Florence under siege: surviving plague in an early modern city
Henderson, John (2019) Florence under siege: surviving plague in an early modern city. New Haven, U.S. and London, UK: Yale University Press. ISBN 9780300196344.
Abstract
Book synopsis: A vivid recreation of how the governors and governed of early seventeenth-century Florence confronted, suffered, and survived a major epidemic of plague Plague remains the paradigm against which reactions to many epidemics are often judged. Here, John Henderson examines how a major city fought, suffered, and survived the impact of plague. Going beyond traditional oppositions between rich and poor, this book provides a nuanced and more compassionate interpretation of government policies in practice, by recreating the very human reactions and survival strategies of families and individuals. From the evocation of the overcrowded conditions in isolation hospitals to the splendor of religious processions, Henderson analyzes Florentine reactions within a wider European context to assess the effect of state policies on the city, street, and family. Writing in a vivid and approachable way, this book unearths the forgotten stories of doctors and administrators struggling to cope with the sick and dying, and of those who were left bereft and confused by the sudden loss of relatives.
Metadata
| Item Type: | Book |
|---|---|
| School: | School of Social Sciences, History and Philosophy > History, Classics and Archaeology |
| Depositing User: | Administrator |
| Date Deposited: | 11 Jun 2019 11:47 |
| Last Modified: | 06 Jun 2022 18:56 |
| URI: | https://eprints.bbk.ac.uk/id/eprint/25020 |
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