pickOn the face of it, this book is somewhat dated having been published in 2001-2, but there are moments of surprising relevancy!
Cantor‘s “accessible” language can be somewhat cavalier (e.g. casual calling King John a manic-depressive) but it is otherwise engaging and interesting especially in context of the current pandemic 😷
Image: Block quote from the book followed by my comment, “The “it” in the quote...”
Pulling this one from one of my Medieval History stacks for a NF prompt: This 230-page look at the Black Death of 14th-century England is written with accessible language; but you still need one of those royal family charts to thread through a couple passages. It‘s been almost 20 years since I read this so it all seems new to me again. Oddly, I seem to like it more now that I remember liking it in 2002!
We sent Beckett back to school yesterday, after realizing we were both struggling. I think he‘s doing ok!
Week 13 of quarantine,WFH full time as the fam breadwinner, and a full time grad school load while chasing around a 16 month old tiny drunk roommate. These days are tough, but I know I‘m going to reflect on these months, days, and minutes that feel like hours and be so glad that I got to spend them at home watching this tiny bro grow.
pickOk yes, I enjoyed this fascinating, quick, & yes, gossipy account of the Black Death. Seriously, reading this popular history was like listening to a grandparent tell stories about the old days...or, in this case the plague. That style makes for an accessible, general introduction to the 14th c., the Black Death, & its aftermath. The book may be a little dated now, it was published in 2001 but it is an interesting & easy general introduction.
My next nonfiction read...
I've been on a Medieval Era kick lately and Cantor's book does not disappoint.
In the Wake of the Plague: The Black Death and the World it Made | 
