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Plague Fiction

Professor Laura Ashe takes a look back at the literature on the plague, starting with the 14th century, when the Black Death was sweeping the globe.

Professor Laura Ashe takes a look back at the Black Death of the 14th century, the deadliest pandemic in human history.

Going from one of the earliest accounts of plague in 1347 through to Samuel Pepys's record of the Great Plague of London in the 1660s, Professor Ashe explores how literature helped us cope with fear and tragedy, the importance of bravery and personal sacrifice, and whether the words of the past can offer us the comfort and healing that we need now.

58 minutes

Last on

Sun 20 Jul 2025 01:30

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Laura Ashe
Interviewed Guest Hannah Skoda
Interviewed Guest Tabitha Stanmore
Interviewed Guest Abigail Williams
Executive Producer Ed Stobart
Executive Producer Emma Parkins
Director David Starkey
Production Manager Judy Wilson

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