Description
Book SynopsisIn The Plague in Print, Rebecca Totaro takes the reader into the world of plague-riddled Elizabethan England, documenting the development of distinct subgenres related to the plague and providing unprecedented access to important original sources of early modern plague writing. Totaro elucidates the interdisciplinary nature of plague writing, which raises religious, medical, civic, social, and individual concerns in early modern England. Each of the primary texts in the collection offers a glimpse into a particular subgenre of plague writing, beginning with Thomas Moultonâs plague remedy and prayers published by the Church of England and devoted to the issue of the plague. William Bulleinâs A Dialogue, both pleasant and pietyful, a work that both addresses concerns related to the plague and offers humorous literary entertainment, exemplifies the multilayered nature of plague literature. The plague orders of Queen Elizabeth I highlight the community-wide attempts to combat the plague an
Trade Review“The effects of plague and plague literature can be felt throughout the works of dramatists and playwrights as canonical as Shakespeare and Ben Jonson, yet it is only after reading pamphlets and dramas like those in this collection that we can come to more fully understand the weight of those references.”
—Christopher Madson Early Modern Literary Studies
“The Plague in Print is a useful collection, the introductions and choice of examples excellent, and the three glossaries—a Medical and Herbal Glossary, a Glossary of Names, and a General Glossary—very helpful. Totaro, as a scholar of this critical, if unpleasant, aspect of early modern life, also recognizes its current relevance.”
—Suzanne Gossett Textual Cultures
Table of ContentsContents
Illustrations
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Editorial Notes
1. Plague Remedies. Thomas Moulton: Plague remedy (1531)
2. Plague Prayers. The Church of England: A Form to be used in Common prayer (1563)
3. Plague Literature. William Bullein: A Dialogue both pleasant and pietyful (1564)
4. Plague Orders. Queen Elizabeth I: Orders thought meet (1578)
5. Plague Bills. Worshipful Company of Parish Clerks: The Number of all those that hath died (c. 1583)
6. Plague Literature. Thomas Dekker: The Wonderful Year (1603)
Notes
Medical and Herbal Glossary
Glossary of Names
General Glossary
Suggestions for Further Reading
Index
