Synopses & Reviews
The haunting cry of "Bring out your dead!" by a bell-ringing collector of 17th-century plague victims has filled readers across the centuries with cold terror. The chilling cry survives in historical consciousness largely as a result of this classic 1722 account of the epidemic of bubonic plague — known as the Black Death — that ravaged England in 1664-1665.
Actually written nearly 60 years later by Daniel Defoe, the Journal is narrated by a Londoner named "H. F.," who allegedly lived through the devastating effects of the pestilence and produced this eye witness account. Drawing on his considerable talents as both journalist and novelist, Defoe reconstructed events both historically and fictionally, incorporating realistic, memorable details that enable the novel to surpass even firsthand accounts in its air of authenticity. This verisimilitude is all the more remarkable since Defoe was only five years old when the actual events took place. Long a staple of college literature courses, A Journal of the Plague Year will fascinate students, teachers, and general readers alike.
Synopsis
The haunting cry of a bell-ringing collector of plague victims, "Bring out your dead!," has echoed across the centuries. It survives in historical consciousness thanks to this classic 1722 account (long a staple of college literature courses) of the epidemic of bubonic plague that ravaged England nearly 60 years earlier. A child of 5 in the plague year, Daniel Defoe applied his considerable talents as both a journalist and a novelist to this historical and fictional reconstruction of the Great Plague of London in 1664-1665. Written in the form of an eyewitness report by a Londoner named "H. F., " Defoe's novel abounds in memorable and realistic details, surpassing even firsthand accounts in its air of authenticity.
Synopsis
Classic 1722 account of the epidemic that ravaged England nearly 60 years earlier. Defoe used his considerable talents as a journalist and novelist to reconstruct historically and fictionally the Great Plague of London in 1664-65. Written as an eyewitness report, the novel abounds in memorable and realistic details.
Synopsis
Classic 1722 account of Great Plague of London that ravaged England nearly 60 years earlier. Defoe writes the story as an eyewitness report and the novel abounds in memorable, realistic details.