Return of the Black Death: The World's Greatest Serial Killer [Paperback]

Susan Scott (Author), Christopher Duncan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 18, 2005 | ISBN-10: 0470090014 | ISBN-13: 978-0470090015 | Edition: 1

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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...fascinating book...a gripping read..." (Perioperative Nursing, September 04)

"...combines historical and biological research to undermine what we have long believed..." (Ancestors, Dec 05)

From the Inside Flap

The Black Death appeared out of the blue in Sicily in 1347 and moved swiftly on to kill half of Europe in three years. Once the plague had established a stronghold in France it continued to terrorize the continent for another three centuries. London's Great Plague of 1665-66, which claimed 6000 lives a week at its height, was its last great strike. A few years later it disappeared as suddenly and mysteriously as it had appeared. Susan Scott and Christopher Duncan uncover the tragic and moving human stories behind the records: unsung heroes, bereaved parents, parted lovers and those who exploited the suffering of others for their own greed. They also trace the origins of this lethal disease, through possible earlier outbreaks in classical times back to its animal hosts in Africa. Here it remains but there is no reason to believe it has gone for good. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 318 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (July 18, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470090014
• ISBN-13: 978-0470090015
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 0.7 x 7.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,138,724 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Very important new information, but be patient August 17, 2004

By Robert Adler

Format:Hardcover

The core of this book is the authors' convincing demonstration that the Black Death, which killed perhaps half the population of Europe during the Middle Ages, was not bubonic plaque, as has long been thought and taught, but a different, unknown, and far more dangerous virus. This is a difference that makes a difference. Modern medicine understands, can quickly detect, and can effectively treat outbreaks of bubonic plaque, making a major re-emergence very unlikely. But if the mysterious virus behind the Black Death, or a close cousin, were to re-emerge, the results could be catastrophic, as the authors clearly show.

The authors reached this conclusion through patient sleuthing through ancient death records in towns and villages devastated by the Black Death. By tracing the exact lines of transmission, they were able to show that the virus had a long incubation period, during most of which people acted as unknowing carriers of the disease. By the time they developed its horrifying symptoms, it was too late for them and for those people they had crossed paths with.

Perhaps because the authors' historical research was so important in guiding them to their radical new conclusion, they devote the first half of the book to it. Readers who make it through this sometimes repetitious recitation will find the second half of the book much more rewarding and thought-provoking

Robert Adler, author of Medical Firsts: From Hippocrates to the Human Genome; and Science Firsts: From the Creation of Science to the Science of Creation

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Frustrating read October 26, 2011

By Laura

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I had high expectations for this book. I am interested in the "black Death" mystery, and thought this book would be just the thing. However, I was disappointed by contradictory examples, seemingly mixed up chapter order and no references what so ever.

First, most of the book is basically a recital of cities and dates and deaths, though in many examples the authors say the numbers were "probably" exaggerated. The authors use phrases like that a lot - "probably" and "almost certainly" and "presumably" and "must have" in place of real evidence or references. As in the ship "most certainly" landed in such-a-such harbor, and it "probably" brought the infection . . . Well, did it or didn't it? What documentation or historical accounts give evidence of this? Or even hint at it? When I see phrases like that and no evidence or reference sited it makes me skeptical of the validity of the claim. I don't know whether or not that is the case with this book, but without references, I can't really say.

As for the seemingly mixed up chapters, I honestly wondered if my Kindle version had gotten mixed up somehow. One chapter will end with the question "what have we learned about this disease?" and so I'd think the next chapter (finally) would be getting into the real meat of the matter, only to find in the next chapter yet more references of cities and dates and death rates. Then, I read a question something like (remembering from memory) "Did England escaped the plague on its stronghold island", but in previous chapters there had been many examples already given of the plague and deaths in England . . .

Another thing I always find rather distasteful is when authors try to discredit other authors' works, saying, I'm right and you are SOOOO wrong!! The authors of this book did just that, stating clearly the title of the book and the author by name, being condescending and sarcastic. They disparage this book and author on the grounds that the other author argues that the plague was carried by rats and fleas, making the comment that, as usual, the people of the time period obviously knew it was a person to person contagion. They keep harping on that, saying that the people of the time knew it was contagious. But, in the very next sentence describing how the people thought it was inflicted by sorcerers and Jews and spread by foul odors and "humors" and that these evil doers were routinely sought out, tortured and executed. The authors also make the claim that the plague couldn't possibly have been caused by rats and/or fleas as others have claimed. I can't say one way or the other what the plague was or how it was transported, I'm not an expert, but I can say the authors of this book did nothing to convince me of their theories, while other books that argue for opposite theories (theories these authors try to discredit) are better written and referenced and far more convincing. As a reader, the more convincingly argued and better referenced books are going to be far more believable to me.

We are told that the people knew it was a person to person contagion and the fact that they instituted quarantines and prevented travel or ships docking was supposedly proof that this was so. Then, we are given example after example where quarantines and blockades didn't work. We are told that anyone tending the sick die within days, but then we are told that they were actually infected days and days before. On the one hand, we are told how smart and observant and RIGHT the people of the time period were, but then we are told how the reported death rates are wrong. Which is it? Was it immediately infectious and lethal or wasn't it?

And, I was expecting a book about the Black Death and its potential return. I would have settled for an interesting historical recount. What I got was basically was a recital of historical reports and death tolls, travel routes and plague routes. Quite honestly, this book was in no way worth the ten hard earned dollars I paid for the kindle version.

Note to authors: site references PLEASE, reference would have gone a long, long way to convincing me. Don't try to discredit other authors or books with condescending comments and sarcastic remarks, or better yet just don't do it at all, it doesn't make you look good, rather petty really, and makes me as a reader view everything else presented in your work with a less than favorable eye. And try to be consistent in your arguments at least, don't tell me one thing and then immediately tell me why it isn't so. Frustrating, frustrating, frustrating book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars historically fascinating! July 21, 2010

By speakfriend VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

I discovered this book by accident in a bookstore in a German airport. Once I started reading, I could not put it down. As a former history major, I found it informative and fascinating. I thought the authors meticulously and carefully proved their thesis, and kept me interested and reading the whole way. I find it intriguing that the scientific and medical communities have not embraced the idea that the devastating and world-altering event that we think of as the Black Death was actually NOT caused by the Bubonic Plague, but by something much worse, not identified in our modern times. If you are interested in history, I highly recommend this book. I have lost my copy, and plan on buying another.

Similar books that I also loved are two by Richard Preston: The Hot Zone (about the ebola virus), and Demon in the Freezer (about the eradication of smallpox).