A Journal of the Plague Year

Daniel Defoe (1660-1731) RMG BHC2648

A Journal of the Plague Year

Author	Daniel Defoe
Country	England
Language	English
Genre	Historical fiction
Publication date	1722
Media type	Print

A Journal of the Plague Year is a novel by Daniel Defoe, first published in 1722. The book is a fictionalized account of one man's experiences during the Great Plague of London in 1665, which was the last major outbreak of the bubonic plague in England.

Plot

The novel is presented as an eyewitness account of the events in London during the plague year. The narrator, known only by the initials H.F., describes the impact of the plague on the city, the measures taken to control its spread, and the social and economic consequences of the epidemic. H.F. provides detailed observations of the symptoms of the disease, the behavior of the infected, and the responses of the authorities and the general population.

Themes

A Journal of the Plague Year explores themes such as the fragility of human life, the randomness of fate, and the social and moral implications of a public health crisis. Defoe's work also delves into the psychological effects of the plague on individuals and communities, highlighting both acts of compassion and instances of selfishness and panic.

Historical Context

The Great Plague of London was part of the second pandemic of bubonic plague that began in the mid-14th century and continued intermittently until the early 18th century. The 1665 outbreak killed an estimated 100,000 people, about a quarter of London's population at the time. Defoe, who was only five years old during the plague, based his novel on historical records, personal accounts, and his own imagination.

Literary Significance

A Journal of the Plague Year is considered one of Defoe's major works, alongside Robinson Crusoe and Moll Flanders. The novel is notable for its detailed and realistic portrayal of the plague, blending fact and fiction in a way that has influenced subsequent works of historical fiction and epidemiology.

See also

• Daniel Defoe
• Great Plague of London
• Bubonic plague
• Historical fiction
• Robinson Crusoe
• Moll Flanders