Procopius was the principal Byzantine historian of the 6th century and in his History of the Wars, he describes the great plague, believed to have been the first historically recorded epidemic of Yersinia pestis in Europe. Besides a very high death toll, it had massive political and economic consequences, and recurred at intervals untilContinue reading “Procopius Describes the Plague of Justinian 541-2 A.D.”
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A Letter from Scott Fitzgerald Quarantined in 1920 in the South of France During the Spanish Influenza Outbreak
Dearest Rosemary, It was a limpid, dreary day, hung as in a basket from a single dull star. I thank you for your letter. Ouside I perceive what may be a collection of fallen leaves tussling against a trash can. It rings like jazz to my ears. The streets are that empty. It seems asContinue reading “A Letter from Scott Fitzgerald Quarantined in 1920 in the South of France During the Spanish Influenza Outbreak”
Ibn Khaldun on the Black Death
The Black Death reached Tunis is 1348, when Ibn Khaldun was 17. In it he lost both parents and several teachers to whom he was very close. He lived through a period, as Albert Hourani puts it: “Full of reminders of the fragility of human effort”. His experiences led him to create aContinue reading “Ibn Khaldun on the Black Death”
Dr Altounyan Recalls the Cholera Epidemic of 1894
Taqui Altounyan, the inspiration for Titty in Arthur Ransome’s Swallows and Amazons, begins her delightful memoir In Aleppo Once with a description of her paternal grandfather. He started serious life so early. At the age of seven, when his father died, leaving him in charge of his three brothers, he decided to be a doctor.Continue reading “Dr Altounyan Recalls the Cholera Epidemic of 1894”
Gregory of Tours Describes the Plague at Rome 590 A.D
From the account by his deacon, Agiulf, who was there Pope Pelagius died of the plague in February, 590 A.D. His reluctant successor, then only a deacon, who was to be known as St Gregory the Great, ordered penances and processions – the normal recourse for many centuries – to plead for itsContinue reading “Gregory of Tours Describes the Plague at Rome 590 A.D”
Yüan Chên Laments His Young Wife who died in an epidemic
You were the youngest, and the one best loved by your father, Everything went wrong the moment you married me. You ransacked wardrobes when I was in need of clothes, And sold your gold hairpin to buy me drinks. At your meals you made do with wild vegetables; For your firewood you depended onContinue reading “Yüan Chên Laments His Young Wife who died in an epidemic”
Miss Tully: Letters from Tripoli during the plague epidemic of 1785-6 January to June
The plague slowly comes to an end. January 20th, 1786 On the calm resignation of the Muslims to their fate, simply saying “maktub – it has been written” January 30th, 1786 On the shortage of boards for coffins and their exorbitant price; the two daughters of one noble lady die before their marriages, withContinue reading “Miss Tully: Letters from Tripoli during the plague epidemic of 1785-6 January to June”
Miss Tully: Letters from Tripoli during the plague epidemic of 1785-6 – January 18th
January 18th, 1786 Their troubles are compounded by a plague of locusts We have at this time such a scarcity of wheat, that the Christians are glad to buy up all the biscuit from the ships in the harbour; and if the plague had not swept off the chief part of the inhabitants, theyContinue reading “Miss Tully: Letters from Tripoli during the plague epidemic of 1785-6 – January 18th”
Miss Tully: Letters from Tripoli during the plague epidemic of 1785-6 December and January
Exploration of Africa foiled by the plague December 18th, 1785 Yesterday, Baron de Haslien, a German nobleman, arrived here, to see if it were practicable to go from hence to Fezzan. He has left two brothers at Tunis, whose intentions are, if possible, to proceed this way to the coast of Guinea. Should theyContinue reading “Miss Tully: Letters from Tripoli during the plague epidemic of 1785-6 December and January”
Miss Tully: Letters from Tripoli during the plague epidemic of 1785
The effect of climate on the plague December 8th, 1785 In vain the Christians wish to finish their long quarantine, for notwithstanding their houses have been shut up six months, they are likely to continue so much longer. A short time since, few deaths were heard of, but in the last five days theyContinue reading “Miss Tully: Letters from Tripoli during the plague epidemic of 1785”
Plague Anthology 