The Great Mortality: An Intimate History of the Black Death, the Most Devastating Plague of All Time
Who Would Like This Book:
If you love history with a human touch, this book is right up your alley. "The Great Mortality" stands out for its vivid storytelling and gripping firsthand accounts, making the horror and resilience of the Black Death feel surprisingly relatable. John Kelly doesn't just chart dates and numbers - he dives deep into the lives, fears, and oddities of everyday people facing unimaginable catastrophe. Anyone curious about pandemics, medieval life, or the roots of societal change will find this both fascinating and deeply moving. Great for history buffs, medical history nerds, and fans of microhistories who want more than dry facts.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Those seeking a rigorous academic history or loads of scientific analysis might be disappointed, as the book leans more on narrative than pioneering research. The writing style can get a bit ornate with flowery metaphors and occasionally veers into speculation and fictionalized scenes, which some may find distracting. If you crave pure primary sources or tire easily from repetitive accounts as the plague sweeps city by city, this might not be your cup of tea.
About:
'The Great Mortality: An Intimate History of the Black Death, the Most Devastating Plague of All Time' by John Kelly is a detailed account of the Black Death in the 14th century. The author delves into the devastating impact of the plague, tracing its origins in Asia and its spread through Europe. Kelly provides a comprehensive exploration of the social, economic, and political effects of the Black Death, highlighting the day-to-day struggles of individuals during this catastrophic time period. weaves together historical facts with personal narratives, offering a vivid portrayal of the horrors faced by people living through the plague.
Genres:
Topics:
Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include graphic descriptions of death, disease, historical anti-Semitism, and the psychological impacts of massive mortality.
From The Publisher:
"Powerful, rich with details, moving, humane, and full of important lessons for an age when weapons of mass destruction are loose among us." - Richard Rhodes, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Making of the Atomic Bomb
The Great Plague is one of the most compelling events in human history-even more so now, when the notion of plague has never loomed larger as a contemporary public concern.
The plague that devastated Asia and Europe in the 14th century has been of never-ending interest to both scholarly and general readers. Many books on the plague rely on statistics to tell the story: how many people died; how farm output and trade declined. But statistics can't convey what it was like to sit in Siena or Avignon and hear that a thousand people a day are dying two towns away. Or to have to chose between your own life and your duty to a mortally ill child or spouse. Or to live in a society where the bonds of blood and sentiment and law have lost all meaning, where anyone can murder or rape or plunder anyone else without fear of consequence.
In The Great Mortality, author John Kelly lends an air of immediacy and intimacy to his telling of the journey of the plague as it traveled from the steppes of Russia, across Europe, and into England, killing 75 million people-one third of the known population-before it vanished.
Ratings (7)
Loved It (2) | |
Liked It (2) | |
It Was OK (1) | |
Did Not Like (2) |
Reader Stats (29):
Read It (6) | |
Currently Reading (1) | |
Want To Read (15) | |
Not Interested (7) |
What can you read after
The Great Mortality?
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.
