About the Book
This text is from a leading expert, a unique, character-driven and compellingly written narrative of the devastation wreaked on a small English village during the fourteenth century when the Black Death ravaged the countryside.In this new and fresh historical approach to the history of the Black Death, Professor John Hatcher recreates everyday life in a mid-fourteenth century parish in rural England. By focusing on the experiences of ordinary villagers as they lived, and died during the Black Death (1345-50), Hatcher vividly places the reader into the tumultuous fourteenth century and describes in fascinating detail everyday life amidst the tragic effects of the plague. The story is peopled with characters developed from the villagers named in the records. And a series of dramatic scenes are created which portray how contemporaries must have experienced the momentous events- what they knew and what they believed, from the horrors of disease, pestilence and death to the desperate rumors, frightening tales, and fearful sermons they heard as they tried to make sense of all that was visited upon them.In this unique style and innovative approach, the hindsight, judgments and perspectives of the twenty-first century historian have been banished from the text, and the reader is given a view of the Black Death entirely from within the fourteenth century-and one that is unlike any other book on the Black Death.
About the Author :
John Hatcher is Professor of Economic and Social History and Chairman of the History Faculty at the University of Cambridge, and Vice-Master of Corpus Christi College. He has published eight books and more than twenty articles and contributions to books on medieval and early modern social and economic history.
Review :
"Fifty Plus" "A fascinating read...A welcome addition to our understanding of this poorly documented catastrophe." "Augusto Metro Spirit" 7/09/08 "A brilliant overview of the plague...Intricate personal portraits create a dynamic sense of reality."
"Maxim" June Issue "Tells you everything you ever wanted to know about the unstoppable killer plague that devastated a 14th-century English village. Pass the sad juice!"
Fifty Plus
"A fascinating read...A welcome addition to our understanding of this poorly documented catastrophe."
Augusto Metro Spirit 7/09/08
"A brilliant overview of the plague...Intricate personal portraits create a dynamic sense of reality."
Kirkus 4/15/08
"Hatcher effectively portrays the collective hysteria that gripped the land."
Maxim June Issue
"Tells you everything you ever wanted to know about the unstoppable killer plague that devastated a 14th-century English village. Pass the sad juice!"Booklist, 6/1/08
"Evoking the medieval mind-set, including anxiety about composing the soul for eternity, Hatcher's fictional scenes and characters are secured to actual events in village affairs as the Black Death kills half of Walsham's inhabitants. An unusual yet unusually gripping way to capture the distant past."Sunday Times (UK), 6/1/08
"[Hatcher's] reconstructed account is suspenseful, informative and appropriately horrifying...Scenes show the strength of Hatcher's dramatic method."
New York Post "Required Reading" column, 6/15/08
"For those whose only knowledge of the plague comes from Monty Python, but are willing to learn more, Cambridge Professor Hatcher takes a serious, but very readable look at the epidemic."
Rutland Herald 6/18/08
"This is a hard-hitting and thought-provoking book which stands out....The story is compelling and emotional and the plot is fast-paced, with well-drawn characters...This is a book that readers will remember for a long time to come."
Simon Winchester, New York Sun, 6/25/08
"Totally absorbing...Presents the best account ever written about the worst event to have ever befallen the British Isles. In the hands of John Hatcher...the extraordinary tragedy of the great plague...has been brought to life in a manner rarely attempted, and with a level of success even more rarely achieved...A history book like very few others, and a triumph at that...A book--half fact, half highly informed speculation--that can have few rivals."
Library Journal Xpress Review, 6/24/08
"A very readable, engaging work...An accessible and informative introduction to the topic."
ON American Airlines
"Hatcher masterfully portrays the personal story of the rural English village."
King Features Syndicate
"One of the most fascinating accounts of the Black Death ever written...[An] incredible book...What gives this story its legs is Hatcher's attention to detail and his intimate knowledge of the period...This is living, breathing history written by a gifted writer at the top of his game."
The Times Literary Supplement, UK
"A haunting combination of unobtrusive expertise and considerable imagination...The intimate history reads like a masterfully constructed thriller...Neither a work of bloodless historical analysis nor a piece of historical fiction, but a gripping combination of the two."
Roanoke Times, 08/03/08
"The book is interesting and provides a good view of English life in the 14th century."
Charleston Post & Courier, 08/03/08
Vivid scenes...Hatcher exhibits a crisp narrative style that lends itself easily to this kind of storytelling."
Pop Matters, 8/18/08
"Hatcher is able to build outward and ultimately give life to every facet of the community...Hatcher's deft illustration of this foreboding terror is chilling. Hatcher has produced a riveting account...Thanks to Hatcher's meticulous research and vivid imagination, [the lives taken by the plague] are no longer invisible."
Fifty Plus
A fascinating read A welcome addition to our understanding of this poorly documented catastrophe.
Augusto Metro Spirit 7/09/08
A brilliant overview of the plague Intricate personal portraits create a dynamic sense of reality.
Kirkus 4/15/08
Hatcher effectively portrays the collective hysteria that gripped the land.
Maxim June Issue
Tells you everything you ever wanted to know about the unstoppable killer plague that devastated a 14th-century English village. Pass the sad juice! Booklist, 6/1/08
Evoking the medieval mind-set, including anxiety about composing the soul for eternity, Hatcher s fictional scenes and characters are secured to actual events in village affairs as the Black Death kills half of Walsham s inhabitants. An unusual yet unusually gripping way to capture the distant past. Sunday Times (UK), 6/1/08
[Hatcher s] reconstructed account is suspenseful, informative and appropriately horrifying Scenes show the strength of Hatcher's dramatic method. "
New York Post Required Reading column, 6/15/08
For those whose only knowledge of the plague comes from Monty Python, but are willing to learn more, Cambridge Professor Hatcher takes a serious, but very readable look at the epidemic.
Rutland Herald 6/18/08
This is a hard-hitting and thought-provoking book which stands out .The story is compelling and emotional and the plot is fast-paced, with well-drawn characters This is a book that readers will remember for a long time to come.
Simon Winchester, New York Sun, 6/25/08
Totally absorbing Presents the best account ever written about the worst event to have ever befallen the British Isles. In the hands of John Hatcher the extraordinary tragedy of the great plague has been brought to life in a manner rarely attempted, and with a level of success even more rarely achieved A history book like very few others, and a triumph at that A book half fact, half highly informed speculation that can have few rivals.
Library Journal Xpress Review, 6/24/08
A very readable, engaging work An accessible and informative introduction to the topic.
ON American Airlines
Hatcher masterfully portrays the personal story of the rural English village.
"
King Features Syndicate
One of the most fascinating accounts of the Black Death ever written [An] incredible book What gives this story its legs is Hatcher s attention to detail and his intimate knowledge of the period This is living, breathing history written by a gifted writer at the top of his game.
The Times Literary Supplement, UK
A haunting combination of unobtrusive expertise and considerable imagination The intimate history reads like a masterfully constructed thriller Neither a work of bloodless historical analysis nor a piece of historical fiction, but a gripping combination of the two.
Roanoke Times, 08/03/08
The book is interesting and provides a good view of English life in the 14th century.
Charleston Post & Courier, 08/03/08
Vivid scenes Hatcher exhibits a crisp narrative style that lends itself easily to this kind of storytelling.
Pop Matters, 8/18/08
Hatcher is able to build outward and ultimately give life to every facet of the community Hatcher s deft illustration of this foreboding terror is chilling. Hatcher has produced a riveting account Thanks to Hatcher s meticulous research and vivid imagination, [the lives taken by the plague] are no longer invisible. "
"Booklist", 6/1/08
"Evoking the medieval mind-set, including anxiety about composing the soul for eternity, Hatcher's fictional scenes and characters are secured to actual events in village affairs as the Black Death kills half of Walsham's inhabitants. An unusual yet unusually gripping way to capture the distant past."
"Fifty Plus"
"A fascinating read...A welcome addition to our understanding of this poorly documented catastrophe."
"Augusto Metro Spirit" 7/09/08
"A brilliant overview of the plague...Intricate personal portraits create a dynamic sense of reality."
"Library Journal" Xpress Review, 6/24/08
"A very readable, engaging work...An accessible and informative introduction to the topic."
"ON American Airlines
""Hatcher masterfully portrays the personal story of the rural English village."
"King Features Syndicate"
"One of the most fascinating accounts of the Black Death ever written...[An] incredible book...What gives this story its legs is Hatcher's attention to detail and his intimate knowledge of the period...This is living, breathing history written by a gifted writer at the top of his game."
"New York Post" "Required Reading" column, 6/15/08
"For those whose only knowledge of the plague comes from Monty Python, but are willing to learn more, Cambridge Professor Hatcher takes a serious, but very readable look at the epidemic." "Rutland Herald" 6/18/08
"This is a hard-hitting and thought-provoking book which stands out....The story is compelling and emotional and the plot is fast-paced, with well-drawn characters...This is a book that readers will remember for a long time to come."
Simon Winchester, "New York Sun," 6/25/08
"Totally absorbing...Presents the best account ever written about the worst event to have ever befallen the British Isles. In the hands of John Hatcher...the extraordinary tragedy of the great plague...has been brought to life in a manner rarely attempted, and with a level of success even more rarely achieved...A history book like very few others, and a triumph at that...A book--half fact, half highly informed speculation--t
"The Times Literary Supplement," UK
"A haunting combination of unobtrusive expertise and considerable imagination...The intimate history reads like a masterfully constructed thriller...Neither a work of bloodless historical analysis nor a piece of historical fiction, but a gripping combination of the two." "Roanoke Times," 08/03/08
"The book is interesting and provides a good view of English life in the 14th century."
"Charleston Post & Courier," 08/03/08
Vivid scenes...Hatcher exhibits a crisp narrative style that lends itself easily to this kind of storytelling."
"Pop Matters," 8/18/08
"Hatcher is able to build outward and ultimately give life to every facet of the community...Hatcher's deft illustration of this foreboding terror is chilling. Hatcher has produced a riveting account...Thanks to Hatcher's meticulous research and vivid imagination, [the lives taken by the plague] are no longer invisible."
HuffingtonPost.com
"J
"Kirkus" 4/15/08
"Hatcher effectively portrays the collective hysteria that gripped the land."
"Library Journal" Xpress Review, 6/24/08
"A very readable, engaging work...An accessible and informative introduction to the topic."
"ON American Airlines
""Hatcher masterfully portrays the personal story of the rural English village."
"King Features Syndicate"
"One of the most fascinating accounts of the Black Death ever written...[An] incredible book...What gives this story its legs is Hatcher's attention to detail and his intimate knowledge of the period...This is living, breathing history written by a gifted writer at the top of his game."
"Maxim" June Issue
"Tells you everything you ever wanted to know about the unstoppable killer plague that devastated a 14th-century English village. Pass the sad juice!"
"Library Journal" Xpress Review, 6/24/08 "A very readable, engaging work...An accessible and informative introduction to the topic." "ON American Airlines ""Hatcher masterfully portrays the personal story of the rural English village."
"King Features Syndicate" "One of the most fascinating accounts of the Black Death ever written...[An] incredible book...What gives this story its legs is Hatcher's attention to detail and his intimate knowledge of the period...This is living, breathing history written by a gifted writer at the top of his game."
"The Times Literary Supplement," UK
"A haunting combination of unobtrusive expertise and considerable imagination...The intimate history reads like a masterfully constructed thriller...Neither a work of bloodless historical analysis nor a piece of historical fiction, but a gripping combination of the two."
"Roanoke Times," 08/03/08
"The book is interesting and provides a good view of English life in the 14th century."
"Charleston Post & Courier," 08/03/08
Vivid scenes...Hatcher exhibits a crisp narrative style that lends itself easily to this kind of storytelling."
Simon Winchester, "New York Sun," 6/25/08 "Totally absorbing...Presents the best account ever written about the worst event to have ever befallen the British Isles. In the hands of John Hatcher...the extraordinary tragedy of the great plague...has been brought to life in a manner rarely attempted, and with a level of success even more rarely achieved...A history book like very few others, and a triumph at that...A book--half fact, half highly informed speculation--that can have few rivals." "Library Journal" Xpress Review, 6/24/08 "A very readable, engaging work...An accessible and informative introduction to the topic."
"ON American Airlines" "Hatcher masterfully portrays the personal story of the rural English village."
"King Features Syndicate"
"One of the most fascinating accounts of the Black Death ever written...[An] incredible book...What gives this story its legs is Hatcher's attention to detail and his intimate knowledge of the period...This is living, breathing history written by a gifted writer at the top of his game."
Simon Winchester, "New York Sun," 6/25/08
"Totally absorbing...Presents the best account ever written about the worst event to have ever befallen the British Isles. In the hands of John Hatcher...the extraordinary tragedy of the great plague...has been brought to life in a manner rarely attempted, and with a level of success even more rarely achieved...A history book like very few others, and a triumph at that...A book--half fact, half highly informed speculation--that can have few rivals.""Library Journal" Xpress Review, 6/24/08
"A very readable, engaging work...An accessible and informative introduction to the topic."
"Rutland Herald" 6/18/08
"This is a hard-hitting and thought-provoking book which stands out....The story is compelling and emotional and the plot is fast-paced, with well-drawn characters...This is a book that readers will remember for a long time to come."
"Booklist," 6/1/08
"Evoking the medieval mind-set, including anxiety about composing the soul for eternity, Hatcher's fictional scenes and characters are secured to actual events in village affairs as the Black Death kills half of Walsham's inhabitants. An unusual yet unusually gripping way to capture the distant past."
"Maxim" June Issu
"Tells you everything you ever wanted to know about the unstoppable killer plague that devastated a 14th-century English village. Pass the sad juice!"
"Publishers Weekly" 4/21/08
"In an experimental narrative for an academic historian--blending some fiction with solid facts--Hatcher... helps readers understand the deep terror that prevailed...Especially affecting are accounts of the psychological agonies...This is a fine work that gives an intimate sense of the Black Death's horrors."
"Sunday Times" (UK), 6/1/08
"[Hatcher's] reconstructed account is suspenseful, informative and appropriately horrifying...Scenes show the strength of Hatcher's dramatic method."
"In an experimental narrative for an academic historian--blending some fiction with solid facts--Hatcher... helps readers understand the deep terror that prevailed...Especially affecting are accounts of the psychological agonies...This is a fine work that gives an intimate sense of the Black Death's horrors."--"Publishers Weekly" 4/21/08 "Hatcher effectively portrays the collective hysteria that gripped the land."--"Kirkus" 4/15/08
