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A Journal of the Plague Year

By Daniel Defoe
Penguin Classics
0.0 (0 reviews)
3.55 goodreads logo

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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
A Journal of the Plague Year by Daniel Defoe is a historical novel that provides a vivid account of London during the Great Plague of 1665. Narrated by a character known only by the initials H.F., it blends fact and fiction to depict the chaos, fear, and human behaviour as residents confront the devastating effects of the outbreak. The book offers a compelling exploration of survival, community response, and moral dilemmas in times of crisis.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

If you're intrigued by historical narratives and enjoy exploring the human experience during times of crisis, you might find this book captivating. It provides a vivid portrayal of life during the Great Plague with a blend of factual accounts and engaging storytelling. Those who appreciate detailed depictions of society's resilience amid adversity might find this read particularly engrossing.

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This work follows Daniel Defoe's fictional narrator as he traces the devastating progress of the plague through the streets of London. Here we see a city transformed - some of its streets suspiciously empty and some overwhelmingly full of the sounds and smells of human suffering.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

In 1665, the plague swept through London, claiming over 97,000 lives. Daniel Defoe was just five at the time of the plague, but he later called on his own memories, as well as his writing experience, to create this vivid chronicle of the epidemic and its victims.

A Journal of the Plague Year (1722) follows Defoe's fictional narrator as he traces the devastating progress of the plague through the streets of London. Here we see a city transformed: some of its streets suspiciously empty, someโ€”with crosses on their doorsโ€”overwhelmingly full of the sounds and smells of human suffering. And every living citizen he meets has a horrifying story that demands to be heard.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

A Journal of the Plague Year by Daniel Defoe is praised for its powerful depiction of the last major bubonic plague outbreak in Britain, offering insights as relevant today as they were centuries ago. Reviews highlight its unsettling realism and vivid detailing of the pandemic's impact on London, evoking a sense of immediacy and poignancy with descriptions that make historical suffering palpable. Influencing later works, such as Camus's The Plague, the book remains a significant piece of plague literature, noted for its ability to educate and impact readers across time.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780140437850

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 29 May 2003

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Contributors:

  • Introduction by Anthony Burgess
  • Edited by Christopher Bristow

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 19.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 247g

Pages: 336

Collections

Best Sellers at Book Hero Classic Fiction Classic General Fiction Daniel Defoe Fiction General Fiction In Stock Books In-Stock Fiction Books Literary Fiction New Release Fiction Penguin Black Classics Penguin Books Penguin Classics Penguin Classics: General Fiction

About the Author

Daniel Defoe (1660-1731) had a variety of careers including merchant, soldier, secret agent, and political pamphleteer. He wrote economic texts, history, biography, crime, and most famously fiction, including Robinson Crusoe, Moll Flanders and Roxana. Cynthia Wall is Assistant Professor of English at the University of Virginia.

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