Historical Fiction/plague

[varnish7]

Could someone recommend some good historical fiction that tells about the Black Death and that time period? Thanks.

[OrphanPip]

Daniel Defoe's A Journal of the Plague Years, it's more of a fictionalized sort of documentary than historical fiction.

[dfloyd]

1. Journal of the Plague Year by Daniel Defoe This is a fictionalized journal of the Plague Year in London. Although it is a fictionalized journal, it reads like an actual diary. Not for sale at this time.

2. The Black Death by Philip Ziegler This is a well researched account of the black death in Europe. It is bound in black linen with a pictorial representation of death on the front board, stamped in gold and red. Published by The Folio Society in 1997. The book is encased in a black slipcase. This book is in Mint condition (like new) and is for sale at an attractive price. If interested, send me a personal message via this forum.

[kasie]

Defoe's Journal of the Plague Year (published 1722) deals with the Plague in London in 1664/5 - the Black Death spread through Europe in the 1340s. I don't know any fictional accounts of this period but Simon Schama deals with it extensively in the chapter 'King Death' in Volume I of his History of Britain . He writes with imaginative sympathy of the impact the pandemic had not just on English society but on the whole of Europe - it's a very accessible form of historical writing and you may find it interesting and informative.

I did read a 'time travel' story about a scientist who went back in time and landed in a village in the throes of the Black Death and then had the problem of whether or not to return to her own time with the possibility of bringing the disease with her. I'm afraid it made so little impact on me that though I can remember the plot line I can't recollect the title or the author - sorry!

[wessexgirl]

I think Company of Liars by Karen Maitland is set in the time of the Black Death. I haven't read it yet, but I'm pretty sure that it features prominently. It's been a long time since I read it, but Katherine by Anya Seton might mention it too, as it covers a large amount of the period, although it's not about the subject. I can second Kasie's suggestion too. Schama is very readable, although I haven't read that particular chapter, but I've read other stuff by him, and he's excellent. You may be able to get his series up on youtube, and watch the ones about the period.

[stlukesguild]

The introduction to Boccaccio's Decameron is set in Florence at the height of the Great Plague.

[OrphanPip]

I did read a 'time travel' story about a scientist who went back in time and landed in a village in the throes of the Black Death and then had the problem of whether or not to return to her own time with the possibility of bringing the disease with her. I'm afraid it made so little impact on me that though I can remember the plot line I can't recollect the title or the author - sorry!

Particularly silly since Yersinia pestis is still alive and kicking today.