Customer Reviews
a masterpiece - By: A. O. Nions, 19 Aug 2006 
simply the book on the black death a goldmine of information & primary sources that must be used if studying the black death totally invauluable.
An invaluable text - By: , 24 Aug 2001 From 1348 to 1350 Europe was devastated by an epidemic that left between one third & one half of the population dead. This collection of sources traces through contemporary writings the calamitous impact of the Black Deathin Europe, with particular emphasis on its spread across England from 1348 to 1349. Rosemary Horrox surveys contemporary responses to the plague. The almost universal belief that it was an expression of divine anger at the sins of humankind did not preclude the attempts to explain the epidemicin scientific & medical terms or to look for human scapegoats. The sources includedin the book trace the social & psychological impact of the plague, & its effects on the late-medieval economy & illustrate the fear that spread with the disease as well as the diverse ways that such terror influenced social behavior. Part One focuses on narrative accounts of the plaguein Continental Europe &in the British Isles. Part Two examines explanations & responses to the plague, including religious & scientific. Part Three deals with the extraordinary consequences of the plague, its impact & repercussions. Finally the text ends with excellent & up-to-date suggestions for further reading. Dr. Horrox's text is the most extensive collection of relevant sourcesin translation & is an invaluable addition to the field. This book should be a part of the personal collection of every student of the Medieval period.
