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In The Wake Of The Plague: The Black Death and the World It Made
 
 
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In The Wake Of The Plague: The Black Death and the World It Made [Paperback]

Norman F Cantor (Author)
2.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (123 customer reviews)
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One-third of Western Europe's population died between 1348 and 1350, victims of the Black Death. Noted medievalist Norman Cantor tells the story of the pandemic and its widespread effects in In the Wake of the Plague.

After giving an overview, Cantor describes various theories about the medical crisis, from contemporary fears of a Jewish conspiracy to poison the water (and the resulting atrocities against European Jews) to a growing belief among modern historians that both bubonic plague and anthrax caused the spiraling death rates. Cantor also details ways in which the Black Death changed history, at both the personal level (family lines dying out) and the political (the Plantagenet kings may well have been able to hold onto France had their resources not been so diminished).

Cantor veers from topic to topic, from dynastic worries to the Dance of Death, and from peasants' rights to Perpendicular Gothic. This makes for amusing reading, though those seeking an orderly narrative may be frustrated. He also seems overly concerned with rumors of homosexual behavior, and his attempt to link the savage method of Edward II's murder to a cooling in global weather is a bit farfetched.

Cantor wears his considerable scholarship lightly, but includes a very useful critical biography for further reading. While not an entry-level text on the Black Death, In the Wake of the Plague will interest readers looking for a broader interpretation of its consequences. --Sunny Delaney --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

The author, currently an emeritus professor at New York University, has had a distinguished career as a medieval historian, and his textbook The Civilization of the Middle Ages has been popular with many students over many years. Here Cantor produces a popular account of one of the greatest disasters ever to befall the people of Europe. The great plague that struck in the mid-14th century, and returned intermittently for centuries thereafter, had a mortality rate of perhaps 40% and consequently ushered in several profound changes. Beginning with a biomedical survey of the disease, the author points out many problems with current beliefs about its origins, transmission and nature. He suggests that in many instances the likely cause of death was anthrax, which has the same initial symptoms as plague. The plague fell on all classes and regions, and the author uses the stories of several individuals to personalize the devastation and its consequences. He makes a particularly compelling case that the death of Thomas Bradwardine, newly consecrated archbishop of Canterbury, had deep repercussions for the development of both science and religion. In some instances the book raises points that deserve fuller treatment, such as the possible role of serpents in the transmission of plague, but the final chapter neatly summarizes the consequences of this calamity. This book will be welcomed by anyone who wants a good introduction to the topic.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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IN THE SIXTH MONTH OF THE new millennium and new century, the American Medical Association held a conference of infectious diseases. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews

123 Reviews
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 (8)
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Average Customer Review
2.2 out of 5 stars (123 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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2.0 out of 5 stars Mixed Feelings about this Book, Mar 3 2008
By 
Zadius Sky (USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   
This review is from: In The Wake Of The Plague: The Black Death and the World It Made (Paperback)
Norman Cantor's "In the Wake of the Plague" is rather an interesting read yet my feelings on this were mixed. With only ten chapters and roughly 220 pages, this book can be a useful work for the study of the Black Death due to its use of secondary researches and bibliography. However, it seems to be a bit unreadable and rather a subjective written.

While I was intrigued with his use of secondary sources and his discussion in "Knowing About the Black Death" section, I was rather put off or confused by his writing style throughout this book, and I was not quite sure what conclusion(s) he was relating to the readers.

While the author made some interesting points throughout the book, I was getting the impression that he wrote this book in a hurry.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars Don't Waste your Money, April 13 2004
This review is from: In The Wake Of The Plague: The Black Death and the World It Made (Paperback)
not much i can add to the other reviews i saw posted.
poorly written, disorganized, excessive repetition,and MANY MANY errors. I just hope students are not required to read this book for history classes.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars I'd rather suffer the plague than read this book again..., Jan 21 2004
This review is from: In the Wake of the Plague: The Black Death and the World It Made (Hardcover)
I was disappointed. The title of the book gives much to live up to - (I look forward to a book that DOES cover what the title of this book describes) - sadly, Cantor falls far short.

One of the few positive things that can be said of this book is that it is brief. That, and it does have a cool cover...Do NOT judge this book by its cover!

While I write this, it crosses my mind that the publisher may have pushed this title on the writer, because it does not describe this book at all.

A better title would be: "England in the 1300's Including Anecdotes About the Plagues"

The author was let down by his editor as well. Several odd - irrelevant comments survived the process. All they did was to illuminate the authors bias against Ronald Reagan and Maggie Thatcher. What do they have to do with the 14th Century? I'm not sure.

If I wasnt currently interested in the history of the UK, I doubt I would have finished the book. The author really pissed me off at times.

(How ironic that the author takes it upon himself to slander and condescend towards almost every author whose books he has placed in the "Further Reading" section.)

I WANT MY MONEY BACK!!!

(This is the only negative review I have ever posted here. I am not a nasty, tough to please old crank, honest...)

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