The black death

Could any one direct me to some good (general) books on the Black death, 1348 in Europe? I would like to start with some introductory reading. Any historical (accurate) set in this period would also be welcome.

Black Death by Philip Ziegler is a good, basic introduction. I would also recommend John Kelly's Great Mortality.

John

I second the Great Mortality.

In the Wake of the Plague by Norman F. Cantor, and The Black Death by Robert S. Gottfried.

The Black Death by Horrox is a good compilation of primary source material.

I third The Great Mortality. But despite Norman Cantor being (having been?) big in medieval studies*, I can't seem to second In the Wake of the Plague too heartily. (Maybe it was just the recording I listened to, but I just found it... a bit narrowly focused on things that I wouldn't have paid such close attention to.)

Also, there's a chapter in Barbara Tuchman's A Distant Mirror which is worth reading.



*... and that for more general reading in medieval history I would suggest his The Civilization of the Middle Ages...

#6 - I agree re In the Wake of the Plague. I eschewed mentioning this as it was probably the worst non-fiction book about Medieval histiory I have ever read - do see my review on this site.

>7 john257hopper:
I'm glad it isn't just me, and/or the form in which I ingested that book.

In the Wake of the Plague is a classic academic post retirement book. Prof retires, cleans out his study. he has one or two projects on the boil that he hasn't finished and in a burst of creativity immediately after retirement finishes them. Those are often the best books of his career. Then he takes a break. A few years later, bored with golf, bridge, etc he starts sorting out his papers. Finds some sketches, notes, drafts etc from long ago, decides to work them up. Is out of touch with current research, has become a bit crotchetty about things that annoyed him long ago, and hasn't the energy for sustained work. Basically compiles old notes, some comments and "thoughts of the day" into a crap book that should never have been published. People read it and think "oh dear, poor old Norm (or whoever) is passed it". Wake of the Plague is one of those. As is Fernand Braudel's Identity of France.

I found many interesting tidbits in Wake of the Plague, but on the whole found it extremely dry and slow-going. Glad to hear I'm not the only one.

You might also look at The Black Death: A Personal History by John Hatcher (touchstones don't seem to be working right). Hatcher is a very well-respected scholar, but the book is written for a general audience and describes the personal experiences of people who lived at the time.

I really liked The Great Mortality. I also read In the Wake of the Plague. It was worth reading, but not the best. I am currently reading Man and Microbes and am in the middle of the chapter that focuses on the Black Death. It's only a few pages, but gives a pretty good description of how it spread and the current (okay, current ten or twelve years ago) theories as to why.

#11 I added the Hatcher book to my TBR pile after hearing a serialized version on BBC Radio 4. I haven't read it yet...but it promises to be a good read.

I'm a fan of McNeill's Plagues and Peoples. Not completely period specific but it does spend quite a bit of time on it. And Horrox is excellent for contemporary source material. Plus there's Boccaccio for a literary touch.

The Black Death: A History of Plagues 1345-1730, by William Naphy