The Black Death in England (Hardback)

'The Black Death in England: Journal of the Plague Years' by Kathryn Warner is less of a usual book and more of a reference. The book starts by setting the scene before the first round of the Plague raged across Europe. Who were the ruling figures, what were they doing and who were their families., Then, chapter by chapter, we are exposed to names, ages and family trees of many of the individuals and families that met their demise.

In the introduction of the book itself, the goal is pretty clear:
"Journal of the Plague Years aims to give names to some of the people of England who died in the Black Death and those who lived through it, and to recreate a little of their lives wherever possible."

And this is exactly what the book succeeds in doing. I am honestly in awe at how much the author was able to gather about all those people. Who was married to whom? Who were their children? What happened to their loved ones after their passing? What about their wills? I honestly didn't expect all of these details.

While the information is presented in a factual manner, something about just giving names to all those people and realizing that once upon a time, they were real persons with dreams, hopes and full lives is heart-wrenching. The accounts shared are truly horrifying in their ... simplicity. Entire families vanished. Children lost all of their parents, siblings and relatives within days. Young daughters were wed off by the next surviving guardians to 'protect them' as others greed after their inheritance.

This is not a book you read for entertainment, nor is it a book to read casually. This is an ideal reference for anyone exploring the medieval times and the plagues. And it does so brilliantly.

NetGalley, Mona M

The true highlight of this book is the fact that Warner focuses on the stories of the common people, not just the nobility or royalty, which are often highlighted in medieval history books. I think it was so fascinating to see how others dealt with the plague and how it affected their families and the nation as a whole.

Overall, I think this is a solid book for those who want to dive into the archives and explore the impact of the Black Death in England.

NetGalley, Heidi Malagisi

Very informative and an enjoyable read, I liked that it helped put a human face to the tragedy, and helped with research for my current wip too.

NetGalley, Laura Faulkner

A wonderful historical reference book about the turbulent times of the Black Plague. The author definitely did her research. Well-written and detailed.

NetGalley, Maggie Palner

I am such a history geek and the Black Death is a period in history that has fascinated me for such a long time. This was a really great non fiction read, insightful and intriguing.

NetGalley, Stephanie Humphreys

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Now this was such an interesting read.
Even had my own little town in it which was amazing.
I really enjoyed it and actually felt like I learned so much. Such a brilliant read love it.

NetGalley, Jade A

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Kathryn Warner’s account of the Black Death is a compelling and often upsetting read. She brings the unimaginable reality onto stark life with reference to real families and the tragedies they suffered. Given that there are very few written records of the time, I can only imagine that her research has been both challenging and extensive. I’ve enjoyed her approach to this heartbreaking story. The scene is initially set pre plague in the first months of 1348. Edward III is monarch and Britain is at war with France. Chaucer was a child and the detail about a select few individuals gives real texture to the setting. The rest of the book considers the plague county by county with family stories recounted in convincing and, I’m sure, authentic detail. As awful as it was, it’s the first time I’ve read a book about the Black Death that really hits home. I felt as if I got to know some of those affected and shared their distress and sense of fear as the inevitable hit. It’s an incredible slice of social history, not only about the pestilence, but about England through those years and the structural set up of the counties. There are numerous photos at the end of the narrative, a comprehensive index with so many family names, I’d think this is of interest to those involved in family history. The bibliography of primary and secondary sources gives much further reading. A compelling and remarkable read.

NetGalley, Anita Wallas