In the Wake of the Plague : The Black Death and the World It Made

Much of what we know about the greatest medical disaster ever, the Black Plague of the fourteenth century, is wrong. The details of the Plague etched in the minds of terrified schoolchildren — the hideous black welts, the high fever, and the final, awful end by respiratory failure — are more or less accurate. But what the Plague really was, and how it made history, remain shrouded in a haze of myths. Norman Cantor, the premier historian of the Middle Ages, draws together the most recent scientific discoveries and groundbreaking historical research to pierce the mist and tell the story of the Black Death afresh, as a gripping, intimate narrative. In the Wake of the Plague presents a microcosmic view of the Plague in England (and on the continent), telling the stories of the men and women of the fourteenth century, from peasant to priest, and from merchant to king. Cantor introduces a fascinating cast of characters. We meet, among others, fifteen-year-old Princess Joan of England, on her way to Spain to marry a Castilian prince; Thomas of Birmingham, abbot of Halesowen, responsible for his abbey as a CEO is for his business in a desperate time; and the once-prominent landowner John le Strange, who sees the Black Death tear away his family's lands and then its very name as it washes, unchecked, over Europe in wave after wave. Cantor argues that despite the devastation that made the Plague so terrifying, the disease that killed more than 40 percent of Europe's population had some beneficial results. The often literal demise of the old order meant that new, more scientific thinking increasingly prevailed where church dogma had once reigned supreme. In effect, the Black Death heralded an intellectual revolution. There was also an explosion of art: tapestries became popular as window protection against the supposedly airborne virus, and a great number of painters responded to the Plague. Finally, the Black Death marked an economic sea change: the onset of what Cantor refers to as turbocapitalism; the peasants who survived the Plague thrived, creating Europe's first class of independent farmers. Here are those stories and others, in a tale of triumph coming out of the darkest horror, wrapped up in a scientific mystery that persists, in part, to this day. Cantor's portrait of the Black Death's world is pro-vocative and captivating. Not since Barbara Tuchman's A Distant Mirror have medieval men and women been brought so vividly to life. The greatest popularizer of the Middle Ages has written the period's most fascinating narrative. Norman Cantor Draws Together The Most Recent Scientific Discoveries And Historical Research To Pierce The Mist And Tell The Story Of The Black Death Afresh, As A Gripping, Intimate Narrative. In The Wake Of The Plague Presents A Microcosmic View Of The Plague In England (and On The Continent), Telling The Stories Of The Men And Women Of The Fourteenth Century, From Peasant To Priest, And From Merchant To King. We Meet, Among Others, Fifteen-year-old Princess Joan Of England, On Her Way To Spain To Marry A Castilian Prince; Thomas Of Birmingham, Abbot Of Halesowen, Responsible For His Abbey As A Ceo Is For His Business In A Desperate Time; And The Once-prominent Landowner John Le Strange, Who Sees The Black Death Tear Away His Family's Lands And Then Its Very Name As It Washes, Unchecked, Over Europe In Wave After Wave.--jacket. Pt. I. Biomedical Context. 1. All Fall Down. 2. Rodents And Cattle -- Pt. Ii. People. 3. Bordeaux Is Burning. 4. Lord And Peasants. 5. Death Comes To The Archbishop. 6. Women And Men Of Property. 7. The Jewish Conspiracy -- Pt. Iii. History. 8. Serpents And Cosmic Dust. 9. Heritage Of The African Rifts. 10. Aftermath. Knowing About The Black Death: A Critical Bibliography. Norman F. Cantor. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 221-230) And Index. "Norman Cantor draws together the most recent scientific discoveries and historical research to pierce the mist and tell the story of the Black Death afresh, as a gripping, intimate narrative.". "In the Wake of the Plague presents a microcosmic view of the Plague in England (and on the continent), telling the stories of the men and women of the fourteenth century, from peasant to priest, and from merchant to king. We meet, among others, fifteen-year-old Princess Joan of England, on her way to Spain to marry a Castilian prince; Thomas of Birmingham, abbot of Halesowen, responsible for his abbey as a CEO is for his business in a desperate time; and the once-prominent landowner John le Strange, who sees the Black Death tear away his family's lands and then its very name as it washes, unchecked, over Europe in wave after wave."--BOOK JACKET. "The bubonic plague of 1348-1350 wiped out 40 percent of Europe’s population. Cantor’s engaging yet scholarly analysis of the plague’s devastation and its social and political consequences is fascinating. Want a tidbit? The royals who built their castles on the coveted land at the edge of a port really got zapped by those plague-carrying rats. Guaranteed--you will frequently exclaim aloud, and you will interrupt other people’s conversations to share everything you learn. A.C.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB / MAR 03]" listen to the narrator https://www.audiofilemagazine.com/reviews/read/11676/ Through profiles of merchants, peasants, priests, and kings, argues that despite devastation, the Black Death resulted in a scientific revolution, a new wave of art, and the emergence of independent farmers. IN THE SIXTH MONTH OF THE new millennium and new century, the American Medical Association held a conference on infectious diseases.