![]() In 1665, the rich withdrew to the country or lived in better accommodations: a relative protection against disease. In popular thought, pandemics do not respect class, striking rich and poor alike. the plague was chiefly among the poor, yet were the poor the most venturous and fearless of it.” Machiavelli said, “Whoever wishes to foresee the future must consult the past.” In this spirit, we reflect on the words of Daniel Defoe and the events of the Great Plague of 1665 to see what more we might learn in the present-day fight against COVID-19. ![]() 2 The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) predicts that thousands more will die in the next four weeks, despite an ongoing vaccine rollout. 1Īs of this writing in March 2021, more than 126,000 deaths from COVID-19 have been recorded in the UK and nearly 540,000 in the US. ![]() Published in 1722, it stands as the most reliable and comprehensive account of the Great Plague. F.” suggest the author’s uncle, Henry Foe, as its primary source. Based on eyewitness experience, the undersigned initials “H. ![]() ![]() CC BY 4.0.ĭaniel Defoe’s A Journal of the Plague Year is an account of the 1665 Great Plague of London. London plague victims being buried in 1665, one of nine scenes from John Dunstall’s Plague broadsheet (1666). COVID-: Learning from Daniel Defoe April 12, 2021 ![]()
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