Publisher's Synopsis
Plague and Pestilence in Literature and Art by Raymond Crawfurd is a comprehensive exploration of the representation of epidemics throughout history. The book delves into the ways in which plagues and pestilence have been depicted in literature and art, from ancient times to the present day. The author examines the various themes and motifs associated with these epidemics, including death, suffering, fear, and the breakdown of social order.The book is divided into several chapters, each of which focuses on a different aspect of the representation of plagues and pestilence. The first chapter provides an overview of the historical context of these epidemics, while subsequent chapters explore how they have been represented in literature, art, and popular culture. The author also examines the ways in which plagues and pestilence have been used as metaphors for social and political issues.Throughout the book, the author draws on a wide range of examples from literature and art, including works by Shakespeare, Defoe, Poe, and Camus, as well as paintings and sculptures by artists such as Bosch, Goya, and Munch. The book also includes a number of illustrations, providing readers with a visual representation of the themes and motifs discussed in the text.Overall, Plague and Pestilence in Literature and Art is a fascinating and insightful exploration of a topic that has fascinated artists and writers for centuries. It provides readers with a deeper understanding of the ways in which epidemics have been represented in literature and art, and how these representations have shaped our understanding of these devastating events throughout history.1914. This volume represents substantially the FitzPatrick Lectures which the author had the privilege of delivering at the Royal College of Physicians in 1912. The scattered records of literature afford a valuable, but neglected, contribution to the study of epidemic pestilence. They show us pestilence as an affair of the mind, as medical literature has shown it as an affair of the body. They teach us too the humiliating lesson that, in spite of the apparent growth of humanity, in spite of the development and dissemination of scientific knowledge, human nature has again and again reverted to the primitive instincts of savagery in face of the crushing calamity of epidemic pestilence. And in this homing instinct of the human mind is to be found the clue to much in the records of literature and art that else is wholly meaningless.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
