The Great Mortality

John Kelly's "The Great Mortality" offers a harrowing and meticulously researched account of the Black Death, the devastating pandemic that ravaged Europe between 1347 and 1351. Drawing on vivid historical records, from the chilling lamentations of chroniclers like Agnolo di Turo in Siena to anonymous inscriptions on church walls, Kelly recreates the apocalyptic horror of an event that wiped out an estimated 30 percent of the continent's population. The narrative traces the plague's relentless march from its arrival by Genoese galley in Messina, Sicily, in October 1347, through its sweep across Italy, France, Spain, and England in a mere 1,000 days. Kelly not only details the medical and epidemiological aspects of the Y. Pestis virus but also delves into the profound societal, psychological, and religious impact, portraying a world grappling with incomprehensible loss and the collapse of established order. It's a compelling exploration of one of humanity's greatest disasters, revealing both the fragility and resilience of medieval society in the face of an existential threat.