Review by Choice Review
Henderson, an experienced historian of Florentine and early modern medical history, presents an important study of Florence during the serious plague year 1630--31. Cities of northern Italy had been stricken repeatedly since the Black Death of 1348--49, and Florence's leaders under the Medici Grand Dukes had plenty of experience dealing with the disease when bubonic plague followed French and German troops into northern Italy. Using letters, chronicles, official documents, medical tracts, laws, and court cases, Henderson lays out the official plague-time policies and actions, and the effects these had among the populace. The city of 75,000 suffered a loss of about 12 percent of its population, and more than 10 percent were treated in local plague hospitals. Working from the ground up, and privileging the people rather than the rulers, the author finds that the rulers were more compassionate, even toward lawbreakers, than previously thought. He provides a useful historiographical introduction and considers what changed in Florentine policy during the plague event. His topic is both academic and popular, and his treatment is clear and approachable. Both scholars and nonspecialist college students will benefit greatly from this work. Summing Up: Highly recommended. General readers through faculty. --Joseph P. Byrne, Belmont University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
