Review by Choice Review
In this ambitious book about the 14th-century Black Death, Benedictow (Univ. of Oslo) makes use of the many recently published localized studies in order to arrive at an up-to-date estimate of the plague's mortality. The author divides the book into several sections discussing the Black Death's epidemiology, territorial spread, and estimated mortality. The most detailed chapters trace the spread of the plague and its death rate country by country, analyzing such lands as the Balkans, Scandinavia, and the Baltic countries, which are not usually included in earlier general histories of the Black Death. In compiling and analyzing the localized studies, Benedictow concludes with a major reassessment of the mortality of the Black Death; rather than the 30 percent suggested by most historians, he estimates that 60 percent of Europe's population died between 1346 and 1353, resulting in "an event of great historical importance." The encyclopedic, fact-laden structure of this book makes it somewhat difficult to read, but as a much-needed compilation of localized studies, it is a valuable addition to the historiography of the Black Death. ^BSumming Up: Highly recommended. Graduate students and faculty. D. L. Sample University of Virginia's College at Wise
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
