human resilience in the face of unrelieved horror, camus novel about a bubonic plague ravaging the people of a north african coastal town is a classic of twentiethcentury literature. Year of wonders is a testament to that very notion. This list is for fiction involving the bubonic plague. Impressive study of the bubonic plague and its impact on history. The plague ebook the seattle public library bibliocommons. The history and legacy of englands last major outbreak of the bubonic plague. It combines all the horror of the walking deads best episodes meet with a timely investigation of moral and philosophical courage, failures, and the grey spaces between. Aug 09, 2018 the decameron is a whole lot more than a story set during the plague, but the plague is the frame used by this renaissance writer to explore meaning and love. In modern times i am legend by richard matheson, earth abides by george r.
The guardian uk history written with passion, panache, and an appealing bit of attitude. Download the plague albert camus pdf genial ebooks. The 20 best pandemic books to read during coronavirus vulture. Londons last and most destructive attack came in 1665, when, according to bishop gilbert burnet, a most terrible plague broke out, that depopulated the city of london. Plague fiction is definitely on the up sales of albert camus the plague and daniel defoes a journal of the plague year have both risen, the booksellers charts and data editor. A collection of working papers given at the symposium epidemic disease in london. It is said that during those times, sneezing or coughing is a victims most fatal symptom that can instantly lead to death. Plague stories remind us that we cannot manage without community. Does anyone know of any historical fiction books on the. Its nonfiction, but reads like a novelwith suspense, mystery, and drama to spare. Oct 09, 2018 what are good books about the black death. Young adult books about plagues and pestilence read. Oct, 2014 giovanni boccaccio, the decameron 51 this masterpiece and urnarrative of plague literature is framed by a story about the black death in florence during the 14th century.
The plague by albert camus the 180th greatest fiction. These seven books brilliantly take you to the front lines in the battle with contagious disease and show how terrifyingly close we are to the next epidemic. Authors have created fiction around the bubonic plague, multiple cholera outbreaks, the spanish flu of 1918, yellow fever epidemics and set storylines in leper colonies. The complexities of racial tensions and income inequality are explored through the lens of the plague, kevin chongs nuanced study of human nature under biological siege, and a terrific riff on the camus classic. Books blog books plague fiction why authors love to write about pandemics from michael crichton and dan brown to shelley and boccaccio, the theme of infectious disease is not a new affliction. Roman fever, as it was known to the devastating bouts of bubonic plague that swept europe, to smallpox. Plague, the disease caused by the bacterium yersinia pestis, was the cause. Barry non fiction plague randy shilts richard preston science fiction stephen king ya young adult 10 longrunning sffhorror fiction. Two books about the black death that ive read and can recommend are. Battling black death and the 1900 burning of honolulus chinatown by james c. Which books are the most informative about the black death.
What shakespeare actually wrote about the plague the new. Bubonic plague robbie readers natural disasters mitchell lane only 3 left in stock more on the way. A medieval tale of plague is historic fiction, delving into a firstperson account of life during the european plague years of 4650. With that in mind, i thought id put together a list of young adult books about plagues and pestilenceincluding one of my favourites from when i was a teen.
What shakespeare actually wrote about the plague the new yorker. This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and if not signed in for advertising. The black death was a devastating global epidemic of bubonic plague that struck europe and asia in the mid0s. The third line is an obvious difference between the british and american versions. A fictional story in which two dogs, rowf and snitter, escape from a british government research laboratory and are hunted down by the government.
Disease and culture in early renaissance europe by samuel k. A journal of the plague year is fiction masked as a journal. The disease variously known as the plague, the black death, the pestilence, or the bubonic plague, occupies a potent and febrile space in our minds and in our thinking about infection. Score a book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. Oct 28, 2014 from bubonic plague to the spanish flu nature proves again and again that she is one step ahead of us in the battle with disease. The mammoth book of extreme science fiction and the mammoth book of comic. Sep 07, 2017 the sparrow and the hall by donald mace williams.
Books about pandemics to read in the time of coronavirus. These seven books brilliantly take you to the front lines in the battle with contagious disease and show how. Ive included both fiction and nonfiction here, so if you really. Mohr when people think about the bubonic plague they tend to focus on the unprecedented devastation it caused at the end of the middle ages in europe when one in three people were killed. Giovanni boccaccio, the decameron 51 this masterpiece and urnarrative of plague literature is framed by a story about the black death in florence during the 14th century. Shakespeare lived his entire life in the shadow of bubonic plague. Plague fiction why authors love to write about pandemics. A hugo award and nebula awardwinning historical science fiction novel, in which a timetraveler inadvertently ends up in the plagueridden england of 48.
All blurbs taken from amazon or book depository plague 99 by jean ure. In very rare circumstances, as in the septicemic plague, the disease can be transmitted by direct contact with infected tissue or exposure to the cough of another human. As always, feel free to add your suggestions in the comments. Writers have used plagues in their stories for a long time. This is also a great book for anyone interested in the history.
Genetic engineering or something modern plague more virulent eve than hiv. These flowers are carried by people in the pockets. Dreaded because of the scale of the mortality and its sheer foulness, its periodic outbreaks had a devastating impact. How the bubonic plague almost came to america literary hub. How the bubonic plague almost came to america a pompous doctor, a racist bureaucracy, and more.
Plague has been the most feared disease across europe since the black death in the 40s. From bubonic plague to the spanish flu nature proves again and again that she is one step ahead of us in the battle with disease. List of books and articles about black death black plague. The plague is easily one of the best ten novels ever written, far surpassing even the erstwhile classic the stranger. Bbc culture the plague writers who predicted today. Roman fever, as it was known to the devastating bouts of bubonic plague that. Its a great classic, if thats the kind of thing you are looking for. It is an account of one mans experiences of the year 1665, in which the bubonic plague struck the city of london in what became known as the great plague of london, the last epidemic of plague in that city. The plague by albert camus the 180th greatest fiction book. The best non fiction books about pandemics, diseases, and outbreaks of the past. The best nonfiction books about pandemics, diseases, and outbreaks of the past. Bubonic plague is an infection of the lymphatic system, usually resulting from the bite of an infected flea, xenopsylla cheopis the rat flea. Features include a table of contents, a timeline, facts, additional resources, web sites, a glossary, a bibliography, and an.
The book is told somewhat chronologically, though without sections or chapter headings. In late spring 1665, bubonic plague began to eat away at londons population. The best scifi books of all time penguin random house. The washington post an unforgettable tale, set in 17th century england, of a village that quarantines itself to arrest the spread of the plague, from the author the secret chord and of march, winner of the pulitzer prize. Today there are many endoftheworld tales, but the bubonic plague pandemic in the 14th century is the original apocalypse story. On april 26, 1564, in the parish register of holy trinity church, in stratforduponavon, the vicar, john bretchgirdle, recorded. This title examines an important historic event the bubonic plague. Top ten books on the bubonic plague plague and fire. Life seems that much more precious when death is just around the corner. Opinion what social distancing looked like in 1666 the. Apr 06, 2020 the disease variously known as the plague, the black death, the pestilence, or the bubonic plague, occupies a potent and febrile space in our minds and in our thinking about infection. Mar 29, 2020 a lot of english people believed 1666 would be the year of the apocalypse.
Does anyone know of any historical fiction books on the black. The plague arrived in europe in october 47, when 12 ships from the black sea. Fiction pale horse, pale rider 1939 by katherine ann porter is a short novel set during the influenza pandemic of. May 07, 2020 shakespeare lived his entire life in the shadow of bubonic plague. Black death black plague plague these acute febrile diseases are caused by yersinia pestis pasteurella pestis, discovered independently by shibasaburo kitasato and alexandre yersin in 1894, a bacterium that typically is transmitted to people by fleas from rodents, in which epidemic waves of infection always precede great epidemics in. A journal of the plague year is a book by daniel defoe, first published in march 1722. The scale of death wrought by the bubonic plague that swept much of the known world in the 0s is so. Stewart and the stand by stephen king have become iconic examples of postapocalyptic science fiction where the world has been ruined by disease. May 09, 2019 the following morning, an italian crab fisherman by the name of joseph casarino discovered the bodies of two men floating face down in the water about an eighth of a mile east of fort point, a civil warera fortification at the mouth of the bay which in time would fall under the shadow of the golden gate bridge.
Mar 03, 2007 a hugo award and nebula awardwinning historical science fiction novel, in which a timetraveler inadvertently ends up in the plague ridden england of 48. There are so many books on the plague or black death, as some writers refer to it. Theres a political urgency to much of spinrads science fiction, and his short novel journal of the plague years is no exception. Daniel defoes 1722 a journal of the plague year, which chronicles the 1665 bubonic plague in london, gives an eerie playbyplay of events that recalls our own responses to the initial shock. Dec 10, 2011 indeed, one of the greatest catastrophes ever to alter englands history was neither war nor dynastic challenge. This is a little more academic in nature, but gives a lot. Chaos prevails when the bubonic plague strikes the algerian coastal city of oran.
Fiction pale horse, pale rider 1939 by katherine ann porter is a short novel set during the influenza pandemic of 1918, which killed five times as. There is so much work done on the plague, it was nearly impossible to narrow it down. The flea is parasitic on house and field rats, and seeks out other prey. Pale horse, pale rider 1939 by katherine ann porter is a short novel set during the influenza pandemic of 1918, which killed five times as many. The plague by albert camus a haunting tale of human resilience in the face of unrelieved horror, camus novel about a bubonic plague ravaging the people of a north african coastal town is a classic of twentiethcentury literature.
Culture the plague writers who predicted today bbc. Ive included both fiction and nonfiction here, so if you really want to steep yourself in academic history or want to read a fun if depressing reinterpretation of the canterbury tales, it is all here. He loves his wife and children, helps his neighbors, and, above all, is unswervingly loyal to keelwolf, the thane who virtually rules this part of northumbria. A lot of english people believed 1666 would be the year of the apocalypse.
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