Return of the Black Death
The World's Greatest Serial Killer
Published on 7. May 2004
Book
Hardback
318 pages
978-0-470-09000-8 (ISBN)
Description
If the twenty-first century seems an unlikely stage for the return of a 14th-century killer, the authors of
Return of the Black Death argue that the plague, which vanquished half of Europe, has only lain dormant, waiting to emerge again-perhaps, in another form. At the heart of their chilling scenario is their contention that the plague was spread by direct human contact (not from rat fleas) and was, in fact, a virus perhaps similar to AIDS and Ebola. Noting the periodic occurrence of plagues throughout history, the authors predict its inevitable re-emergence sometime in the future, transformed by mass mobility and bioterrorism into an even more devastating killer.
Return of the Black Death argue that the plague, which vanquished half of Europe, has only lain dormant, waiting to emerge again-perhaps, in another form. At the heart of their chilling scenario is their contention that the plague was spread by direct human contact (not from rat fleas) and was, in fact, a virus perhaps similar to AIDS and Ebola. Noting the periodic occurrence of plagues throughout history, the authors predict its inevitable re-emergence sometime in the future, transformed by mass mobility and bioterrorism into an even more devastating killer.
Reviews / Votes
"... a piece of astonishing medical detective work..." (Observer, 16 May 2004)"With gruesome details of the disease and its consequences, this is not for the squeamish." (Good Book Guide, June 2004)
"...a valuable reference..." (Western Daily Press, 19th June 04)
"... a good account of the history of the three great plagues." (Nature, 8th July 2004)
"... a compelling read..." (NewScientist.com, July 2004)
"Using documents of unimaginably diverse provenance, Susan Scott and Christopher Duncan assume the role of `plague detectives'." (The Lancet, July 2004)
"...a compelling read..." (New Scientist, July 04)
"...humour, accessible style and gripping disgust-factor...well written...a rare achivement..." (Lancet, July 04)
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Chichester
United Kingdom
Publishing group
John Wiley and Sons Ltd
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 218 mm
Width: 138 mm
Thickness: 30 mm
Weight
512 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-470-09000-8 (9780470090008)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
07/2004
Wiley
€8.99
Available for download
Persons
Professor Christopher Duncan is Emeritus Professor of Zoology at Liverpool University. He has written over 200 published papers and seven books.
Susan Scott is a Social Historian specializing in demography. She has written 30 published papers and three books.
Susan Scott and Christopher Duncan have spent years analysing the series of plagues that ravaged Europe throughout the Middle Ages.
Susan Scott is a Social Historian specializing in demography. She has written 30 published papers and three books.
Susan Scott and Christopher Duncan have spent years analysing the series of plagues that ravaged Europe throughout the Middle Ages.
Content
Preface.
Introduction.
Chapter 1: Birth of a Serial Killer.
Chapter 2: The Black Death Crosses the Channel.
Chapter 3: After the Black Death: The French Connection.
Chapter 4: Tentacles of the Plague.
Chapter 5: England under Siege.
Chapter 6: Portrait of an Epidemic.
Chapter 7: The Great Plague of London.
Chapter 8: How Bugs and Germs Operate.
Chapter 9: Building an Identikit of the Killer.
Chapter 10: Debunking History.
Chapter 11: The Biology of Bubonic Plague: A Myth Revisited.
Chapter 12: DNA Analysis: A Red Herring.
Chapter 13: The True Story of a Historic Village.
Chapter 14: The Surprising Link between AIDS and the Black Death.
Chapter 15: Assembling the Jigsaw Puzzle.
Chapter 16: The Black Death in Hiding.
Chapter 17: Why Did Haemorrhagic Plague Suddenly Disappear?
Chapter 18: The Dangers of Emergent Diseases.
Chapter 19: The Return of the Black Death?
Chapter 20: Is There Something more Terrible than the Black Death?
Further Reading.
Index.
Introduction.
Chapter 1: Birth of a Serial Killer.
Chapter 2: The Black Death Crosses the Channel.
Chapter 3: After the Black Death: The French Connection.
Chapter 4: Tentacles of the Plague.
Chapter 5: England under Siege.
Chapter 6: Portrait of an Epidemic.
Chapter 7: The Great Plague of London.
Chapter 8: How Bugs and Germs Operate.
Chapter 9: Building an Identikit of the Killer.
Chapter 10: Debunking History.
Chapter 11: The Biology of Bubonic Plague: A Myth Revisited.
Chapter 12: DNA Analysis: A Red Herring.
Chapter 13: The True Story of a Historic Village.
Chapter 14: The Surprising Link between AIDS and the Black Death.
Chapter 15: Assembling the Jigsaw Puzzle.
Chapter 16: The Black Death in Hiding.
Chapter 17: Why Did Haemorrhagic Plague Suddenly Disappear?
Chapter 18: The Dangers of Emergent Diseases.
Chapter 19: The Return of the Black Death?
Chapter 20: Is There Something more Terrible than the Black Death?
Further Reading.
Index.