History's Great Plagues

by Christopher R. Fee

Plague has terrified and fascinated humanity for all of recorded history. Now, in the current moment of COVID-19, people around the globe are again struggling to learn how to navigate life during a pandemic. As in times of uncertainty throughout history, we seek the insights of the great minds who have lived through and reflected on similar historical moments.

Your guide for this fascinating 12-lecture audio course is medieval literature expert Chris Fee, a presenter beloved for his evocative delivery by Learn25 listeners and his own students at Gettysburg College.

You'll begin by examining literary attempts to understand and to interpret pestilence and plagues, starting with the Bible and Ancient poets, playwrights, and historians. You'll then move on to some of the greatest works of the Middle Ages and Renaissance that were inspired by or reflect aspects of the infamous Black Death.

Entering the Modern Age, you'll explore works by authors that employ plague as a metaphor. Along the way, you will also delve into popular books and movies, such as "12 Monkeys," that take plague as their subject or subtext. You'll conclude by discovering that the literature of plague has much to teach us, not just about the current moment, but about the very nature of being human.

This course is part of the Learn25 collection

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Audiobook

Audiobook

First published August 1, 2020

Reviews

[Nicola Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not what I was expecting but I was pleasantly surprised ! I’d initially started listening to this audiobook thinking it would be more from a virology and microbiology stand point but instead, was from the angle of plagues and literature as well as popular culture. I really enjoyed it!

I didn’t know much about the presence of plagues from early history in literature, or even really thought about it in modern times, as represented in contemporary fiction and film. It was great to listen to and I learnt a lot about the representation of plagues and pestilence in literature.

From plagues and the bible, to Thucydides, Boccaccio, Chaucer, Shakespeare and more modern fiction, it was really insightful to learn more about these accounts of life at the times.

[Fable ☾ · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF - The audiobook is next to impossible to listen to. Lots of stammering, ums/uhs, and pauses. Plus the narrator talks excruciatingly slow making it a slog even at a higher playback rate. If a print version exists I would be more than willing to give this another shot, since the subject matter really does interest me.

[Haitham Fallatah · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book (or maybe I should say lecture series) contains lots of useful information, but the narration seems to be rather improvised which takes a bot from the quality. Also I feel the ideas are scattered in some sections. Lastly, as other reviews mention, the author could've added more details to the plagues he mentioned.

Overall though, i loved the content and i think it is a good serries to listen to.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the reason this audio has gotten some bad reviews is not an issue with the content as much as the advertising. I bought it thinking it was an audiobook rather than a collection of lectures and the topic seems to be more - the literature of plagues through history, rather than the history of plagues themselves. However I really enjoyed it and learned a lot.

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite what I thought it would. I took it to be that it would lay out scientifically the different plagues of the world but the context is mostly from the literature of the time and how those events shape the authors and what the authors indirect commentary of the time. In addition there is some aspects that theology is mention.

The narrator was ok. Not attention demanding and I had to focus on what was discussed because at times the voice seemed like white noise. They did give some recommendations of books I may read and I’ll definitely circle back to the audio book. To sporadically listen the to the chapters.

[Nick's Introvert Nook · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is less on the history of plagues and more on how historical plagues influenced literature and later movies. It covers everything from greek epics to Zombieland. Not what I expected when I borrowed it off Hoopla, but interesting nonetheless.

[Iain Hunter · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boy did I hate this! I expected a history based in science and got a dull monotone, talking about plagues with a divinity and literary voice.

I hated this with a passion.

I should say this is my first ever negative review.

[Coralie thebookish_mess · Rating 1 out of 5]

Even if the title is super misleading the subject was interesting for the first half of the audio. But after the passage on Shakespeare (really interesting) I lost interest and after 75% I was bored and out of the audio I don’t want to finish that I’m even if there is only 42 min left.

[Ms.Caprioli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series of lectures looks at how plagues framed and formed Western history. The only caveat is its Eurocentric view. It inspired me to start consuming a series of plague-related books and films.

[literaryleftie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was extremely interesting and informative. I definitely recommend this to those who are into informative pieces.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

It improved as it went along and I found fodder for my project. But I can’t really recommend it.

[Ro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very fascinating, but very tough read.

[E.R. Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historic plagues viewed through the lens of literature and film—absolutely right up my alley! Great lectures, and I got a ton of good book recs out of it!

[Michelle Peterson]

The effects of pandemics on literature, interesting read.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but not as focused as I was hoping for. A lot of history without the analysis of the direction forced by the events.

[Killthehumans Savetheforest · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Bible is not "recorded history". Sophocles' fkn plays are not recorded history. The Illiad is not recorded history. The goddamn Illiad was written like 500 years after the siege of Troy (also fictional?) was set. If the siege of Troy was real, a poem 500 years later is not a historical record.

The guy is literally referring to "gods" doing things, in this "history". Stick to your theology stories, don't write history if you can't grasp what a fact is.