The title of John Kelly’s The Great Mortality: An Intimate History of the Black Death does not suggest an entertaining read, and of course in the particulars of the plague in 14th century Europe there is plenty of somber (and gross) information. But Kelly’s writing style is crisp, fast-moving, and yes, entertaining. When I told my dad the same about the book, I could practically see his eyes roll out of his head over email. But it’s true I tell you!
The Great Mortality focuses on the Black Death in Europe. It talks about the possible origins from Asia and how plague typically spread: through trade, new communication routes, and ecological disruptions. There are also certain circumstances that make the human population particularly vulnerable. The plague starts out as flea on certain rats, and these rats are attracted to areas of poor sanitation, and the Middle Ages in Europe was particularly filthy. Ecological disasters can also encourage the plague. First, if there is enough disruption (for example, an earthquake), it forces rats from their underground homes and out into the world. Other factors that probably contributed to the 1347 spread of the plague was the severe famine in the early 1300s among torrential rains; people weakened by malnutrition had less robust immune systems. Even war could have encouraged plague, via close proximity, travel, and unsanitary conditions.
Kelly goes into great depth about how the plague moved across Europe (sometimes to a boring extent, but it’s still important information). He spends a good chunk of the book describing the vicious pogroms the Jewish population went through, with burning people alive being a common and horrifying method. The Jewish population has long been targeted for many reasons; during the Black Death a rumor spread that they poisoned the water and therefore caused the plague.
The Great Mortality does a great job making the plague personal. There are lots of quotes from primary resources, which puts a human face to the catastrophe. Kelly paces the books well, and just when you’re a little stuck in the weeds trying to keep the movement of the plague and death tolls straight, he brings in interesting details. He even covers the “Plague Deniers,” who don’t believe the Black Death was the plague, but caused by another substance/bacteria, including anthrax. Generally these theories don’t hold up.
I recommend this book if you are interested in the Middle Ages, the Black Death, and just an interesting account of a tumultuous time.